HELLO. GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
Psychologist. Mum of two. Recovering shouter.
Practical, honest support for mums who are losing it more than they want to - and adults who are tired of being pulled around by patterns they can't seem to shift. Grounded in over a decade of psychology training and clinical experience. Built for real life, not the quiet version of it.
THE FOUNDATION.
What you'll find here.
WHAT I BELIEVE
You don't need more patience, more willpower, or another person telling you to just breathe. You need to understand what's actually driving it - and get the right tool for that specific moment.
HOW I WORK
No shame. No jargon. No advice that assumes you've had eight hours of sleep and a quiet cup of tea. Everything I offer is built for real life, stretched thin, and still showing up.
WHAT I WANT FOR YOU
To stop replaying the hard moments on loop. To trust yourself to come back from the ones that don't go well. To feel like yourself again - not just someone holding it all together.
THIS WASN'T THE PLAN.
This wasn't the plan.
I qualified as a psychologist in 2015 and spent years working in secure hospitals and psychiatric units, sitting with people in their darkest, most overwhelming moments. I thought I understood emotional overwhelm inside and out.
Then I became a mum.
And I discovered something humbling: knowing the theory doesn't help when you're running on empty. I knew why I was losing it. I knew what was happening. I had every tool available to me. And I still couldn't access any of it when my child was screaming and I'd had four hours of sleep.
That gap between knowing and doing is where everything I offer now comes from.
Because if a psychologist with over a decade of experience can't just stay calm, then maybe the problem was never about trying harder. Maybe it was about understanding what's really driving it -- and building the right tools around that.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I HELP OTHER MUMS DO.
MY BACKGROUND, FOR THOSE WHO WANT IT.
I've always been drawn to the why.
Not just what someone is doing, but what's driving it, what's underneath it, what keeps the pattern going. That curiosity started in secure hospitals and psychiatric units, and it shapes everything I do now - in the therapy room and in the support I build for mums.
I began studying psychology in 2006 and qualified as a psychologist in 2015. I've spent over a decade supporting people through some of the most emotionally intense corners of life. I currently work as a Clinical Lead in the NHS alongside my private practice.
CREDENTIALS.
- HCPC Registered Forensic Psychologist (ForenPsyD)
- NHS Clinical Lead, Complex Emotional Needs Service
- Co-Chair, South Wales DBT Local Area Network
- Trained in DBT and EMDR | Currently training in CAT
- 11 years qualified
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
Real people. Real change.
I've noticed a real positive change in how I approach things.
"Nicola creates such a safe, calm, and non-judgmental space that made it easy for me to open up, even about very personal things I'd never spoken about before. She is incredibly kind, patient, and understanding, and I always feel truly listened to. I'm really grateful for her support."
- Shannon
After a few sessions of EMDR, my fear is gone.
"She was so warm and supportive and set me at ease so quickly. Her recommended treatment was right on the money. I went to Dr Sutton for help regarding a previous medical trauma which was making me avoid certain tasks due to fear - and after a few sessions, my fear is gone."
- Laurence
