Nicola Longson, BACP

Nicola Longson offers a warm, person-focused counselling style that puts the client's experience first. She uses straightforward conversation to help people navigate stress, anxiety, trauma and anger. Nicola is a BACP counsellor with five years of practice in the United Kingdom. She speaks English and aims to make the first steps into therapy as simple as possible.

Nicola adapts the way she works to each person's needs. Sessions may draw on client-centred ideas to create a respectful space, cognitive behavioural techniques to tackle unhelpful thinking, and trauma-focused methods when past events are causing current distress. She also uses mindfulness exercises to help people manage overwhelming feelings and improve sleep.

People come to Nicola for many reasons. Common concerns include family problems, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, low self-esteem, depression, bipolar mood challenges, parenting strain, and work-related stress. She also supports those coping with ADHD, attachment worries, body image and issues around control or dependency.

Her approach is practical and conversational. Nicola works with clients to set realistic goals and agree simple steps to try between sessions. She pays attention to how daily routines, relationships and thought patterns affect wellbeing. Over time the focus can shift from coping strategies to building longer-term changes.

Sessions are available online by video, phone, live chat or messaging. New clients start by completing a short matching questionnaire and then arranging appointments that fit their schedules.

How Nicola’s approaches work online

Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person in front of the counsellor. It gives people space to talk at their own pace while the counsellor follows their lead and reflects what they say. This approach helps when someone needs acceptance and a steady, non-judgemental listener.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It uses practical exercises and small experiments to change unhelpful thinking, manage anxiety, improve sleep and tackle low mood. Many people find it useful for solving specific problems and building new habits.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Nicola will talk with each person about goals and preferences, then try methods that suit their situation. She checks in regularly and adjusts the plan so the work remains relevant and manageable.

Online sessions can be arranged as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. Video lets people read facial cues and have a fuller conversation; phone calls need less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat or messaging can be used for brief check-ins, processing between sessions or when writing helps express things more clearly. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and daily life while keeping the focus on progress and practical skills.