Nicola Vernon , BACP

Nicola Vernon is a counsellor with 20 years' experience who supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression and a wide range of life challenges. She works with individuals on relationship and family concerns, grief and bereavement, addictions, trauma and intimacy-related issues. Nicola also helps with practical problems like sleep, eating difficulties, parenting strain and work-related stress.

She uses a person-centred approach that puts the client's experience at the heart of each session. That means listening carefully and following the pace that feels right for the person in the room. Nicola aims to create a calm, non-judgemental space where people can talk through feelings and reactions without pressure.

Alongside person-centred work she draws on cognitive behavioural techniques to address unhelpful thinking and patterns. Solution-focused methods are used to identify small, practical steps that can make a real difference day to day. Motivational interviewing supports people who are ready to change addictive behaviours or make other life shifts.

Nicola has particular experience supporting people through bereavement and loss, including work with children and family contexts. Her background also includes training in family bereavement, life story work, inner child approaches and trauma-related support. She offers evening and weekend appointments to suit different schedules.

Sessions are available by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. Nicola works from the United Kingdom and delivers therapy in English.

Approaches that fit online therapy

Nicola commonly combines person-centred counselling with cognitive behavioural techniques to help people make practical changes. Person-centred work focuses on listening and following the client’s pace, which helps people feel heard and understood. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at unhelpful thought patterns and behaviour and offer concrete strategies to reduce anxiety, low mood or sleep disruption.

She also uses motivational interviewing to support people ready to change behaviours such as substance use or unhealthy routines. That approach helps people clarify their own reasons for change and build confidence in small steps. Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process - Nicola will work with each person to agree which methods suit their goals and preferences.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when you want visual contact. Phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited or for a quick check-in. Live chat and messaging suit people who prefer shorter, written exchanges or who want support that fits around work and family commitments.