Bernadette Small, NCPS

Bernadette Small draws on three years of experience to offer calm, practical support for people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and grief. She holds the NCPS credential and shapes sessions around each person’s needs. She aims to make starting therapy straightforward and respectful.

Bernadette meets people where they are and listens without judgement. Sessions focus on building coping skills, exploring self-esteem and motivation, and working through difficult memories or loss. She also supports workplace challenges and executive coaching conversations when these affect wellbeing.

Her approach is collaborative and tailored. She works with clients to set realistic goals and tries different ways of working until a good fit is found. Communication is direct but warm, with practical steps between sessions when those help progress.

She pays attention to attachment issues, caregiver stress, shame and guilt, and the loneliness that can follow life transitions. Bernadette also helps people consider life purpose and navigate a midlife crisis when that becomes relevant.

People can expect a respectful space to talk and to try out new ways of coping. The emphasis is on small, achievable changes that add up. Her aim is to empower people to make choices that improve day-to-day functioning and emotional wellbeing.

Practical therapeutic approaches and online care

Bernadette uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on skills and recovery. One common approach she uses emphasises building coping skills for anxiety and stress through step-by-step practice, helpful for day-to-day tension and panic. Another approach concentrates on processing trauma and painful memories by working at a pace set by the client, which can reduce the intensity of distressing recollections and improve functioning.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work collaboratively with each person to identify goals, try a method, and adjust as needed. That shared process helps find ways of working that fit someone’s preferences, needs and pace.

Online sessions are carried out by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different circumstances. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when that is helpful, while phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text messaging make regular check-ins and brief reflections easier between calls. These options increase flexibility and make it simpler to maintain a steady therapy routine alongside work and family life.