Nicola Griffiths

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she/her
Counsellor MBACP Social Worker DIPSW BAHons social studies
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

You can be assured of a commitment from me within our working relationship. With availability appointments will be arranged at a time to suit you. You will be in a safe, warm, confidential space where you can talk.

Together we will explore your thoughts and feelings and you will gain an understanding of yourself from a different perspective. You will learn how past experiences affect you today and learn skills to help you overcome these. I aim to lessen your anxiety and pain and teach you how to cope in the future when faced with difficult situations.

I have successfully treated clients with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, abuse, phobias, grief and relationships. I am told I am easy to talk to and do not judge people.

I offer good quality, professional counselling. You will be in a safe space where confidentiality is integral to your session. We will build a relationship which is supportive and compassionate. I aim to empower and enable you to regain control over your life.

I am an experienced BACP counsellor and psychotherapist working in private practice. Daytime and evening appointments are available.

Getting Started

Feel free to give me a call or email to arrange a free initial conversation to discuss how I can help you.

Call Nicola on 07885281893

Email Nicola.

Training, qualifications & experience

Training

  • Expert Strategies for Treating Narcissism, NICABM 3 January 2024
  • Grief works Julia Samuel 2023 -2024
  • Trauma Informed Stabilisation Therapy level 1 Janina Fisher  Nov 2022 - Feb 2023
  • Working with shame - Carolyn Spring 8th April 2021
  • Overcoming Fear of the Future - Dr. Dina Glouberman 8th March 2021
  • Forgiving life, forgiving death and beginning again - Dr Dina Glouberman 25th January 2021
  • Personality Adaptations - Transactional Analysis Workshop by Online Events Rebecca Davies 20th April 2020
  • Existential Courage - Workshop with Emmy van Deurzen by Online Events John Wilson -16th April 2020
  • Interview Coronavirus: Considering our responses and responsibilities by Online Events John Wilson week 5 - 15th April 2020
  • Are counsellors the antidote to toxic workplaces? by Helen Jones BACP CPD Hub vídeo presentation - 10th February 2020
  • Couples Counselling by Human Givens 5th February 2020
  • Dealing with Distress: Working with Suicide and Self-Harm Online Training by Carolyn Spring - 22nd January 2020.
  • Family Law - Divorce & Financial Implications, Children Law update, Domestic violence law update, Alternative dispute resolution by The Eaves and Pennington Manches Cooper Family Team - 24th October 2019.
  • Mental Health and the body: Treating Trauma PODS training 12th October 2019
  • An Introduction to Working with Eating Disorders by Dr Lucy Hale - 21st September 2019
  • Food – More than just a fuel for the brain! Presented by Orla Stone Dietician - 8th June 2019
  • Evidence-based psychological treatments for trauma - a cognitive approach to PTSD and complex grief Trauma Michael Duffy examines PTSD with a special emphasis on trauma linked to conflict and terrorism and current recommendations for the treatment of PTSD -12th March 2019 - BACP Webinar
  • Loss: What does life mean for me now? - October 2018 - BACP Webinar
  • Post natal mental illness - Dr Jo Gee 29th September 2018 - The Eaves
  • Focus on Survivors Conference 24th July 2018 - University of Suffolk
  • BACP Research conference - Counselling changes lives: research that impacts practice 11th 12th May 2018
  • Dissociative Identity Disorder: The Fundamentals - 13th October 2017 - PODS
  • Identity: can you tell me who I am - 23rd September 2017 - BACP webinar
  • Working with Relational Trauma - 24th March 2017 - PODS
  • Supporting Refugee Survivors - 6th March 2017 - SARSAS
  • Vicarious Trauma - 17th October 2016 - SARSAS
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - 2nd 3rd March 2016 - Living Works
  • Autism Awareness Course - Somerset skills and Learning Programme 2016
  • Trauma , Dissociation and Recovery - 27th November 2015 - PODS
  • Working with Sexualised Trauma - 7th February 2015 - Zoe Lodrick
  • Adolescent Development & Substance Misuse - 16th January 2013 - Freespace
  • Safeguarding Adolescents - 21st 22nd June 2010

Qualification

  • Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling level 4 2016
  • Certificate in Counselling level 2 2014
  • Art Therapy Foundation Course 2006
  • BA Hons in Applied Social Studies 1998
  • Diploma in Social Work 1997
  • Diploma in Nursery Nursing 1988

Work Experience

  • Private practice
  • PAM ASSIST EAP Organisation - Glastonbury / Wells
  • Private practice - Glastonbury /Wells
  • Support worker with people who have experienced rape and sexual abuse
  • Counsellor at Elim Connect - Wells
  • Counsellor at Truro Young Womens Centre -Truro
  • Social Worker at 16 + Team - Bodmin
  • Counsellor at Jigsaw Project - Truro
  • Social Worker at Children and families Team - Plymouth
  • Social Worker at Children with Disabilities Team - Wandsworth
  • Project Worker at Barnardos with Families in Temporary Accommodation - London Bridge
  • Social Work Assistant at Children and Families Team - Kingston
  • Family Support Worker at Alpha Road Family Centre - Surbiton

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).

Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.

Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.

All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • Women
  • Young people 16 years upwards
  • Men
  • Childhood abuse survivors
  • Care leavers

Fees

£60.00 - £70.00
Free initial telephone or online session

Concessions offered for

  • OAPs
  • Students

Additional information

Free 20 minute phone consultation.

£70 per individual counselling session

£60 for student individual counselling

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I offer appointments between 9am and 8pm.

Further information

Testimonials

Things That Helped During Sessions: at the initial sessions you set out clear boundaries for us to work in, and were attentive as I laid out what was for me important family history and the history of my anger issues. Your attentive listening made me feel heard and understood, and your empathy and compassion helped me feel supported. The coping strategies and techniques you introduced were valuable, and I have been proud to see the positive impact of these techniques in my everyday activities with family and with work. Your thought-provoking questions led to self-discovery, and as a result it has become almost second nature to reflect on triggering moments, and to witness these reflections without the guilt I felt before.


Areas for Improvement During Sessions: I can’t think of anything constructive here, sorry, the sessions were great!


Other Comments: Your flexibility in scheduling was appreciated. Your professionalism and ethical conduct made me feel comfortable to share my thoughts and emotions with you.


Recommendation: Yes, I would not hesitate to recommend you as a therapist February 2024.

“The setting or room that was used was sufficiently furnished without me feeling that I was in somebody's home. It was comfortable and practical and gave me a 'safe' environment in which to feel free to disclose personal information and those emotions that were the subject of discussion.  From the outset I was confident that I could work with Nicola towards finding a way forward with my anxiety. I also felt that Nicola completely understood my issues, displaying empathy and sympathy whichever was appropriate.
I did not feel any desire to change anything  except the desire to extend the sessions.
Nicola helped me to accept my condition and to understand it better which over the course of time led bit by bit to some improvement. I would have no hesitation in recommending Nicola to others”. August 2023

“Thank you so much for all your help and listening, at times it felt so strange just talking about myself, but thank you for giving me a safe space to do that and let things out which normally I would bottle up. I have found the sessions with you incredibly helpful, you have really helped me reflect on things in my life and reflect on myself and how I behave and react to situations. I do feel like I am moving forward and breaking free of my reliance on my ex-husband emotionally. So thank you, without your support I wouldn’t have got this far. I know I still have a long journey to go and you may well hear from me again, but I am definitely in a better place and ready to create a new life for myself”. Anonymised May 2022 

“I was made to feel comfortable I relaxed in the sessions. Nicola was easy to talk to and gave me some great advice. She helped me look at things in a different way and went out of her way to give me additional handouts via email after the sessions. I was pleased with how everything was set up during the sessions. I am amazed at how much better and stronger I feel in myself after having sessions. I would definitely recommend Nicola”  Anonymised August 2021

I just wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me. I really enjoyed our chats and I love how much more self aware I am these days. I’ve actually had a few really challenging things that have happened in the last week and I have been so much better at handling them and recovering afterwards.  Also I find I can recognise the signs of a “bad day” much quicker and make moves to improve my mood, rather than letting it go to far. Anonymised July 2021

Being taught how to look at things in a different way. Recognising that having “needs” is normal. Nicola uses personal details very well, for example using friends names etc which makes it feel like a very personal tailored service. Nicola has encouraged me to look towards myself to make change in my life - it’s not something I’ve thought about doing before and it has really helped. I would definitely recommend Nicola. Anonymised April 2021.

“Nicola was very supportive from having my 1st session. She made me feel very comfortable and relaxed. In order that I could speak freely about the trauma I experienced. There was a lot I needed to talk about (including tears).  Nicola was kind, understanding and helped me deal with my irrational thoughts and emotions and helped me put things into perspective. She also helped me with my career”. Anon

"I felt at ease, gave me things to think about before the next session and work on, motivated me to get things done which may be causing me stress, helped with confidence. An hour seems to go so quick which is a good thing because I am encouraged to talk and I am getting my feelings out" Anon

"Being able to tell you things that have bothered me for many years, the difference it's made is unbelievable. Also being told certain things are not my fault, family and friends always say that but to hear it from Nicola was more helpful than I could ever of imagined. Nicola is so easy to talk to doesn't judge. For the first time in years my head isn't full of negative thoughts. Thank you" TH

'These sessions have been so helpful and I have begun to understand why I still felt guilty when logically I knew it was not my fault' NM

Published articles

Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

The counselling room is on the ground floor one small step into the house. Unfortunately it is not wheelchair accessible.

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom

Social