Nicola Demetriou

Nicola Demetriou approaches therapy from the belief that personal growth involves both being and becoming, an idea often associated with Carl Rogers. She is a qualified counsellor who turned to this profession after seeking counselling herself following a close bereavement.

Her own experience of the benefits of counselling prompted a career change from teaching to counselling. Since retraining, Nicola has supported people through a range of difficulties, helping them make positive changes in their lives while offering a warm and gentle therapeutic environment.

Nicola creates a space where clients can explore their experiences at a comfortable pace. She works to build a strong therapeutic relationship and to examine patterns in behaviour, thoughts and feelings across the past, present and future. Using authenticity and transparency, she collaborates with clients to identify workable steps forward that serve a greater purpose for them.

Therapy with Nicola is focused and practical. She supports clients to process emotions and to improve self-worth and self-esteem, setting achievable goals in six-session blocks as smaller steps toward longer-term aims. Nicola works with issues including stress, anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, grief and bereavement, depression, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, career concerns, coping with life changes, ADHD and LGBT-related matters. Techniques she may use include exploring and reframing negative thoughts, breathing and relaxation exercises, and communication strategies.

When someone first contacts Nicola, an assessment session is arranged so both parties can discuss the reason for counselling and the client’s goals. If they decide to proceed, regular sessions are scheduled at the same day and time each week, though fortnightly appointments are also available. Every six sessions the work is reviewed and goals are revisited, with open discussion encouraged about how the therapy is progressing. Nicola trained in integrative counselling to allow flexibility in choosing methods such as psychodynamic, solution-focused, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), person-centred, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis. Her seven years of experience include work with a bereavement charity offering over 12-session support, a community charity addressing issues such as relationship difficulties, abuse, anxiety and infertility, counselling within a GP NHS surgery on a six-session framework for conditions including depression and insomnia, and roles within social services supporting families facing a range of challenges.