Annabel Nicholls
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
As your therapist, whether offering therapy to individuals, couples or young people, indoors or outdoors, I will support you through your experience by being empathic, offering warmth, and giving non-judgemental reflections in a down to earth, relaxed, confidential and safe environment. If you would like me to do so, I can also offer techniques and exercises, which may help you to change your perspective and alter your response to your experiences. I will listen to you and support you, no matter how difficult your experience, at a pace that is determined by you.
Choosing a Therapist
I understand that choosing a therapist can be tricky, especially when going through a difficult phase in life, so I invite you to get in touch and we can have an informal conversation on the phone so you can decide whether you'd like to meet with me. You are under no obligation following our conversation and I understand that it may take some time to make up your mind.
First Sessions
You and I will come up with aims during the initial sessions, to help you to track your progress along the way. This will mean we can identify any changes that you want to achieve and to start to develop new ways of thinking about your issues. My aim will always be to make you feel heard and understood. Depending on the nature of your troubles and your goals, you may require long-term or short-term therapy - I am happy to offer either.
Individual Therapy
As your therapist, I use an integrative approach which means that I will adapt to your needs. I can use CBT techniques, and will always remain person centred, which means offering honesty, unconditional positive regard, and consistent empathy. My style is down to earth, friendly and relaxed, but I always remain professional and boundaried. I will listen to you and support you, no matter how difficult your experience, at a pace that is determined by you.
Couples Therapy
As well as working with individuals I also work with couples. Couples may come for a number of reasons; they may be having difficulties in their relationship, may want to learn how to communicate more effectively with one another, or they may want help with coming to an amicable breakup. Whatever brings a couple to see me, I will always see them together and will ensure a safe, non judgemental environment, in which to explore thoughts, concerns, wishes, goals and hopes. I will often set tasks to be explored between sessions. This helps to consolidate the work we have done in the session and will help the relationship to grow and move forward.
Therapy for Parents
Parenting is hard. Being in a relationship is hard. Trying to do both can be impossible. I can offer a safe place for parents, either individually or together, to come and speak about these difficulties. I will provide a non judgemental space to explore the highs, lows and challenges of parenting, to give you a better understanding of your responses, and emotions so that you can connect with your partner, your children and yourself in a way that will enable change and growth as a family.
Young People's Therapy
I offer counselling to young people aged 12+. I work in a child centred way, which means that they are at the centre of the work that we do, and their needs are my key concern. I work with young people's strengths, to encourage empowerment, confidence, and higher self-esteem.
Outdoor Therapy
As well as indoor therapy, I am able to offer Outdoor Therapy, in which we can go outside and ‘walk and talk’. Many clients find this beneficial as the natural environment can provide an effective therapeutic reflective space and can act in all sorts of ways to aid the therapeutic experience. We can make the most of parks in and around Kendal or can meet elsewhere for a more adventurous outdoor session
My Experience
I have a wide breadth of counselling experience and have worked with clients on many different issues including; anxiety, depression, panic attacks, relationship problems, separation and divorce, post natal depression, sexual abuse, family issues, low self-confidence and self-esteem, parenting struggles and much more.
Ethics
I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and adhere to their code of ethics, which can be found at http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/
Training, qualifications & experience
- MBACP (Accred.) - Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
- MA Psychotherapy and Counselling
- PGDip Psychotherapy and Counselling
- PGCert Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling
- PGCert Psychology
- BSc (Hons.) Childhood Studies
- Certificate in Couples Counselling
- Wilderness Therapy Certificate
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills trained
- Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor
I have worked with clients on many different issues including; anxiety, depression, panic attacks, relationship problems, separation and divorce, post natal depression, sexual abuse, family issues, low self-confidence and self-esteem, loss, stress, illness, domestic violence, physical abuse.
Previously I spent two years working in New Zealand as an outdoor instructor. I also worked at South Lakeland Mind both as a volunteer counsellor and as the Outdoor Therapy Volunteer pioneer.
Alongside my private practice, I have worked within a CAMHS Tier 2 counselling service for Barnardo's with children and young people aged 6 to 18. I have worked in schools as a counsellor for a number of years, as well as counselling adults, so am experienced in working with people from all walks of life.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 - £80.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Additional information
Individuals - £55 per session
Under 18’s - £70 per session
Couples - £80 per session
Please see my website for more details
When I work
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Further information
Feel free to have a look at my website www.annabelnichollstherapy.co.uk for more information
