Nicola has worked with children and their families for many years, originally as a nurse, then as a school nurse for two secondary schools and six primary schools in Guildford. It was during this time that she became particularly interested in helping children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, and she set up counselling sessions for students within the secondary schools and began training teachers and running parenting sessions to increase awareness and understanding of children’s emotional needs. More recently Nicola has used the recent findings of neuroscience in her work with families and how the gut, heart and brain are connected.

In 2002 Nicola began training as a Systemic Family Psychotherapist at The Institute of Family Therapy where she completed the Diploma and at The Tavistock Clinic where she completed the Masters. She first joined the Family Therapy Team in CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) at Frimley Children’s Centre, and then moved from the school health service to work in CAMHS where a post that was created for her as a Child Mental Health Therapist.

During her years in CAMHS Nicola worked with children and adolescents with many issues, including anxiety and phobias, depression, suicidal Ideation & self-harm and on call for self-harm assessments at the hospital. Nicola has also worked with young people with gender identity issue, an area where thinking has changed significantly in the last 10 years.

Nicola uses family therapy and EMDR to help children and families post adoption and whilst fostered and across culture. She is experienced in working with children with Developmental Disorders, and has a passion for working with children and families who have experienced trauma.

Nicola gained extensive experience in using EMDR whilst in CAMHS and uses it frequently for many different situations including traumas that can be severe, complex or a single incident, phobias, nightmares and resilience building. Nicola finds that children are relaxed with EMDR as it can be playful, non invasive and doesn’t necessarily involve lots of ‘talking about things’ which children sometimes can’t or don’t want to engage with.

Whilst at CAMHS Nicola trained to teach Mindfulness at The Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre and uses this both in her own life and in her work.

Other therapies and schools of thought that influence Nicola’s practice are Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Parent and Child Attachment Game using video.

Nicola provides supervision and teaching of systemic and EMDR therapy. She is registered with the UKCP, AFT and EMDR UK and Ireland Association.

Nicola has had her own practice in Jersey in the last three years and now works in Chichester at Beacon House.

  • EMDR Registered Practitioner
    EMDR UK & Europe Association 2013
  • EMDR Child & Adolescent Training
    Joanne Morris-Smith, 2013
  • EMDR Training
    EMDR Works 2012
  • Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
    The Oxford Therapy Centre 2009
  • MSc in Systemic Psychotherapy
    The Tavistock Clinic London 2005-2007
  • Diploma in Family Therapy
    Institute of Family Therapy London 2002-2004
  • Registered General Nurse
    The Middlesex Hospital London, 1980
  • Systemic Supervision
    Barry Mason 2019
  • The Cyclical Nature of Trauma
    Zoe Lodrick 2018