All about me at Know Your Own Mind.
About Nikki
Hi, I’m Nikki. I’m a trauma-focused, integrative counsellor based in Higham Ferrers.
I help people who feel overwhelmed, stuck, burnt out, or disconnected find a way back to who they truly are.
My style is warm, down-to-earth, and deeply human. I don’t sit with a clipboard or analyse you from a distance. I believe therapy should feel like a safe conversation, not an assessment. You don’t need to arrive with the perfect words; you just need to arrive exactly as you are.
Why I Do This Work
My path into counselling wasn’t a straight line. It came from my own lived experience — navigating trauma, neurodivergence, identity shifts, and the messy, human process of rebuilding yourself from the inside out.
I know what it’s like to feel lost in your own life. I know what it’s like to feel misunderstood, overwhelmed, or like you’re carrying too much alone. That’s why I became a counsellor: to offer the kind of space I needed when I was going through my own turning points. A space where you don’t have to perform. A space where you don’t have to be “fine”. A space where your story is held with care, curiosity, and respect.
I'm a Real Human Before I'm a Counsellor
I laugh, I swear sometimes, I drink too much tea, and I believe therapy works best when you feel comfortable enough to be yourself. My clients often tell me they feel safe with me quickly — not because I’m perfect, but because I’m real.
I’m human too. I make mistakes, and I believe that's often the best way of learning. We will work together on an equal footing.
How We’ll Work Together
Because you are unique, your therapy should be too. I blend different therapeutic approaches to fit your specific needs, rather than following a textbook. My practice is:
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Trauma-focused and compassion-led.
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Neurodiversity-affirming and flexible.
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Paced to suit your nervous system, with zero judgement or pressure.
Whether you are navigating trauma, ADHD, chronic pain, burnout, or anxiety, you don’t have to carry it all by yourself. Let’s explore it together, at a pace that feels safe for you.
Professional Background
I have 11+ years of counselling experience and over 4,6000 hours supporting clients across Mind, private practice, EAP services, social services, legal settings, and community support. I’m also the founder of Bring 2gether CIC, offering trauma and PTSD support groups across Northamptonshire and online. I’m fully insured, supervised, and committed to ethical practice, DBS, and insurance.
All about me: my approach
Healing is a collaborative process. My role is to provide a calm, reassuring, and professional space where you feel genuinely heard and validated, moving at a pace that feels entirely safe for you. inclusive support for ASD, ADHD, and dyslexia. I focus on understanding your unique lived experience and creating strategies that work for your brain. Specialised care for complex trauma, chronic pain, and birth trauma. We prioritise safety and validation, ensuring you never feel rushed or unheard.
Values and Beliefs
A Sanctuary of Expertise and Compassion
I am Nikki, the founder and owner of Know Your Own Mind counselling. I established this practice to provide a sanctuary where professional expertise meets genuine compassion. My background is rooted in person-centred therapy, and I have qualified in various other modalities, including trauma-focus practice. I ensure that Know Your Own Mind is a space where your experiences are held with the highest level of care and professional integrity.
Neuro-Affirming and Inclusive Care
My therapeutic work is neurodiversity-affirming and inclusive. I have specialised experience supporting clients with ASD, ADHD, and dyslexia, as well as those navigating the complexities of chronic pain. I believe that therapy must be accessible and adapted to your specific way of being, honouring your unique communication and sensory needs.
If You’re Thinking About Starting Therapy
You don’t need to know where to begin. You don’t need to have the right words. You just need a space where you can breathe, talk, and be heard. If you’d like to see whether we’re a good fit, you’re welcome to book a free 20‑minute call.
Professional Background
Diploma Level 4 Therapeutic Counselling
Passed July 2015
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Management counselling
2016
CBT diploma
2023
Trauma-Focused Specialist Training
Certified Practitioner
PTSD Management & Crisis Support
BSY Certified 2015/2016
Neuro-Affirming & Autism Aware
Level 2 Certified 2025
NIKKI | KNOW YOUR OWN MIND
My Therapeutic Approach
Healing is a collaborative process. My role is to provide a calm, reassuring, and professional space where you feel genuinely heard and validated, moving at a pace that feels entirely safe for you.
Person-Centred
Your voice is at the heart of our work. I offer a non-judgmental partnership where you are the expert on your life, and I am here to support your growth.
Neuro-Affirming
Inclusive support for ASD, ADHD, and dyslexia. I focus on understanding your unique lived experience and creating strategies that work for your brain.
Trauma-Informed
Specialised care for complex trauma, chronic pain, and birth trauma. We prioritise safety and validation, ensuring you never feel rushed or unheard.
A gentle first step
Book your free discovery call — a gentle opportunity to explore support that is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-focused, and centred entirely on your needs. We’ll talk through how we can work together at your own pace, in a safe and validating space that honours your unique story.
How We’ll Work Together
I offer a blend of therapeutic styles tailored specifically for you. My practice is trauma-focused, neurodiversity-affirming, and paced to suit your unique nervous system with zero pressure. I believe in working on equal footing as a fellow human, using empathy and real-world connection to help you grow. Whether you are managing burnout, ADHD, or trauma, you don't have to face it alone. Let's talk safely at your own pace.
Client Review
'I had therapy sessions with Nikki for 5ish years and found her approach the most beneficial compared to all the prior therapies I'd sought over the last 20+ years to ease my mental health issues. The success I had with Nikki was also aided by the extra therapy group sessions held weekly which my wife also attended and found very helpful in better understanding how to cope with my problems. I still have issues but am now in a better place to cope with them. All this is due to Nikki's guidance so I can absolutely recommend her.
GR."'
"I found Nicky very comfortable to work with and relaxed and was able to open up my mind and difficulties in my life what I was facing I would recommend Nicky to anybody with mental health problems she's working to
bring out the best in a person who's struggling and I had positive outcome she is not judgmental always welcoming with a smile on her face wanting to achieve change with clients she gets to the point of your
the issue she makes you feel safe in the room and only specks when needed and gets to the point I've never met a counsellor like Nicky I'm no tmaking her big-headed but there was something special about Nicky
counselling skills but it's about the client working with her and wanting to change 50% is going to mind 50% is stepping in the room then 100% is all down to yourself when you finish the session works with Nicky too it's a commitment I found. Thank you Nicky, please keep up the positive work"
Mark"
" made me feel so welcome and relaxed. I feel at complete ease in Nikki's company and she helps to recognize things that I had never realized before that help me grow and improve as a person. She’s absolutely amazing"!!
Anna"
''I would like to express my since thanks for all the support you provided for my husband over the past year. He was very nervous but you put him a it eased straight away, you took the time to understand him and provide support very quickly. Now that he has finished the counselling I can't describe the difference it has made in life, in fact, our future our whole family, and outlook on the future, his life, and himself as a person. You have succeeded where previous interventions such as CBT were pushed on him without finding out if they were right for him and did more harm than good. Sarah'
"I felt heard, having someone who had experienced life and similar to me, It was such a relief I wasn't going mad, thank you, Nikki" Sara