Nicola Branson
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I'm Nicola, I am a self-employed counsellor in private practice.
Sometimes life can feel overwhelming with issues such as anxiety, stress, depression or bereavement - an unbearable burden. It may be too much to deal with and talking to a professional counsellor can help, sharing an external perspective can provide the tools needed to make changes to allow you to live your life based on what you value.
I work with a wide variety of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, bereavement, addiction and anger, and my aim is to provide a safe, non-judgmental space where trust can be established. I want to help each client to feel less overwhelmed and more supported, meeting external and internal challenges and to work flexibly, taking into account individual needs.
Working in a collaborative way with clients to view problems and issues that they are facing, helps in gaining new perspective and building skills to deal with difficult thoughts and feelings, so that they have less influence and impact on daily life.
This allows us to focus on choices based on core values and to help identify and work with emotional intelligence in a creative way, which can unlock self-awareness and understanding, allowing observation of problems and clarity for greater coping mechanisms.
If you would like to find out more about how I can help, please do get in touch.
Training, qualifications & experience
I currently work for Cardiff University as a counsellor in student support and deliver workshops, courses and group work in mental health and wellbeing. I also have experience working for Barnardo's and Place2Be as a schools' based counsellor, and I have worked for New Pathways counselling victims of rape and sexual abuse.
My approach is Humanistic Existential, which is person-centred combined with Acceptance Commitment Therapy, which works with behavioural change based on client values and using mindful practice.
- Registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, Cardiff and Vale College
- BA (Hons)
- MA (University of Bristol)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) 1,2 and 3 Cardiff University
- ASIST suicide first aid Certificate
- Brief Therapy training - New Pathways
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Training
- Training in Mindfulness - Alan Armstrong
- CPCAB Level 3 Certificate - Counselling Skills for Working with Children
- Genogram Training - New Pathways
Member organisations
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 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- £50 for an hourly counselling session.
Concessions are available to students and individuals on a low income, please contact me for details.
When I work
My working hours are Monday - Friday and I am able to be flexible to accommodate evenings.