Nikki Simpson

Are you looking for someone to listen? Through one to one counselling I offer you the opportunity to explore and address issues that may be affecting you in your life, preventing you from living fully.

Counselling for adults:

My aim is to create a space where you can be yourself, hence Space to Be. This means a cosy, non-clincal environment with a genuine warm welcome from me. I am not here to ‘fix’ you, rather to be alongside you as you seek to find the answers to the challenges you are facing.

Taking the time out to talk in confidence, and to be received as you are without judgement can be a life changing experience. I am here to support you to gain insight in to aspects of your life you may be struggling with, enabling a greater self understanding and allowing space for positive change to occur.

As a Person Centred Counsellor my approach is geared around supporting you to find the answers to the difficulties you face, believing inherently that only you know what is right for you!

Through our sessions I offer you the opportunity to experience a meaningful relationship, one built on trust, warmth and genuine acceptance. I bring to my work many years of mindfulness practice and a genuine belief that the capacity for healing is inherent in us all if we are willing to listen deeply to our bodies.

Being in counselling is not always an easy journey but it can be a hugely rewarding one and is a journey that you don’t need to make alone.

In the words of my clients:

It has been challenging along the way but I just want to thank you for being alongside me and supporting me to find happiness again. Jo, Stroud (2015)

Anxiety had taken over my life before I came for counselling, speaking to you has really helped me find ways to deal with my fears and for that I am so grateful. Katy, Stroud (2016)

Thank you so much for everything have have helped me with over the past couple of years. I am immensely grateful for your constant support while navigating this tricky transitional period. You have provided me with the tools to work through my anxiety and try to accept what I am feeling – good or bad. I’ve really valued the space to talk, be heard and all of your advice. (Young adult age 19)

Counselling for young people/ teenagers - 13 upwards:

Teenagers face many challenges in their lives and for some the teenage years are the most difficult. Adolescence brings with it physical and personal changes along with social and academic pressures, all of which place increased stress upon the family. Counselling can help play a supportive role at this time, providing a safe space to express feelings and gain perspective on issues that may be of concern.

If your son or daughter is showing some of these typical signs of adolescent psychological problems, then counselling could help:

Difficulty in coping with daily life, excessive worrying, extended periods of depression and lethargy, noticeable changes in eating , disturbed sleeping patterns, references to suicide or self-harm, apparent changes in personality, volatile mood, drug/alcohol misuse, pronounced demonstrations of aggression.

I work using an integrative approach which can involve a combination of talking, creative and play therapies as appropriate.

In the words of my clients/ parents of clients:

Thank you for helping to make me the happier person I am today - (Lucy age 15)

Thank you for all that you are doing with Amy she is definitely happier than when we first met you - (Parent of Amy age 14)

We are just so so proud of what our daughter has achieved and how she is flourishing. Thank you so much for all that you have done for her - you have been such a vital lifeline for her and taught her strategies for resilience that she can now build on and carry into adult hood. You need to feel proud of yourself for the difference you are making to young people’s lives. And it’s so reassuring that she can come back to you if needed.- (Parent of 16 year old)

Thank you Nikki, you are great at your job and have helped me greatly get my views across and helped me make my life better - (Anthony age 13)

I can not recommend Nikki highly enough. Following a difficult few years witnessing his Dad go through an operation, pneumonia and intensive chemotherapy, my son was overwhelmed by the demands of starting secondary school. Despite being a reserved character, he is now able to communicate his feelings and has a multitude of strategies to draw upon when feeling anxious. We still have some way to go, but I am confident that we now have a boy who is more self-aware and is better equipped to deal with the pressures of life. This is all thanks to Nikki’s warm and gentle approach. Her weekly sessions were a real comfort blanket for him during his most difficult times. - (Parent of 13 year old)

I hold a Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and a Post Qualifying integrative Diploma in Counselling Young People, I work both in private practise and more recently held the position of school counsellor in a Gloucester secondary school. I am an accredited member of the BACP.

I work with both adults and young people and have experience working with a range of issues including amongst others:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Loss and bereavement
• Relationship issues
• Divorce and separation
• Family issues
• Self-harm
• Anger
• Depression and anxiety
• Adoption and the care system
• Stress
• Life changes
• Abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Sexuality issues
• Body based issues
• Trauma
• Attachment disorder
• Low self confidence/ low self esteem