Nicola Kelly

I am an accredited cognitive behavioural therapist, supervisor and trainer and work as a senior lecturer on the Post Graduate Diploma (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) course at Christ Church University in Kent (Salomons). This includes providing teaching and supervision to trainee therapists. In my private practice I offer cognitive behavioural therapy to people experiencing various difficulties related to mood, anxiety or other aspects of their psychological health. In addition to cognitive behavioural therapy, I enjoy providing clinical supervision to other cognitive behavioural therapists - whether they are already accredited, are in the process of obtaining accreditation, or wish to develop the CBT aspects of their practice. Of course, I also receive regular clinical supervision myself, as required for ongoing BABCP accreditation. You can find my details on the BABCP website (www.babcp.co.uk) and on my website (www.nicolakellycbt.co.uk). I believe it is really important to 'gel' with your therapist, so if you wish, I can offer a free, informal short meeting so that you can ensure you will be comfortable working with me. Please request this if it would be helpful.

Having worked in both inpatient and community NHS settings since 1999 as a trained, registered Mental Health Nurse, I understand how the NHS and local mental health services work. It also means I have extensive experience of the effectiveness and potential side effects of antidepressant and anxiolytic medication, as well as an intimate understanding of the impact of one's general health on mood and/or anxiety. I remain accredited with the NMC and abide by their professional code of conduct. I gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Canterbury Christ Church University in 2008, as well as a Master's degree in CBT (focusing my research on supervision) and am fully accredited with the BABCP. This means you can be confident that I am suitably trained and experienced and that I keep myself up to date by attending regular workshops and training days. I am happy to provide evidence of my qualifications upon request.

I have worked with a wide range of mental health problems, including: depression; obsessive-compulsive disorder; (OCD) social anxiety disorder; (also known as social phobia) panic disorder; specific phobias; (e.g. needles, dentists, vomiting) health anxiety; (also sometimes called hypochondriasis) generalised anxiety disorder; (GAD) post-traumatic stress disorder; (PTSD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).

On a personal level, I aim to balance empathy and sensitivity with a sense of humour and practical approach. You can talk to me about any issues without fear of judgement. You will be able to expect a positive approach to all variations of sexuality, gender and identity (assuming they are consensual and between adults). I believe the key aim of therapy is to help you to reach a place of fulfilment and wellbeing, and my approach is collaborative - building on your existing skills and strengths. Cognitive behavioural therapy is usually a short-term, time-limited approach, which focuses on the 'here-and-now'. (Although we may refer to earlier events and experiences if it is relevant to the development of your difficulties.) Between-session work is an important element of this approach, which can help to speed up your progress. It is not 'positive thinking' - sometimes your situation may well be difficult or unpleasant. However, sometimes a person's thoughts may be unhelpful and can benefit from challenging. I will help you learn how to do this if needed. I blend CBT with my mental health nursing background, which can be particularly helpful in terms of problems such as bi-polar affective disorder or co-existing mental health problems. Generally weekly sessions are recommended by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence), moving to less frequent meetings once a person is making progress. I can offer sessions via Zoom, although it is preferable to have at least some in person.