- Thoughts and everyday habits
- Practical coping skills
- Compassionate listening
About Nicola
Nicola Barnard is a BACP counsellor who focuses on thoughts and everyday habits that affect wellbeing. She helps people manage stress, anxiety and low mood while also supporting those coping with grief, confidence issues and life changes. Nicola aims to create an open space where thoughts and feelings can be talked through without judgement.
She draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try different ways of responding. Nicola also uses attachment-informed and client-centred ideas to explore relationships and how early experiences shape current patterns.
Sessions are practical and conversational. Nicola works alongside each person to set small, realistic goals and to build daily habits that make life easier. She may introduce exercises to practise between sessions to reinforce new ways of thinking and behaving.
Her background includes four years of counselling experience and she is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. Nicola has worked with people affected by trauma and abuse, bipolar difficulties, neurodiversity and long-term health challenges, and she adapts her approach to each person’s needs.
People who choose Nicola often want straightforward support for concrete problems such as work stress, parenting strain, relationship difficulties or navigating major life changes. She encourages steady progress and practical coping skills rather than quick fixes.
She draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try different ways of responding. Nicola also uses attachment-informed and client-centred ideas to explore relationships and how early experiences shape current patterns.
Sessions are practical and conversational. Nicola works alongside each person to set small, realistic goals and to build daily habits that make life easier. She may introduce exercises to practise between sessions to reinforce new ways of thinking and behaving.
Her background includes four years of counselling experience and she is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. Nicola has worked with people affected by trauma and abuse, bipolar difficulties, neurodiversity and long-term health challenges, and she adapts her approach to each person’s needs.
People who choose Nicola often want straightforward support for concrete problems such as work stress, parenting strain, relationship difficulties or navigating major life changes. She encourages steady progress and practical coping skills rather than quick fixes.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Family conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
4+ years
Credentials
BACP · United Kingdom
Languages
English
How her approaches guide online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice painful thoughts without getting stuck in them, and to choose actions that match their values. It can suit anyone struggling with anxiety, low mood or life transitions who wants practical ways to move forward.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting and testing unhelpful thinking and changing small daily habits. This approach can be useful for stress, worry, low motivation and problems that repeat over time.
Nicola treats finding the right approach as a joint process. She discusses goals and preferences with each person and adapts methods from different schools to fit what feels most helpful. That means techniques may shift as progress is made or as new issues come up.
If you are considering online work, please confirm the current session options before booking as formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. They also let people use quieter surroundings or avoid being on camera if that helps them engage more comfortably.
Frequently asked questions
What issues does Nicola commonly help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem and relationship concerns, plus parenting and career-related stressors.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her sessions are conversational and practical, using approaches that focus on thoughts and everyday habits to change unhelpful patterns.
What is her professional background?
Nicola has four years of counselling experience working with people facing trauma, long-term health issues, neurodiversity and mood difficulties.
What qualifications does she hold and where is she based?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, and practises in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with her in a language other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she see clients outside the UK?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.