Counsellor profile
Nicola Barker, BACP
Counsellor for anxiety and stress
See online counselling options- Client-Centred Therapy
- EMDR and hypnotherapy
- Mindfulness and solutions
About Nicola
Counsellor Nicola Barker is a BACP member with 14 years of experience. She works with people in the United Kingdom on anxiety, stress, low self-esteem and confidence issues, and related concerns such as depression and coping with life changes.
Nicola uses straightforward, person-centred ways of working. She listens and helps people name what is worrying them. Sessions focus on practical steps, coping strategies and clearer thinking about next moves in life or work.
Her background includes work with trauma and abuse and with grief and relationship strain. Nicola also supports people dealing with sleep problems, anger and compassion fatigue. Additional areas noted are chronic illness and disability, caregiver stress, ageing issues, and social anxiety.
Her approaches include client-centred therapy, EMDR, hypnotherapy, mindfulness and solution-focused work. Nicola blends these methods to suit what someone wants to focus on, such as reducing panic attacks, processing past trauma, or building everyday coping skills.
Sessions are designed to be practical and interactive. The counsellor aims to help people develop tools to manage symptoms and to plan small, achievable changes. For international clients and those in the UK, Nicola asks people to confirm the current session options before booking.
To start, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session. Nicola works with each person to agree the goals and the pace of work.
Therapeutic approaches used in online counselling
Client-centred therapy places the person and their concerns at the heart of sessions. The counsellor listens and reflects, helping people clarify what matters to them and identify small steps they can try to change things. This approach suits worries about confidence, stress and relationship concerns.EMDR, or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, works by helping someone process distressing memories that keep causing strong reactions. It is commonly used for trauma, panic and intrusive memories and aims to reduce the intensity of those reactions.
The counsellor sees choosing an approach as a collaborative process. She will discuss options, explain what each method involves, and agree together which path to try first. Goals, personal preference and how someone responds are all taken into account when shaping the work.
Check the current session formats before booking so you know how sessions will be arranged. Online working can make it easier to fit counselling around work, childcare or travel. It also allows shorter check-ins and sessions without the need to travel, which some people find more practical for arranging ongoing care.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she commonly address?
She works with anxiety, stress, low self-esteem and confidence issues. She also supports people with depression, grief, sleep problems and trauma-related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centred approach that focuses on listening and practical steps. She also draws on EMDR, hypnotherapy, mindfulness and solution-focused techniques when appropriate.
How much experience does she have?
She has 14 years of experience working in counselling and psychotherapy.
Which professional body is she a member of?
She is a member of BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
In which language are sessions held?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with her?
She accepts international clients; confirm the available session options before booking.
How are sessions charged?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Start by selecting the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.