Nicola Hutchings
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I'm Nicola and I offer a compassionate space where you're truly heard and together we'll unlock solutions to help you thrive.
Many clients come to me when they feel stuck due to anxiety, stress, trauma, or life changes. Talking with someone outside family or friends can be freeing.
I specialize in anxiety and stress management and have over 15 years’ experience as a an approachable, compassionate therapist based in Portsmouth.
I use various therapy styles because different approaches suit different people. I lean towards solution-focused brief therapy to achieve maximum benefit with realistic time investment.
The heart of the process is the therapeutic relationship and my desire to empower you. I focus on your future hopes to help you make changes towards living a more fulfilled life.
- I’ll listen to where you are now and where you want to be
- Notice relevant influences from your past if helpful
- Work with you to set and achieve your own goals
- Jointly we’ll set strategies to facilitate change
I am a qualified counselling supervisor for individuals and groups, committed to lifelong learning to enhance my practice. My experience as Head of Counselling at a local charity, Lead Counsellor in NHS primary care, and in the Voluntary Sector has given me extensive experience supporting people from various backgrounds find hope and freedom.
After many years, I am still passionate about therapy. If you have questions, or want to find out more about the service I offer, please look at my website: www.nicolahutchingscounselling.co.uk. Once you contact me, I'll get back to you to check diary availability, and at the first session we'll focus on what brings you to therapy and the hopes you have from coming.
In a safe, confidential place, you will have an opportunity to explore life and how to work towards your best hopes. Within a good working relationship, we will utilise the most appropriate style of counselling, so that the therapeutic experience is maximised. Therapy will focus on solutions, promote positive change and offer an opportunity to build on inherent strengths and potential. I offer:
Individual Psychotherapy: Providing a safe place to explore life and work towards positive change.
Couples Counselling: Providing couples with a safe environment to explore issues that may be interfering with their relationship.
Supervision for psychotherapists, trainee counsellors, and other professionals across a wide range of settings.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Masters Degree in Counselling Studies, University of Manchester
- Post Graduate Certificate in Supervision, Manchester Institute of Psychotherapy
- Accredited to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked
- Regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
With over 15 years of counselling experience, I am a qualified accredited psychotherapist. I'm also a counselling supervisor for individuals and groups, committed to lifelong learning to enhance my practice. My experience as Head of Counselling at a local charity, Lead Counsellor in NHS primary care, and in the Voluntary Sector has given me extensive experience supporting people from various backgrounds find hope and freedom.
Member organisations
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £70.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
- Individual Psychotherapy fees are £60 per session. (Consideration may be made on an individual basis)
- Couples Counselling fees are £70 per session
- Supervision fees are £50 per hour / £75 for 1.5 hours
Payment is accepted via bank transfer before each session.
Counselling may be funded by insurance schemes or Employment Assistance Programmes (EAP's).
When I work
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Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday daytime.
Further information
Testimonials
"I feel a totally different person and I enjoy life now. I learnt lots of different strategies that helped me to deal with stressful situations and feel I can cope with life and whatever comes my way" - Client
Dear Nicola, I felt I needed to drop you a line to thank you for the last 8 weeks – my how they have flown. I feel so much better, focused and positive. Thanks once again. - Client
To Nicola, I just wanted to drop you a line to say a big thank you for helping me sort things out in my life and move on. You have been a great help and inspiration. I would recommend your own personal services to anyone who needed help, as you helped me so much. Thank you. - Client
Location
Portsmouth: Counselling will be held in a discrete and quiet therapy room conveniently located within the John Pounds Centre. There are facilities for disabled clients, toilets and a waiting area.
Queen Street is the main road that leads down to the Historic Dockyard, with access to the John Pounds Centre through the archway on Queen Street, by the pedestrian crossing. 1 hour on-street parking is available for no charge in the surrounding roads.
Public transport links are excellent, with a bus stop right outside. Portsmouth Hard and Portsmouth and Southsea train stations are within walking distance.
The Ferry Terminal (Gun Wharf Quays) is just 5 minutes walk away for clients travelling from the Isle of Wight.
