Nicola Longson, BACP

Nicola Longson is a counsellor who works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain and trauma. She holds BACP accreditation, and she aims to create a respectful, compassionate space for people to talk about what matters to them.

Nicola adapts conversations and plans to the needs of each person. She uses straightforward, practical approaches to help with anger, low self-esteem and sleep problems. She also supports people managing grief, major life changes, and mood difficulties such as depression and bipolar challenges.

Her work includes attention to family concerns, parenting strain and communication problems. Nicola also addresses intimacy-related issues, jealousy, attachment and abandonment worries, and challenges connected to neurodiversity such as autism and Asperger syndrome.

In sessions she draws on client-centred listening alongside cognitive behavioural ideas and mindfulness techniques. Nicola also uses trauma-focused methods when earlier hurts affect daily life. She aims to help people notice patterns, try new ways of responding, and build small practical skills.

Nicola has around five years of professional experience in the UK. She encourages people to take gradual steps and offers support while they try out changes. To begin, people choose Start Therapy, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online counselling

Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person's experience. The counsellor offers empathic, non-judgemental responses and helps the person find their own solutions. This approach suits worries about relationships, self-worth and general life stress.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thought and behaviour that keep problems going. It uses practical exercises and simple experiments to test new ways of thinking and coping, which can help with anxiety, low mood and sleep difficulties.

Mindfulness approaches teach simple attention and grounding skills. These techniques can reduce rumination, help manage strong emotions and support better concentration.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most useful, and then try methods together to see what fits. People shape the plan collaboratively rather than following a fixed programme.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm the current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work, childcare or travel, and they can reduce time spent commuting. Some formats also allow shorter check-ins when a full session is not needed. Ask about the available session types when you complete the matching questionnaire.