Nicola Claydon, NCPS

Nicola Claydon, NCPS, is a UK-licensed counsellor who has worked with Betterhelp since May 2023 and brought three years of prior professional experience into that role. NCPS is presented here as a credential indicating professional training in counselling and psychotherapy. Nicola specialises in relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, and depression, and she approaches each person with the view that they are the expert in their own story and already possess many strengths to draw on.

She recognises that taking the first step toward a more fulfilling life requires courage, and she offers steady support through that process. Nicola provides a nonjudgmental, supportive space and aims to help clients make sense of past events they cannot change, working toward acceptance and clearer direction so people can reclaim their sense of agency.

During training Nicola completed placements across a range of settings, beginning with work alongside adult survivors of sexual abuse, then supporting families bereaved by suicide through an organisation called Pete’s Dragons. After lockdown she supported care workers and finished placement hours with Alabare, working with people who had experienced homelessness while in supported accommodation. Nicola also maintains a private practice where she sees clients with a wide variety of concerns.

Approaches, Collaboration, and the Convenience of Online Therapy

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns of relating. Nicola uses this approach to explore trust, closeness, and attachment wounds, which can be helpful for people struggling with relationship and intimacy issues.

Client-Centered Therapy places the person at the centre of the work, emphasising empathy, acceptance, and the client’s own goals. This approach supports people who want a collaborative, paced environment to build self-understanding and confidence.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and offers practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns. It can be useful for depression, anxiety, and coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey and Nicola works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they review what helps and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy with Nicola is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, giving flexibility to fit sessions around work, family, or location. These options make it easier to access registered professionals and therapists from different places and at different times, while keeping the focus on meaningful, effective therapeutic work.