Nicola

Ms Nicola Bald, BSc

Professional Counselor

“You've spent years holding everything together, for your team, for your family, for everyone but yourself, and now you're running on empty. I'm Nicola, a BACP registered counsellor based in Richmond upon Thames. I mostly work with people managing burnout, cancer or serious illness, menopause, anxiety, and late ADHD or autism diagnoses. Before training as a therapist I spent nearly 25 years in corporate life, so I know exactly what it costs to keep performing when something underneath is quietly running out.”

About Me

Hello, I'm Nicola. I spent nearly 25 years in corporate life, in investment banking and then media, before training as a therapist, and I still carry a lot of what that pressure taught me about identity and burnout. These days I mostly work with people who are exhausted from coping. That might mean managing a cancer diagnosis, moving through menopause, living with anxiety that won't switch off, or only now understanding why they've spent years masking, after a late ADHD or autism diagnosis. I've always been curious about people, what shapes us, what we carry without noticing, and how we find our way back to ourselves. That's part of why I trained as a person centred, pluralistic and trauma informed therapist, and it still shapes how I work with people today. Sometimes life looks fine from the outside while you're stretched thin underneath. When we sit down together, we follow what's actually true for you in that moment. Sometimes that's through conversation, sometimes through walk and talk sessions, creative work, or grounding when talking feels like too much.

Approach

My approach is person centred and trauma informed, but honestly, it's more about being human than following any one method. Whether we're working one to one, as a couple, or in a group, my aim is to keep things real, steady, and genuinely supportive. Clients often tell me they feel understood rather than judged, and that our work together has helped them find some of the strength that illness, burnout, anxiety or exhaustion had quietly worn away. Alongside talking, I sometimes bring in walk and talk sessions, sand tray work, drawing or journalling, for the times when words alone aren't quite enough.
Contact Nicola

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Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

There are moments when life feels heavier than words can carry, whether that's a new diagnosis, burnout that's crept up slowly, menopause arriving without warning, anxiety that won't let you rest, or finally understanding why you've always felt slightly out of step. In those moments you don't need a textbook response. You need someone who will sit with the weight of it and help you find a way through that actually fits you. Here's where I can help most, whether one to one, as a couple, or in a group: Burnout, work related stress, and emotional overwhelm Life after serious illness or chronic health conditions, including cancer Menopause and hormonal transitions Anxiety, including the restlessness and racing thoughts that often come with it Neurodivergence, including late ADHD and autism diagnosis Trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and emotional disconnection Grief, loss, and major life changes Relationship challenges and communication difficulties Identity shifts, relocation, and transitions between cultures Living with disability or long term health challenges I offer sessions in the way that best suits your needs: In person (Richmond and East Sheen) Online (video sessions from the comfort of home) Telephone (for those who prefer voice only support)

Services Offered:

  • Trauma Counselling

    Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.

    Learn more about Trauma Counselling
  • Individual Therapy

    One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.

    Learn more about Individual Therapy
  • Couples Therapy

    Therapy for partners working on communication, conflict, intimacy, and trust, with both people seen together rather than individually.

  • Group Therapy

    Therapy conducted with a small group of people who share similar concerns, using peer interaction and diverse perspectives as part of the healing process.

    Learn more about Group Therapy
  • Online Counselling

    Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.

    Learn more about Online Counselling

Works With:

  • Adults
  • Elderly
  • Groups
  • Couples
  • Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout
  • Cancer Support

    The psychological and emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis on the individual and their loved ones, including fear, grief, and adjustment to treatment.

  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss, varying widely in duration and expression.

    Learn more about Grief, Loss & Bereavement
  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Relationship Issues

    Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.

    Learn more about Relationship Issues
  • Chronic Illness

    A long-term health condition (e.g., diabetes, autoimmune disease, chronic pain) that persists over time and affects physical, emotional, and social well-being.

    Learn more about Chronic Illness
  • Divorce Coping

    The emotional upheaval of separation or divorce, including grief, anger, identity disruption, and the challenge of restructuring family life.

  • ADHD / Attention Difficulties

    A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about ADHD / Attention Difficulties
  • Women's Issues

    Psychological challenges more commonly experienced by women, including gender-based stress, reproductive health concerns, body image, caregiving burden, and societal expectations.

  • Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma

Professional Title:

  • Professional Counselor

    A counselor qualified to provide professional mental health counselling services.

Credentials

Qualifications

BSc.(Hons) Person-Centred Pluralistic Counselling Advanced Practitioner -

Middlesex University

Memberships

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Counsellor / Psychotherapist

Membership: 415166

Service Areas

The Green House Therapy Rooms

In-person & Online

London, England

United Kingdom

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London, United Kingdom