Nina Lockwood - Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

My Approach

As a committed Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, I tend to favour an approach that prioritises the unique quality of each client-therapist relationship. Indeed, research robustly indicates that it is the integrity of the alliance between counsellor and client that provides the relational environment key to meaningful therapeutic change and progress. Accordingly, by keenly respecting the individual nature of each person’s experiences and their particular motivations for pursuing therapy, I will invite you to collaboratively explore any challenges and tensions you might be encountering through dialogue and, where mutually agreed upon, additional varied forms of creative communication. Crucially, I have a strong belief in people’s shared capacity to make gains in self-understanding and self-acceptance when supported by a warm, non-judgemental and empathic relationship that fosters a sense of trustworthiness

Also, whilst my therapeutic practice is largely grounded in broadly humanistic perspectives including, but not restricted to, Gestalt, existential and somatic approaches, complimentary developmental perspectives on attachment theory, together with relevant contemporary neuroscientific research provide invaluable supplementary guidance. Guided by these theoretical foundations, I will endeavour to sensitively attune to your experience of yourself in the world and, in so doing, hope to provide a safe and confidential relationship within which your self-awareness might grow.

Qualifications and experience

Post-graduate Diploma in Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling (University of Brighton).

DPhil Psychology (University of Sussex).

MSc Psychological Research Methods (University of Sussex).

BA Social Psychology (University of Sussex).

Cruse Bereavement Care Training.

Areas of experience and interest include, among others, relationship issues, trauma, identity issues, sexuality, bereavement, anxiety, depression, life transitions, parenting concerns, abuse, self-harm, and explorations of purpose and meaning. 

Some additional background information

Beyond my therapeutic practice, I have a long-standing, complimentary background in psychology, having studied at undergraduate, masters and doctoral level, extended further by my on-going engagement in teaching on related degree programmes. My related research predominantly employs an approach defined by an overarching aim to acquire a deep appreciation of the subjectively lived experiences of others, especially in relation to voluntary activities characterised by uncertainty and risk. I am also particularly interested in the meaning people ascribe to, and the potential therapeutic benefits they garner from time spent in the natural environment.