Nicola Barker, BACP

Nicola Barker helps people who are feeling stressed, anxious or stuck in their lives. She is a BACP counsellor with 14 years' experience and focuses on issues such as low self-esteem, relationship strain, grief and coping with change. Her approach is practical and straightforward so people can see small differences each week.

She uses a warm and respectful style in sessions and works with each person to build coping skills and clearer thinking. Nicola tailors each session to what the client needs that day, whether that means talking things through, practising calming techniques, or planning steps toward change. Sessions are described as interactive and collaborative.

Nicola integrates several approaches depending on what will help most. This can include client-centred ways of listening, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing for traumatic memories, and mindfulness or solution-focused tools for day-to-day coping. She also offers hypnotherapy as an option when suitable.

Her work often addresses anxiety, panic, sleep problems, chronic illness or pain, and the emotional strain that comes with caregiving and ageing. Nicola also supports people dealing with sexual assault and abuse, domestic violence, prejudice and discrimination, and isolation or loneliness.

Sessions aim to be a place to develop practical coping techniques, manage strong emotions like anger, and make realistic plans for the future. Nicola invites people to take a small first step and sees therapy as a collaborative process toward clearer days ahead.

Approaches you might meet in online therapy

Nicola commonly uses client-centred ways of working, which means the counsellor listens closely and follows what matters most to the client while helping them find their own solutions. This approach can help with building self-esteem and making sense of stressful life events.

She also offers eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, or EMDR, which involves structured sessions to process distressing memories and reduce their emotional impact. EMDR is often used when past trauma is affecting daily life. Mindfulness therapy is another option she uses to help people notice thoughts and feelings with less reactivity and to improve sleep or anxiety symptoms.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk through goals, preferences and what feels comfortable, and together they will decide which methods to try. This is a collaborative process and may change as therapy progresses.

If you are considering online sessions, check which session formats the therapist currently offers before booking. Confirming options will show how sessions can fit into your routine, whether you need shorter check-ins, quieter conditions, or times that sit around work and family commitments. Online work can make it easier to keep continuity and practice new skills between meetings.