My Story
My fascination and curiosity about the complexity and richness of life has never waivered and I am not sure it ever will.
I see psychological therapy as a beautiful weaving of science and art. The work that I offer is highly bespoke and informed by neuroscience, attachment theories and child development alongside over 20 years of insights and experience, a keen intuition and deep appreciation of the human mind, body and heart.
Trauma was an unacknowledged but central part of my family’s life. My father never knew his own biological father and was evacuated from London to live away from his family at 4 and shipped off to boarding school. My mother suffered huge amounts of challenges in her early childhood and adolescent years. Both my parents showed me how intergenerational wounds can be prevented from being passed on and what the foundational principles are for a child to feel safe, loved, connected to themselves, others and our Earth. It is this legacy that I am committed to continue.
At 17, I left the stillness of the English countryside and arrived in London to study and I also fell in love; studying Psychology at Goldsmiths University and with a beautiful young man, who is still my husband 25 years on. I continue to study to this day. The journey, so far, has taken me on a deep dive into myself and several forms of therapeutic modalities (EMDR Therapy, Yoga Therapy, Family Work and Attachment Based Therapy) which I love to integrate.
Through my dedication to support families, children and adults to feel loved and be loved, I have worked in schools, intensive care units, special care baby units, in charities and the NHS. I now work solely in a private practice with people from and located all across the world. I am based in London, Stroud, and online as well as in GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugee and Asylum Seekers), which is very close to my heart. I have three wonderful children and love to walk, swim, read, study and spend time with my family and friends. Now, the main part of my work is with people of all ages who are looking for tailored ways to be supported compassionately in their transformation.
In our current culture, much emphasis is placed on our external self. When a rock enthusiast finds a geode, they get excited. They know the beauty that lies within each and every one. The outward appearance may seem very ordinary, perhaps even rough and imperfect, but as they go inside and look deeper, the beauty and uniqueness that lies within is revealed. Never before has there been such a high prevalence of distress and despair. Maybe we forgot the story of the geode and what lies beneath. It is my utmost belief and experience that we all have the right and potential to come back to this and it is my absolute passion and pleasure to offer this service to all I have the privilege of working with.
Since completing my Doctorate, I have done extensive training in:
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner - Level 1, 2 & 3)
Specialist Child & Adolescent EMDR training (level 1 & 2)
EMDR Sandtray Intensive Certification
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)/Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Autism and ADHD assessment
Parent Empowerment Training and family work
EMDR Group traumatic episode Protocol (G-Tep)
Human Rights Supervisors Training
As well as being a senior Clinical Psychologist, I am a very experienced Yoga Therapist for Mental Health. I have completed:
Yoga for the Special Child
Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY) Teacher Training
Teen Yoga UK training
Prenatal, post-natal and Mum & Baby Yoga teacher training
I have also been offering this work to children and adults of all ages and abilities in a huge variety of settings since 2018 and devised and delivered the UKs first Yoga therapy for Child and Adolescent Mental Health teacher training programme in collaboration with Janine Hurley and many amazing visiting teachers who facilitated deeper learning and insights in their areas of specialism.
With Dr Lana Jackson, I co-authored a chapter on ADHD in the book 'Yoga Therapy for Mental Health: for yoga teachers, therapists & mental health professionals' and am currently writing a book...watch this space!
I am registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practicing Psychologist and a member of EMDR Europe, UK and Emdria and insured with Tower Gateway.
Book a Consultation
To book a consultation please send an email to Nicki who will help with your requests.