About me
General information about me and my service
I’m Nolan Richardson, a Cardiff-based counsellor and psychotherapist, offering sessions in person, online, and by phone.
You might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure why things feel the way they do. It can sometimes feel like different parts of you are in conflict - one part wanting change, another feeling unsure, and another trying to keep things under control.
I work with adults from a range of backgrounds, and often support people experiencing:
- Anxiety and overthinking
- Self-esteem difficulties and feeling not good enough
- Relationship challenges
- Grief and bereavement
- Life transitions and identity questions
- Emotional experiences that feel conflicted or hard to understand
- Neurodiversity and exploring neurodivergent identity
I also welcome and affirm people from LGBTQI+ communities.
I value working with people from different cultural, ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds. I recognise that culture, faith, family, migration, language, and community all play a role in shaping how we experience ourselves and others.
My approach to therapy
My approach is relational and integrative.
I often think about emotional difficulty in terms of different parts of us, each holding particular feelings, needs, or ways of coping. You might notice a self-critical part, a part that feels overwhelmed, or a part that is trying to protect you. In therapy, we can begin to understand these experiences with more clarity and compassion.
Rather than focusing only on symptoms or quick solutions, I aim to understand your individual experience and what may sit beneath the difficulties you’re facing.
I also pay attention to what happens between us in the therapeutic relationship, as this can offer important insight and a different experience of being understood. I aim to work in a way that feels collaborative, grounded, and genuine.
What to expect in your first session
Your first session is a chance for us to begin understanding what has brought you to therapy and what you might be hoping for.
There’s no pressure to explain everything clearly or to know exactly what you need. We’ll take things at a pace that feels manageable and begin to make sense of things together.
How therapy can help
Therapy can help you develop a clearer understanding of yourself, your patterns, and your relationships. It can offer space to explore emotional experiences, especially those that feel conflicted or difficult to put into words, and to build a more compassionate relationship with yourself.
Free introductory call
I offer a free 15-minute phone or video call so we can meet, talk about what you’re looking for, and see whether working together feels like a good fit.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Postgraduate Diploma Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy – University of South Wales
- Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling (CBT) – University of South Wales
- BA Theology & Religious Studies with Honours - Liverpool Hope University
Previous roles in education, mental health, and support services allow me to create inclusive environments, address unique challenges, and build meaningful relationships with those in need. These experiences have deepened my understanding of human resilience and emotional well-being, reinforcing my belief in the importance of offering a safe, nonjudgmental space for healing and growth. I am also a Bereavement Volunteer with Cruse.
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Essentials with Dr Lane Pederson
- Healing Trauma with Janina Fisher
- Introduction to sexual violence/abuse - Axis counselling
- Applied suicide intervention skills training (ASIST) – LivingWorks
- Master class in Trauma-informed stabilisation treatment - Janina Fisher
- Compassionate Inquiry in Action - Gabor Mate
- Narcissistic Relationships, Emotional Abuse and Gaslighting - Pesi UK
- Complex Trauma Master Class - Pat Ogden
- LGBTQ+ Affirmative Care Specialist Training - Pesi UK
Member organisations
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
Fees
£50.00 per session
When I work
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