Lucy Nicolaysen, BACP

Lucy Nicolaysen is a counsellor who centres her work on building a trusting therapeutic relationship. She uses conversation to help people name what is distressing them and to begin making changes that feel manageable. Sessions are aimed at bringing relief, insight and a clearer relationship with oneself.

Lucy believes healing begins when someone feels heard. She invites people to describe their experiences in detail and pays attention to how those experiences affect day-to-day life. Many clients notice that feelings of stuckness ease once they can put words to difficult memories and emotions.

Her practice covers a wide range of concerns. These include relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, anxiety and panic, depression, grief and loneliness, addiction-related issues, and difficulties with self-esteem and body image. She also supports people facing midlife change, parenting strain, chronic illness or carer stress, and challenges around intimacy and sex.

In sessions Lucy draws on approaches that pay attention to attachment patterns, current thinking and behaviour, and the impact of past events. She works collaboratively to help clients identify practical steps and new ways of relating to themselves and others. Over time this can help with clearer decision-making and reduced reactivity.

Lucy has six years of clinical experience and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. She works with English-speaking clients in the United Kingdom and accepts international clients through the service.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns influence current connections and emotional responses. It helps when problems repeat in adult relationships or when people feel anxious about closeness. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on an accepting, non-directive relationship where the client leads the pace and content; this can help people who need space to explore feelings and make their own choices. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) identifies unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and works on simple, practical changes that reduce anxiety, improve sleep, or manage low mood.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss needs, goals and preferences and help choose methods that suit the person. That decision is collaborative and can be revised as therapy progresses.

Practical benefits of working online should be checked before booking because session formats are not specified in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter or more frequent check-ins when needed. They also make it possible for people living abroad to see a UK-based, BACP-registered counsellor. Confirm the available session formats with the service when you arrange your first appointment.