About
Having graduated as a clinical psychologist in 2008 in South Africa, Nicola has been fortunate to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a broad variety of settings and contexts. She has worked in part-time private practice for over 14 years as well as in university, corporate, and both inpatient and outpatient clinic and hospital settings in South Africa and the UK. She has also lectured and supervised training psychologists and counsellors, and run a variety of groups, including support groups, organisational, parenting and educational groups.
In her assessment and psychotherapeutic work, she works in an integrative way, depending on the particular needs of the individual or group she is working with. Understandings from a psychodynamic orientation, systemic understandings, as well as attachment, trauma and developmental theory, inform her approach. Nicola was trained from a psychodynamic orientation and she draws on, and has additional experience and training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), emotion-focused therapy (EFT), mindfulness-based therapies and compassion-focused therapy (CFT).
Her areas of interest include adjustment difficulties (including adjustment to life changes and stages), anxiety management, bereavement, women’s emotional and mental health (particularly maternal wellbeing, including perinatal depression and anxiety), and attachment theory and its usefulness in both individual and couples therapy.
She has been fortunate to continue to learn and grow through her rich work experiences, and values creating safe spaces for support and understanding.
"Greater curiosity about yourself and increased self-awareness can help you to recognise and shift destructive or unhelpful patterns of behaviour, and make more fulfilling choices. This insight can also help you to build meaningful relationships and allow you to live a richer, more rewarding and balanced life. To me, therapy is a collaborative process, where we work together to understand your situation, difficulties and needs from your unique viewpoint."
Position at Priory
Nicola has recently joined Priory as a clinical psychologist and is primarily based at Priory Hospital Bristol. She also works online.
Training
Nicola graduated as a clinical psychologist in 2008 from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. She went on to complete further training during her community service year. Her training has been accredited by the the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK and she is registered with both the HCPC and the Health Professions Council (HPCSA) in South Africa. She continues her professional development through various courses, workshops and supervision spaces.
Among others, she has completed an ACT course, an externship in EFT for couples, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course, safeguarding level 2 and a year-long child development course.
Research interests
Nicola's research during her training focused on the importance of supervision for psychologists and explored psychologists’ needs in supervision in different settings. After qualifying, Nicola worked in the research unit on anxiety and stress disorders at the Medical Research Council at the University of Stellenbosch. She was involved in a number of the unit's studies.
Language
- English
- African