about
As a registered Counselling Psychologist and EMDR consultant, I offer psychological therapy for personal development, and a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties. My doctoral level training, and experience working with individuals and couples equips me to use a range of therapeutic approaches suitable to the individual and couple. I describe myself as integrative and work within cognitive-behavioural, humanistic, psychodynamic, EMDR and systemic approaches and frameworks. Having training in and experience of different therapeutic models, I aim to provide the therapy that can best suit your needs. I describe my main way of working as relational, as we explore the impact of unhelpful ways of thinking on your feelings and behaviour, within an empathic relationship with me. In this supportive context, you are able to challenge your thinking and develop more adaptive ways of being. If we meet for an initial appointment, we will discuss your situation, needs and preferences and will collaboratively arrive at an understanding of how we might proceed. As your needs change, so will the therapy.
Qualifications
I am an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and an HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist. My Doctorate is in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology (PsychD) from the University of Surrey, Guildford. I have completed the Foundation Course in Family Therapy and Systemic practice and am an EMDR supervisor and consultant with EMDR Europe. My training and experience in psychology started back in 1993 and over the years I have worked in a variety of settings, including psychology departments in the NHS, hospitals, charity organisations and private practice. I work with adults, older adults, adolescents, couples and families.
Publications
Best, D., Nicholas, H. & Bradley, M. (2022). Roles and contexts in Counselling Psychology: Professionals in Practice. Routledge.
Nicholas, H. (2022) Working relationally with trauma. In D. Best, H. Nicholas & M. Bradley (Eds). Roles and contexts in Counselling Psychology: Professionals in Practice. Routledge.
Best, D. & Nicholas, H. (2022). Working in independent private practice. In D. Best, H. Nicholas & M. Bradley (Eds). Roles and contexts in Counselling Psychology: Professionals in Practice. Routledge.
Gabb, L., Nicholas. H., Abraham, R., Prakash, V., & Boothby, H. (2021). Do personality traits modify susceptibility to amyloid load in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia? A pilot study, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, October 11, 2021
Nicholas, H. & Goodyear, R. (2020). Supervision of a Sample of Clinical and Counselling Psychologists in the UK: A Descriptive Study of Their Practices, Processes and Perceived Benefits. The European Journal of Counselling Psychology. 9(1), 39-48
Nicholas, H. (2019). Counselling psychology in 10 years. Counselling Psychology Review. 34(2), 5 - 7.
Carpenter, T., & Nicholas, H. (2019). How to make changes that stick. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.worcester.ac.uk/about/news/academic-blog/how-to-make-changes-that-stick.aspx
McIntosh, M., Nicholas. H., & Huq, AH. (EDs.). (2019). Leadership and Diversity in Psychology: Moving Beyond the Limits. London : Routledge
Nicholas, H. (2017). Professional developments in counselling psychology. In V. Galbraith (Ed.), Counselling psychology: Topics in applied psychology. (pp. 210-215). Oxford: Routledge
Nicholas, H. Contributing author on Egan, G. (2018). The skilled Helper: A client-centred approach, EMEA, second edition. Andover, UK: Cengage Learning EMEA
Jones Nielsen, J.D. and Nicholas, H. (2017). Counselling Psychology in the United Kingdom. In R.K. Goodyear and J.W. Lichtenberg (Eds.) A global portrait of counselling psychology. New York : Routledge
Nicholas, H. (2016, May, 2) Working relationally with clients living with a neurodegenerative disorder (http://wp.me/p3Wub6-Bp4 )
Goodyear, R.K., Lichtenberg, J.W., Hutman, H., Overland, E., Bedi, R., Christiani, K., Di Mattia, M., du Preez, E., Farrell, W., Feather, J., Grant, J., Han, Y., Ju, Y., Lee, D., Lee, H., Nicholas, H., Jones Nielsen, J., Sinacore, A., Tu, S., & Young, C. (2016) A Global Portrait of Counselling Psychologists’ Characteristics, Perspectives, and Professional Behaviors. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 29(2), 115-138.
Jones Nielsen, J.D. and Nicholas, H. (2016). Counselling Psychology in the United Kingdom. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 29(2), 206-224.
Prior, J. , Abraham, R., Nicholas, H., Chan, T., Vanvlymen, J., Lovestone, S., & Boothby, H. (2016) Are Premorbid Abnormal Personality Traits Associated with Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 31(9), 1050-5
Walsh, Y., Dillon, S., Frankland, A., Kerr, C., Larsson, P., Nicholas, H., & Sugg, M. (2013). Working relationally with trauma: A discussion. P.James (Ed.) Leicester: The British Psychological Society
Nicholas, H. and McDowall, A. (2012). When work keeps us apart: A thematic analysis of the experience of business travellers. Community, Work & Family. 15(3), 335 - 355.
Nicholas, H (2011). DCoP enjoys annual conference in Bristol. British Psychological Society. www.bps.org.uk/news/dcop-enjoys-annual-conference-bristol
Nicholas, H. (2009). Individual’s experience of Living Apart Together (LAT) in later life: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Unpublished research.
Nicholas, H., Moran, P., Archer, N., Foy, C., Brown, R., Lovestone, S, & Boothby,H. (2010). Are abnormal premorbid personality traits a marker for Alzheimer’s disease? –A case-control study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 25(4), 345-51.
Foy,C.M.L., Nicholas,H., Poppe,M., Archer,N., Hollingsworth,P., Dowzell,K.F., Williams,A., Moore,P.J., Boothby, H., Williams,J., Owen,M.J., Al-Sarraj, S. & Lovestone, S. (2007). Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease – non-clinicians and computerised algorithms together are as accurate as the best clinical practice. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 22(11), 1154-63.
Archer, N., Brown, R., Reeves, S., Boothby, H., Nicholas, H., Foy, C., Williams, J., & Lovestone, S. (2007). Premorbid personality and behavioural and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 15(3), 194-205.
Archer, N., Brown, R., Boothby, H., Foy, C., Nicholas, H. & Lovestone, S. (2006). The NEO-FFI is a reliable measure of premorbid personality in patients with probable Alzheimer’s Disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 21, 477-484.
Ellul, J., Archer, N., Foy, C., Poppe,M., Boothby, H., Nicholas, H., Brown, R.G. & Lovestone, S. (2006). The effects of commonly prescribed drugs in patients with Alzheimer’s disease on the rate of deterioration. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 78(3), 233-9.
Archer, N., Brown, R., Boothby, H., Foy, C., Nicholas, H. & Lovestone, S. (2004). The relationship between premorbid personality and the BPSD in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The 9th international conference on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Archer, N., Boothby, H., Brown, R., Foy, C., Nicholas, H., Poppe, M., Shabbit, S. & Lovestone, S (2004). The relationship between premorbid personality and behavioural and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (BPSD) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology of Aging. 25, S305-S306 Suppl. 2,Jul 2004.