Nicola Johnston Counsellor Bsc Hons (psychology), MBACP

About me:

I am a fully qualified person-centred counsellor. I will offer you a welcoming and calm space where you can share your thoughts, feelings and difficulties confidentially. I will not judge or criticise you. I will take time to get to know you so that I can understand and empathise with what you are going through. We can work at whatever pace you choose so that you are able to find your own way forward.

I have a private counselling practice working one to one with both adults and young people. I base myself in a small multi therapy clinic in Chalfont St Peter. I also have access to counselling rooms in Maidenhead and Beaconsfield and can meet with you in these locations if this is more convenient. I can offer both short term and longer term work.

I have a great deal of experience in supporting and counselling adults and teenagers. Through my client work I have seen how powerful and effective counselling can be. I am passionate about the work that I do.

Why counselling?

Everybody faces difficult, stressful or sad situations at some points in their lives. While reading this you may be experiencing feelings of distress, anger, anxiety, depression, low mood, low self-confidence or confusion. Counselling is one of the ways in which you can take care of yourself through these challenging times. Counselling will give you the chance to process these feelings so that you can choose to accept or change things in order to find happiness in your life.

Talking to someone confidentially outside of your friends and family network can be very helpful. Being ‘truly heard’ is a powerful gift. In being offered this through counselling you will find very distressing situations more bearable, you will be able to understand yourself and your situation more fully, and you will find ways to change things for the better.

What can you expect your counselling sessions to look like?

The counselling session will be for 50 minutes. We will sit together and you will be given the space to discuss and explore what is going on for you.

Each individual is unique and therefore each client’s therapy is different. It is very important to me that I get to know you so that I fully understand what is going on in your life. In doing this I can fully tailor your sessions to meet the needs that you have.

Sometimes you may simply need time and space to talk about your thoughts and feelings away from judgment present in the outside world. Therapy will be enable you to understand yourself and  develop your own solutions to problems being faced . Sometimes you may want a more practical, or solution focused approach where we can work together to set goals and work out coping strategies and the means to achieve these goals. We can work together each week using the most appropriate approach and technique for you

Training, qualifications and experience:

I am a person-centred counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). As such I work to the high standards and ethical framework of the BACP.

My interest in understanding and helping people began with getting my degree in Social Psychology over 20 years ago. Since then I have taken on roles supporting and coaching others.

In addition to my private work I have been counselling and supporting others in the voluntary sector for five years. I have been fully trained by the Samaritans to work as a Samaritans listener and I currently work as a counsellor in a Maidenhead agency and in a secondary school.

I undertake many hours of courses and conferences each year to ensure that I am up to date with the latest knowledge and developments in counselling. I have a wealth of experience working with adults and young people using both person centred and solution focused techniques. I have worked with clients struggling with a variety of issues outlined below. I feel that my greatest learning comes from each client that I am very privileged to work with.

• BSc (Hons)Social Psychology
• Certificate in Counselling Skills
• Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
• Certificate of ProficiencyBACP
• Registered member ofBACP
• Enhanced DBS Certificate

What next?

I really look forward to hearing from you. Please call or email, even if you are not sure if counselling is for you, and we can talk things through without obligation.