Nicola Townsend

I take an integrative and intuitive approach that focuses on the unique needs of each client, drawing on a range of evidence-based techniques, including psychodynamic therapy, CBT and solution-focused therapy, to help my clients achieve their goals. I offer a safe, comfortable, non-clinical setting where the emphasis is on the therapeutic relationship. Pudding, my therapy dog, really adds a relaxed, homely feel to the sessions.

If you’ve had counselling previously and, at the time, it didn’t feel right for you; it doesn’t mean that it can’t help you now. Perhaps it wasn’t the right time, right therapist or right counselling approach. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be helped. 'I have seen other therapists in the past and chose this time to work with an integrative therapist. I have found Nicola to be much more proactive in her sessions to help me overcome issues that were impacting my mindset and how I cope with problems. She is down to earth, non-judgemental and easy to be yourself with. Over the last seven sessions Nicola has helped me immensely by building self-esteem, resilience and overcoming a period of depression.'
Financial advisor, 41

I'm a very real person with a wealth of life experience, made a whole heap of bad choices, learned and grown from it and who now helps guide others towards a more authentic existence.

I specialise in short term, solution focussed therapy and with my training and experience in integrative therapy and my ability to work intuitively, I can provide the combination of methods and tools you need to get you where you want to be in the shortest possible time.

This is not the aim of every client though and I’m equally happy to provide longer term therapy.
 
With over eleven years in practice, I have worked with most issues with a diverse clientele from six years of age upwards.
 
Most of my clients enter therapy experiencing various degrees of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Many of them have been held back by these feelings for years and thought they could never overcome them.
 
I know that it can be so hard to reach out for help and easy to convince yourself that you don't need help anyway, so if I receive an email late at night or at the weekend I reply immediately if I can. I don't want you to miss the moment.

Testimonials

Hospitality worker, 20. Life changing! When i started looking for a therapist i was skeptical of if therapy would work but Nicola has  definitely proven me wrong! I cant explain how much she has helped me through an extremely difficult time with my mental health with her calming and comforting ways. I will miss going to our sessions but i will always be able to use the tips and tricks she taught me to deal with anything life throws at me in the future. I couldn’t be more grateful to have found such a wonderful therapist and the therapy dog pudding is the sweetest little companion for while you are there! Thank you so much Nicola 🩷

Business Analyst, 29. From the very first contact with Nicola on the introductory call I felt at ease. I’d been incredibly apprehensive about getting any form of help, but I found Nicola so reassuring and easy to open up to. I’ve worked through a lot of trauma and emotional issues in my sessions when I could barely voice them to myself previously. I honestly can’t thank Nicola enough for the amazing work she’s done and the emotional weights she’s helped me to lift. Most of all I’ve really enjoyed my therapy, Nicola is a wonderful counsellor because she’s a very warm and genuine person to talk to. I will really miss our sessions but I am so proud of how far I’ve come because of them. Thank you so much Nicola, you’ve truly changed my life for the better!

Stock assistant, 27, "I'm grateful to have found Nicola when I did. All of my self-esteem and anxiety issues had built up to a point where I couldn't be happy no matter what good things were happening in my life. Nicola helped me explore these issues (and how they were the root of other issues i had) and where they stemmed from, gave me great techniques that I'll take with me, and was a calm supportive presence the whole time. She made me excited to have sessions with her and I was always comfortable with her and Pudding. I can easily say that she's changed my life for the better, and I feel I can now live as the best version of myself."

Operational Manager, 29 - I came across Nicola's profile when searching for someone to talk to about my anxiety. What drew me to contacting Nicola was due to the extensive experience detailed on her profile as well as the fact that her dog Pudding would also be present in the therapy sessions. Nicola is incredibly welcoming and instantly made me feel at ease. My experience was nothing but positive and I left each session feeling more clear about the direction I wanted the therapy to go. Nicola was able to provide me with tools to overcome a number of my anxieties and feel more positive in myself. I would highly recommend Nicola to anyone wanting to start therapy.

Nurse practitioner, 41 - Thank you. It was a pleasure and an inspiration to have counselling from you. 

Mother of 12-year-old - Just wanted to say thank you for your support. **** seems much better in herself over her time with you and I will always be grateful. **** agrees that she doesn't need to see you again (which is great!) but I will be in touch if anything changes.

Solicitor, 38 - You are very easy to talk to and hugely insightful. You have helped me to put things into perspective. I'm in a much better head space than I was a week ago. 

Sales executive, 23 - A life changing and affirming experience. Highly recommend Nicola to anyone. Excellent therapeutic relationship developed over the weeks and although sad to say goodbye I no longer need the support. Job well done. Brilliant.

Graduate, 21  - Working one on one with Nicola gave me the confidence and support I needed to work through and explore the problems in my life that I had been afraid to confront by myself. She was incredibly supportive and understanding and made me feel at ease even through my first-session jitters. It has been a true gift to start feeling like myself again and I cannot recommend her enough.

Fundraiser, 27 -  'Working with Nicola was extremely easy. She is an accessible therapist who makes you feel comfortable sharing the things you are struggling with, and provides insightful and pertinent observations that provoke deeper reflection. After my time working with Nicola, I am feeling much more confident and happy in my life, something for which I am incredibly grateful.'

IT worker, 27 - '..............at the time I didn't know how withdrawn I had become; unable to feel any emotion due to a complicated medical history that had been ongoing for the last 6+ years. Within the first couple of sessions we had already made amazing progress. First of all realizing what was going on inside my head and then making steps to recovery. Over the next few months my emotions had almost fully recovered, I have had some ups and downs but I have only ever needed to contact Nicola and she would book me in within the week.
After attempting a lot of different styles of therapy over the years Nicola has been the only one that I feel has made any progress.
If you would like a therapist who treats you like a human rather than a test subject, I could not recommend a better therapist.'

Professional musician, 23 - 'I feel lucky to have found Nicola, she is the perfect counsellor. She is so kind and makes me feel completely at ease. She has been, and continues to be, the person I know will be there to help me whatever emotional difficulty I’m faced with, without hesitation. The thing that really sets Nicola apart, for me, is just who she is. She is open, warm and genuinely cares about her clients. Her guidance and techniques have been completely invaluable to me and my development through the struggles of mental health’

Dr T, former counselling co-ordinator - 'I know, without hesitation, that you are the person who will walk with those who are ready to take the journey to see these parts of themselves. The weak bits that run away in fear, the traumas that hunt down and devour peace, the anger that keeps happiness behind bars. You are the person who is brave enough to stand by your clients’ side and help them to forgive their weakness, strengthen their peace and reconcile their anger. You don’t just talk about making the world a better place, you actually go out and make a real difference.’

£60 per 50 minute session face to face or online.

£40 per 50 minute session face to face or online for concessions.

Bank transfer or cash

Home visits available at small extra cost to cover my travelling time.

With some clients their whole therapy is person-centred whilst some prefer a more directive approach, this is always client-led. I might integrate basic CBT, psychodynamic therapy (which looks at how past events are impacting on your present) or gestalt therapy for example. I consistently use positive psychology and solution focussed brief therapy with a dose of common sense.

I can also offer short notice, single session therapy. You may not be ready or want to commit to a course of therapy but still feel the need to talk through your problems confidentially and honestly in a way that is not possible with friends or family.