Laidley Poulton, ACA

Laidley Poulton is an ACA counsellor with five years of clinical experience based in Australia. He works with stress, anxiety, grief, parenting challenges, LGBT concerns, depression and coping with life changes. He also addresses compassion fatigue, anger, self-esteem and career questions.

Laidley pays attention to what is happening right now and to the longer patterns that shape responses to stress. He uses straightforward listening and gentle questioning to help people name what is going on. He draws on his own lived experience of mental health to bring steadiness to sessions.

Sessions focus on slowing things down so thoughts and emotions are clearer. He helps people build practical skills and notice patterns that keep problems repeating. The work often includes simple mindfulness exercises and values-based action planning.

Laidley describes his style as honest and structured. He aims to make the conversation direct and manageable. He helps people sort out immediate worries while also planning small steps toward change.

People come with a range of concerns, including attachment and abandonment issues, avoidant personality features, caregiving stress, communication and control problems, separation and fatherhood issues. He also supports people dealing with cancer-related stress, guilt, shame, impulsivity, infidelity, isolation and questions about life purpose.

Laidley prefers clear, practical work over jargon. He invites people to try an approach and then adjust it if it is not fitting. This keeps the work focused and useful for everyday life.

How ACT, client-centred work and mindfulness are used online