Nicola Rhodes

I am currently available for in person and remote sessions via telephone, Zoom or WhatsApp video and also for home visit sessions, which are subject to your locality and personal situation. 

My office opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 6pm. I have various times still available on each of these days. I offer later evening appointment times and aim to be as flexible as I possibly can to fit sessions around my clients busy schedules. 

For a home visit session, extra planning and a possible extra travel expense will need to be negotiated between us to work around my busy appointment book to allow for travel time, especially if I am required to travel outside the local area. 

All contact information shared with me is kept strictly confidential and as a Registered data controller with the ICO I comply with all regulations around how my client’s data is handled and stored, further information about this is available upon request.

Areas I Can Help With:

Some of the issues I have encountered as a therapist that I may be able to help you with are:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Suicidal Ideation

• Self Harm

• Sexual Abuse & Rape

• Domestic Violence

• PTSD

• Anger Issues

• ADHD/AS/Asperger's

• Work Related Stress

• Relationship Issues

• Dementia & Elderly Issues

• Palliative Therapy

To name but a few.

Bereavement, Trauma and Narcissistic Abuse are where my expertise lie. Also, as a counsellor for children and young people aged 11-18 years.

Qualifications And Training:

• CPCAB Level 2 Counselling Skills

• CPCAB Level 3 Counselling Studies

• CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

• CPCAB Level 5 Psychotherapeutic Counselling Diploma

• BACP Competencies for Humanistic Counselling with Young People (11-18 years) – Stage 1

• Cruse Bereavement Care/ Bereavement Support Foundation Course, Face to Face Elective Training.

• Counselling Tutor – Online and Telephone counselling course – BACP recognised.

Whatever has brought you to this directory, I’m reaching out with genuine care and compassion to you. You’ve already made the momentous decision to explore what’s troubling you, so if you decide after reading my profile that I might be the therapist to walk beside you as you take a deeper look into these things, I will meet you with unwavering empathy, acceptance, heartfelt warmth and understanding, to provide you with a safe and non judgmental space where you can explore all you wish to within our secure and trusting therapeutic relationship.

This relationship is key to the success of our work together and it’s built on trust and honesty with each other and on being real in the moment with one another. Being authentic in this way, though it may sound scary, will help to reinforce trust in yourself and in your instincts. The magic of this is because you will be the driving force behind your therapy, any shifts, realisations and “Aha!” moments you experience will be long term and life changing ones.

Session by session, you will begin to re-discover your inner reserves of resilience and a more empowered you. Also, our counselling relationship may inspire you to realign any problematic patterns of relating that we may pick up on in session and practice these new ways of being in relationship with those outside our therapy room, perhaps strengthening and rejuvenating them in the process.

Some of my clients have said:

“Nikki is a special warm lady who I can recommend whole heartedly. Nikki helped me through a very tough time and explored different aspects of my life in a safe place, it helped me to better understand my situation and be able to move on.” (D)

“Nikki made me feel completely at ease from the moment I walked through the door on our first session. Her understanding nature and ability to truly listen was something I’ll never forget, helping me process trauma and grief in my own time.” (S)

I am an Integrative Psychotherapist, with Gestalt and Polyvagel (Trauma) theory central to my thinking and the Humanistic (Person-Centred) approach at the heart of my practice.

I have worked closely with bereavement, grief, loss and palliative care as a bereavement counsellor with Cruse and as a carer for the elderly, providing me with specialist training and experience with those facing dementia, end of life and the changes that getting older brings.

At the other end of the spectrum, as a college counsellor, I have experience working with young people aged 16-18 years, presenting with a vast array of issues, and I am trained and qualified to work with children as young as 11 years old.

I aim to help my clients access inner reserves of resilience, to promote autonomy and empowerment, encouraging them to find their own path forward through life’s challenges, to reach a place of inner serenity and ultimately a more fulfilled and satisfying life.

I offer a free initial chat either over the phone or via a secure video platform for you to see how talking with me feels. If you feel comfortable and easily open up to me, this is a good sign that I may be the right therapist for you. This conversation also gives us the opportunity to introduce ourselves and for you to see if I align with your particular therapeutic needs and for me to assess whether I’m best suited, skill set wise, for you.

Speaking in this way works wonders, as vibes are pretty instant and I encourage potential clients to be honest if they’re not feeling it with me, as being authentic from the outset is paramount to our therapeutic alliance and to the overall success of our work.

Being inclusive and reaching everyone who is seeking therapy really matters to me, which is why, I not only offer in person sessions at my cosy and welcoming office in the heart of South Petherton, but at an alternative space over in Street that is all on one level and fully wheelchair accessible.

My office in South Petherton is very easily located with parking directly outside. Alternatively, home visits can be arranged if meeting each other online doesn’t suit you and getting out and about isn’t an option for you, these visits are subject to where you are located and your individual needs.

If you prefer to meet remotely, we can arrange weekly sessions via phone or secure video platform such as Zoom.

Sessions with me last for 50 minutes. During our first session we will run through some essential paperwork together, namely our counselling agreement. We can, if you wish, look at a very brief client assessment tool, which helps clients who feel a bit nervous, ease gently into the narrative of the issue they wish to bring, it also acts as a helpful visual aid at the start of your therapeutic journey. As I work in a client led way, if you don’t feel like looking at this tool that is also absolutely fine.

Discussing your expectations and goals for therapy at this point helps us have a focus and direction for our work together. Areas you wish to focus on may shift and evolve along with your therapy and I will check in with you regularly, to see if this has happened to make sure I’m staying true to your therapeutic needs. 

Trust is nurtured from the outset as our therapeutic bond builds. This will help cushion the effect of meeting challenging issues head on, guiding you towards the resolutions and outcomes you seek.

So, if you’re ready to take this first step on your journey to feeling better, please get in touch to arrange an initial free meeting. My hand is outstretched in genuine care, ready to receive yours.