Dr Nikki Wood

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Pronoun: she
MA (Hons) Psychology, D.Clin.Psychol., C.Psychol., AFBPsS
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Cambridge CB21 & Saffron Walden CB11
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I offer short term therapy, depending on your needs, using both motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) where our sessions would be very much based on identifying your own goals and values, and working with anxiety, social anxiety, low mood and depression, difficult thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, with both compassion and care. If you are struggling with addictive behaviours, I also work using MI, CBIT, harm minimisation and relapse prevention. 

I also provide longer term holistic therapy using principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, counselling, internal family systems theory, and compassion focussed therapy. This is for deeper levels of distress relating to relationships, mental health, work problems, bullying, feelings of isolation and depression, and complex family dynamics. Many of us are facing anxiety, fear, stress, low mood, burnout, trauma,  moral injury, loss, grief, and uncertainty about what the future may hold following Covid.

These remain unusual times, and I am happy to provide a space to discuss your experiences. I continue to work in the NHS, supporting NHS staff’s mental health and well-being, and in Adult ADHD,  and until recently with young people who self harm, as well as in private practice online across the UK. I also specialise in working with addictive behaviours, including gambling, and have a particular interest in Adult ADHD, especially in women, and other areas of neurodiversity. 

I've noticed that many of my clients have been using alcohol, drugs, prescription medication, online shopping, gaming, gambling and doom scrolling/phone addiction as ways of coping. I offer a non-judgemental open space, currently only online, but am considering opening clinics in the Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Essex areas in the future. There are things we can change and things we can't. We are all struggling, and that's ok. I work evenings, Mondays and Fridays during the day and at the weekend and am probably what would be considered a night owl. I will be happy to offer sessions later in the evening, outside of the typical 9-5. 

Training, qualifications & experience

UK wide expert in substance use and mental health including new psychoactive drugs like spice. I still work in the NHS as a Senior Clinical Psychologist. I was a Senior Manager in the NHS for many years, but wanted to get back to the true values and commitment of my profession and training. I have worked in adult mental health services in the NHS for more than 25 years, including many years in forensic mental health services. 

I am a Member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)  and the British Psychological Society, Division of Clinical Psychology. I am also an Associate Fellow of the BPS and a member of the Association of Clinical Psychologist -UK which is a good indicator of the level of my professional skills and experience and I adhere to and am accountable for all their strict standards of professional behaviour.

Qualifications

Internal Family Systems (2022)

ACT and Compassion Focussed Therapy (2022)

GTEP (2022)

Reflective Practice (2022) and (2016) 

EMDR (2021)

DBT (2018) 

Graduate Certificate in Group Analysis (2011)

Certificate in Group Work (2008)

Personal CBT, CAT, Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Long Term Personal Therapy 1999-2023) (absolutely essential for any therapist in my opinion)

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology UCL (2003)

Masters in Psychology, (Hons) Edinburgh University, (1993)

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

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.

HCPC
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.

They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.

Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.

Other areas of counselling I deal with

I have specialist interest in working with people who are struggling with drug and alcohol use, in the context of their mental health. In addition I am experienced in working with coping strategies that are starting to feel or becoming addictive, such as gambling, gaming and the internet. Initially all of these things are there to make you feel better, but they not be as be helpful as they were, or have even started becoming unhelpful and maybe even making your struggles worse.

Fees

£100.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session

Health Insurance/EAP

  • Axa Health
  • Aviva
  • Cigna
  • Health Assured
  • Vitality
  • WPA

Additional information

My fees do vary  but reflect my experience and training and are available on request. My standard fee is £100 online, but this will increase if you are looking for face to face therapy, especially in London. 

I am also registered with most insurance companies. 

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Weekday evenings from 6- 10, and Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 12-6 plus some weekend availability. I am only working online at the moment. 

Further information

I am happy to work with you online via various forms of secure messaging, WhatsApp, Zoom or a new very secure platform I am involved in called Clinix.

I am relaxed, highly knowledgeable, chilled, non judgmental, and provide a highly confidential and professional service. I understand the importance of potentially talking about something that for some may be controversial such as substance use or other addictive behaviours or even just things that have got out of hand and are hard to talk about. I believe that we are all doing our best but sometimes we can start to struggle when our behaviour and experiences become missaligned with our goals and values. 

Confidentially is guaranteed, and a breach of this would only occur in extreme circumstances, fore example,  if I thought that you or someone else was at risk of immediate and/or serious significant harm. This would always be discussed with you in and mutually and collaboratively agreed in advance about the best management strategy at the time of our first meeting, in line with our Terms and Agreements as well as on an on-going basis.

I do ask that time booked in and then cancelled within 24 hours or a DNA will be liable for full charge. I know this might sound harsh but it’s standard practice.

Great Abington, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB21

Saffron Walden, CB11

Type of session

Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Groups
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

I can currently provide a confidential online service by a platform that you feel is safe, such as zoom, skype, Microsoft Teams, whats app or other online applications, as well as the old fashioned phone.

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom

Supervision

Online
Phone

Drug and Alcohol Awareness, NPS, Drug and Alcohol Use, Motivational Interviewing, CBT, Relapse Prevention, Therapeutic Group Skills, Staff Support, Staff Reflective Practice, Boundaries and Bullying and Harassment.

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