Niki Ralph

Hello and welcome
Perhaps you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck or simply not quite yourself. You may know that something needs to change, but not be sure where to begin.

Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting. You don't need to have everything worked out before you reach out. We can start with where you are, and take things from there.

I am a humanistic counsellor with over 16 years' experience working across counselling and support services. Alongside my counselling training, continual professional development and experience, I have developed a particular interest in how our thoughts, emotions, bodies and nervous systems interact.

My aim is to offer a warm, empathic and non-judgemental space where you can slow things down, make sense of what you're experiencing and begin to develop a greater sense of understanding, choice and self-awareness.

You may be feeling…

You may be finding life difficult right now, even if it's hard to explain exactly why.

Perhaps you're:

• feeling anxious, overwhelmed or constantly on edge
• struggling with low mood, emptiness or a loss of motivation
• feeling stuck or unsure about the direction of your life
  carrying grief, difficult experiences or emotions from the past
• experiencing stress through tension, fatigue or feeling unable to switch off
• struggling with confidence or self-esteem
• finding yourself relying on coping strategies such as alcohol, food, overworking or other behaviours to manage difficult emotions

Whatever has brought you here, counselling can offer a space to pause, understand what is happening and explore what might help.

My approach
My approach is humanistic, which means I believe that, given the right conditions and a supportive therapeutic relationship, people have the capacity for growth, healing and greater self-understanding.

I don't believe counselling is about telling you what to do or trying to 'fix' you. Instead, we work together to understand your experiences, explore patterns that may no longer be serving you and consider different ways of responding.

Sometimes we can understand something intellectually, yet still find ourselves reacting in ways we don't fully understand. This is where awareness of the body and nervous system can be particularly helpful.

Working with the body and nervous system
Our experiences are not only reflected in our thoughts and emotions — they can also show up physically.

You might notice that your mind knows you're safe, but your body still feels tense or on high alert. Or perhaps you find yourself shutting down, withdrawing or feeling disconnected when things become overwhelming.

Learning to notice these responses can help us understand them with greater compassion rather than feeling controlled by them.

Alongside talking therapy, where appropriate and always collaboratively, I may incorporate gentle breathwork, grounding and body-awareness practices.

These aren't something you have to do. They are simply additional tools that may help you become more aware of what is happening within you, feel more present and develop practical ways of supporting yourself between sessions.

The therapeutic relationship
For me, the relationship between counsellor and client is at the heart of the work.

You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you need or even knowing where to begin. My role is to listen carefully, without judgement, and help create a space where you feel able to bring what is really going on for you.

I offer a free initial 20-minute conversation by telephone or online. This gives you an opportunity to tell me a little about what brings you to counselling, ask any questions and, most importantly, get a sense of whether I might be the right counsellor for you.

Practical information
I work with adults aged 18 and over and offer both short-term and longer-term counselling.

We review our work together regularly, usually every six weeks, to make sure that counselling continues to feel useful and relevant to what you need.

What clients say
"I am a 71 year old man , just finished a year of chemotherapy treatment for leukaemia. Following the chemotherapy, my self confidence was shattered and my mood very low. As soon as I met Niki I just knew that our sessions were going to be helpful, I didn't realise just how helpful. Niki's calm and confident manner immediately filled me with confidence as did the amount of effort that she put in to prepare our sessions. She listened, suggested and questioned my attitudes, all the time working to improve my flagging self confidence and to lift my mood. Niki showed me that my thoughts were actually quite rational and common in cancer sufferers and she used her counselling skill to alter the way that I thought about various matters.
My heartfelt thanks to Niki Ralph for helping me to regain my 'old self'.."

"My experience with Niki has been transformative on a personal level. Niki is a wonderful counsellor to work with as her warmth and genuineness are felt in every session. She inspires trust, confidence and connection which enabled me to open up and therefore get the most out of our sessions."

If you're wondering whether counselling might be right for you, you're welcome to get in touch. We can start with a conversation and see where it takes us.

Breathwork 

Nervous System Regulation

Free initial 20 minute assessment session via telephone or online

£70 for subsequent sessions (50 minutes)

On BUPA's register for clients with insurance

I offer counselling via online platforms, phone or face to face in Emsworth @ Apollo Practice and Bosham @ Green Door Centre (formerly Hamblin Hall, PO18)