Nicola Barnard, BACP

Nicola Barnard uses person-centred and evidence-informed therapy to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression and loss. She aims to create a calm space where clients can speak openly. Nicola is a BACP counsellor with four years' experience in the field.

She supports people dealing with relationship strain, low self-esteem, grief and issues around motivation and confidence. Nicola also works with concerns such as parenting stress, compassion fatigue, career uncertainty and the challenges of life changes. Her practice includes work around trauma, abuse, ADHD and bipolar-related difficulties.

Nicola takes a collaborative approach in sessions. She listens first, then helps clients identify practical steps that feel manageable. Techniques come from cognitive behavioural ideas, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy and elements of attachment and dialectical approaches.

Clients can expect straightforward conversations about feelings, thoughts and daily habits. Nicola will help people notice patterns, try small changes and build skills to cope with hard moments. Sessions aim to be down-to-earth and focused on what matters to the person in front of her.

She draws on experience supporting issues such as abandonment, adoption and foster care matters, body image, chronic illness, caregiver stress and blended family concerns. Nicola aims to offer steady support while people work through practical and emotional challenges.

Approaches used online and how they help

Nicola draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and choosing actions that match personal values. ACT can help people feeling stuck by shifting focus toward what matters and taking small, meaningful steps.

She also works with Client-Centred Therapy, which means the counsellor listens without judgement and follows the client's pace. This approach helps people feel heard and build trust, which is useful for issues like grief, low self-esteem and relationship strain.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Nicola will discuss different methods and agree a way forward based on a person's needs, goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change as therapy progresses.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to fit different lives. Video lets people use face-to-face conversation when possible. Phone calls can work when bandwidth is limited or a quieter setup is needed. Live chat or messaging can suit short check-ins, ongoing support and people who prefer writing to speaking.

These options aim to make therapy flexible and easier to attend while keeping the focus on practical skills, emotional processing and steady progress with the chosen therapeutic approach.