Nicola Rhodes

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or in need of a safe space to talk? I’m a warm, compassionate, person‑centred counsellor with many years of experience supporting both adults and children through a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges.

I specialise in bereavement and loss, offering gentle, steady support as you navigate grief in your own time and at your own pace. I also work with issues such as anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, stress, self‑esteem, and life transitions.

A key area of my expertise is working with children and young people. I have extensive experience supporting them through the emotional, social, and developmental challenges that arise as they grow. My background includes many years in school settings, the NHS, and the charity sector, giving me a deep understanding of the pressures young people face today—whether that’s academic stress, friendship and family dynamics, identity, or the impact of early life experiences. I offer a calm, attuned, and developmentally sensitive approach that helps younger clients feel safe, understood, and able to express themselves in ways that feel natural to them.

My approach is grounded in empathy, respect, and the belief that you are the expert in your own experience. I work collaboratively, creating a space where you can explore what you need to feel heard, understood, and empowered.

I also hold a qualification in clinical supervision and offer supportive, reflective supervision for trainee and qualified counsellors, including those working with children and young people.

If you’re looking for a calm, non‑judgemental space to talk and be truly listened to, I’d be glad to walk alongside you.

My therapeutic approach is grounded in the person‑centred ethos, creating a space where children, young people, and adults feel heard, accepted, and understood. I believe deeply in each person’s capacity for growth and in the importance of working at their pace, in ways that feel safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate.

When working with younger clients, I draw on an integrative approach that may include creative or play‑based exploration, gentle reflective work, or more structured strategies. This helps children and young people express themselves, make sense of their experiences, and build confidence in their own voice.

I bring the same attuned, flexible approach to my work with adults, adapting our sessions to meet your individual needs — whether you’re seeking space to reflect, navigate life transitions, or explore emotional challenges with greater clarity and self‑understanding.

In my work, I aim to offer a steady, compassionate space where you can explore whatever you’re facing at a pace that feels right for you. My practice is rooted in the person‑centred ethos, building a relationship based on trust, openness, and genuine understanding. From this foundation, I integrate other therapeutic ideas when they may be helpful, allowing our work to be shaped around your needs rather than a fixed method.

I support people through many different experiences, including grief, emotional overwhelm, anxiety, and changes in relationships or life circumstances. My practice is informed by years of working with adults, children, and young people across a variety of settings, giving me a grounded awareness of the challenges people meet at different stages of life.

Working with children and young people is a significant part of my experience. I adapt the therapeutic space to suit their developmental needs, offering a gentle, attuned approach that helps them feel safe enough to express themselves in ways that make sense to them—whether that’s through creative exploration, play‑based methods, or quiet reflective work.

I bring the same steady, responsive approach to my work with adults, offering a space to explore life’s complexities with clarity, compassion, and support.

At the heart of my practice is the belief that therapy works best when you feel genuinely heard and understood. My role is to walk alongside you, offering support, steadiness, and a space where your thoughts and feelings can be explored without judgement.

In our first session, we take time to get to know each other and explore what has brought you to counselling. Together, we gently look at your needs, what you’re hoping for, and what feels most important for you right now. This helps us begin building a shared understanding of how therapy can support you.

If I’m meeting with a child or young person, this first session is also about helping them feel safe, comfortable, and at ease in the space. We go at their pace, using conversation, creative tools, or simple check‑ins depending on what feels right for them.

As part of this session, we agree a clear counselling contract, so you know what to expect and feel informed, safe, and supported as we move forward. It’s a collaborative process, and you remain at the centre of it throughout.

I offer supervision to qualified counsellors, trainee counsellors, and school‑based pastoral teams seeking reflective practice support. My background in working extensively with children and young people has shaped a strong interest in supporting counsellors and practitioners who work in this area, particularly around the emotional, developmental, and safeguarding challenges that can arise in their roles.

My supervision approach is steady, collaborative, and rooted in creating a space where counsellors and practitioners can think openly about their work. I aim to offer a relationship that encourages honest reflection, strengthens confidence, and supports ethical, well‑informed practice.

Supervision can take place in person, online, or through a blended arrangement to suit your needs and working patterns.

I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Person‑Centred Counselling from the University of Nottingham, an Advanced Diploma in Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy for Person‑Centred Counsellors from the University of Warwickshire, and a Diploma in Children and Young People’s Counselling. This training provides a broad and adaptable therapeutic base, enabling me to work with sensitivity and flexibility across a wide range of client groups and presenting issues.

As an experienced person centred counsellor and qualified clinical supervisor, I offer a supportive, reflective space for counsellors at all stages of their professional journey. My approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to helping practitioners feel confident, ethical, and well resourced in their work.

I have many years’ experience across the NHS, charity sector, and school settings, giving me a deep understanding of the realities and pressures counsellors face in diverse environments. I have worked with students and trainee counsellors, offering guidance that is both encouraging and appropriately challenging, helping them develop their therapeutic identity and navigate placement experiences with clarity and confidence.

Safeguarding has been a significant part of my professional background, particularly through my work with children and young people. I bring a strong, practical understanding of safeguarding processes, thresholds, and multi agency working, and I support supervisees in developing their own confidence and competence in this essential area of practice.

Whether you are a trainee seeking a nurturing supervisory relationship, or a qualified practitioner looking for a reflective, grounded space to explore your work, I aim to offer supervision that is collaborative, ethical, and tailored to your needs.

If you’re looking for a supervisor who values openness, authenticity, and the unique strengths you bring to your practice, I’d be pleased to support you.

For those beginning supervision with me, our first session is a chance to get to know each other and explore what you need from the supervisory relationship. We take time to look at your training or professional background, the settings you work in, and any particular areas you want support with. Together, we discuss your hopes, expectations, and preferred ways of working so that the supervision space feels safe, collaborative, and aligned with your development.

We also agree a clear supervision contract, covering practicalities, boundaries, and ethical considerations, so you feel informed and supported from the outset. This initial conversation helps us build a strong foundation for ongoing reflective work and ensures the space is shaped around your needs as a practitioner.

Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced counsellor seeking a thoughtful, grounded space to reflect on your practice, my aim is to offer supervision that honours your individuality, strengthens your confidence, and supports your growth.