Harriet Nichols

Hi! I'm Hattie - a warm welcome to my page. 

I am a BACP registered counsellor supporting women's mental health and maternal mental health and my practice offers a grounded, safe space to talk in non-clinical settings - in person, outdoors and online.

Women's Mental Health

• Are you feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed or simply in need of space to breathe?
• Perhaps you are navigating a difficult life experience and putting on a brave face that doesn't reflect how you really feel?
• Maybe you are feeling stuck or lost; questioning who you are outside of your roles and responsibilities?
• Or perhaps you are at a time of life where you are recognising unhelpful thoughts or behaviours that are not serving you?

I help women a navigating life's transitions and challenges - including difficult life events, bereavement, relationship difficulties, family issues, low self-esteem/confidence and peri/menopause. I understand what it is like to feel emotionally overwhelmed, low, stuck and disconnected and just how difficult this can feel, particularly when juggling various roles and responsibilities.

Maternal Mental Health

• Are you feeling completely overwhelmed by the transition to motherhood...
• You might be feeling anxious, uncertain and wondering if you are good enough
• Perhaps you are a mum that is feeling isolated and cut off from your previous friendships or way of life
• Or maybe perhaps you are a bit further along in your motherhood journey, but are putting everyone else's needs first and not meeting your own?

I have a specialism supporting mums/birthing parents with any challenges relating to parenthood- including  post-natal support. I understand the unique challenges and emotional complexities that come with pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood and I understand that early motherhood in particular, is a time when you may lose your sense of identity, feel overwhelmed, uncertain, anxious and isolated. You don't have to go through it alone!

How can therapy help me?

Therapy can help you to:

- Go beyond the "I'm fine" mask to explore what is going on for you internally in a safe and independent space

- talk through whatever it is that you are experiencing, so that you can gain both clarity and new perspectives

- explore your thoughts and feelings, so you can process difficult emotions and restore emotional wellbeing and a sense of balance 

- explore patterns of behaviour and ways of relating, so that you can develop greater self-awareness and understanding and feel more connected to yourself and others

- feel seen, heard and validated, so that you feel more confident and less alone.

Healing/making a change doesn't have to be daunting or nerve-wracking. You can book an online session from the comfort of your home or meet me in a non-clinical or nature-based setting/without the pressure of four walls.  

Ways to Work Together:

I believe that therapy doesn't have to be formal and clinical -  sometimes healing and new perspectives arise under the open sky, on a quiet path or even sat on your sofa at home!

There are a number of ways we can work together and you can choose the format that feels most comfortable for you. 

• Online counselling (nationwide).
• Counselling in nature 
  • from a cosy woodland cabin (near Uckfield/ Crowborough / Heathfield/Horam)
  • In a rustic converted granary located in the countryside in Stoneham (located between Uckfield/ Lewes/ Ringmer)
  • Walk and talk along forest paths (available soon!)

What are the benefits of nature based / outdoor therapy?

I am passionate about taking therapy into nature-based settings and utilising the therapeutic benefits that emerge from connection to nature.  Being out in the elements or among the trees can bring us into the present moment, away from our phones and the pressures of everyday life.

Outdoor therapy also can help you with:

• reduction in stress
• balancing/regulating the nervous system
• gaining new perspectives
• connection to yourself and the world around you
• a sense of belonging

About Me:

I am a mother of two boys and I understand the unique challenges that motherhood can bring, particularly the sense of loss of identity and feelings of overwhelm and mum guilt. I work for a local women's charity supporting women's mental health and maternal mental health and I understand how hard the motherhood journey can be and I am passionate about supporting women and improving their wellbeing at this important time of life. 

I re-trained as a therapist after experiencing a traumatic bereavement a number of years ago.  I understand how it feels to go through a life altering experience and the emotional overwhelm it can bring. I found that having the opportunity to talk to an independent professional helped me to navigate my way through a very difficult emotional experience and it is a journey that helped me to process difficult feelings, develop my self-awareness and find a new way of being in the world. 

Before training as a person-centred counsellor, I worked as a lawyer for many years and so I understand how difficult it can be to juggle a career with family life and responsibilities. Whilst these two professions may seem very different, they share important values that continue to influence and shape the way that I work. My legal background means I have the ability to listen carefully to people from all walks of life and to hold a safe, non judgmental space for my clients. It also means that I hold a deep respect for an ethical and client-focused approach and combine this with a calm and grounded presence -  all of which support my counselling practice today. 

I am also a trained as a trauma informed yoga nidra teacher and I am interested in how breathing techniques and a sense of presence can benefit our mental wellbeing

I am fully qualified, insured and registered with the BACP. 

Next Steps:

I know that finding the right person to talk to can feel daunting and confusing and so I offer a FREE (no obligation) 15-20 minute connection call (video/ phone) and a reduced cost first session (online only). This will give you plenty of opportunities to ask me any questions and help you to get a sense of what it might be like to work with me.  I also hope this will enable you to feel safe and comfortable as you begin your therapeutic journey. 

Please feel free to explore my website to find out more - www.hattienichols.com (see link above).

I would love to hear from you if you want to book a connection call or ask me any questions. It usually best to drop me an email rather than to phone as I am juggling work with family commitments! You can email me at - info@hattienichols.com (or use the "Email Me" option above)- I will always reply to enquiries, even when I am fully booked, so please check your junk folder if it appears I haven't replied.

I hope we have the opportunity to work together and thank you for considering me as part of your therapeutic journey. 

Hattie (she/her)

Motherhood

Peri-menopause

Women's issues, life stages and transitions

The sessions are 50 minutes long. I work with some clients for a short period and I work with others longer term. 

I offer a reduced cost connection session (£35). 

I offer reduced cost online sessions for people on maternity leave/non-working mothers and students - please contact me to discuss your circumstances.

Please feel free to enquire and we can discuss your circumstances.