Practice OPEN for in person sessions and also by phone + Skype

Nicola M. Richter MSc, MBACP Senior Accredited, UKCP Reg, Fellow

Nicola M. Richter MSc, MBACP Senior Accredited, UKCP Reg, Fellow Nicola M. Richter MSc, MBACP Senior Accredited, UKCP Reg, Fellow Nicola M. Richter MSc, MBACP Senior Accredited, UKCP Reg, Fellow

Nicola M. Richter MSc, MBACP Senior Accredited, UKCP Reg, Fellow

Nicola M. Richter MSc, MBACP Senior Accredited, UKCP Reg, Fellow Nicola M. Richter MSc, MBACP Senior Accredited, UKCP Reg, Fellow Nicola M. Richter MSc, MBACP Senior Accredited, UKCP Reg, Fellow
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Nicola Richter looking forward to your call

Nicola Richter

Nicola RichterNicola RichterNicola Richter

for over 20 years your psychotherapy & counselling service in 

St Albans

Contact me

call in confidence: (01727) 750088

About me:

Here for you with heart and soul

I offer you a friendly, genuine, professional and very experienced & effective service.
My interactive approach, is tailored to your individual needs to help you to: understand yourself and others more fully, work through pain and patterns, make the changes in your feelings and thinking and behaviour, which you want to make. My approach is holistic.

Experience

• You are in safe hands: as I have over 25 years of experience of making a difference to peoples lives • You can be assured by my credentials: I am a senior BACP accredited counsellor and psychotherapist, registered with UKCP, with a Masters in Psychology • In addition you get from me up-to-date knowledge, as I train others in counselling and psychotherapy as senior lecturer at University and I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy • Plus: with me you can get to work with a whole-hearted professional: I am immersed in the field, e.g. also through presenting at national and international conferences (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, UK, USA and online). 

You are Unique

Above all: I am human and talk with you in a warm, sensitive, compassionate and natural way. For me you are not a standard 'case', you are a unique person. I am here to help you, to access your own inner potential, to understand your life's lessons, to find your own answers and to experience deep contentment in living the life you know you could live.

Psychotherapy in Challenging Times

My Personal Message to you about Covid-19 and world events

The events which have unfolded over the past two years affect us in different ways:

Some of us feel unsettled, worried and anxious for themselves or for the lives of family and friends with underlying health-issues. Some sadly have lost a loved one through Covid-19, others sadly lost a loved one through vaccine complications. 

My deepest condolences and sympathies to all who are affected.


Some feel comforted by facts such as: in 2020 the average age of someone dying in England with Covid was 83 years old, with an average life-expectancy of 81.26 years (in 2018).

Some feel puzzled about the focus of the world upon Covid-19, when during the same time far more people die e.g. through smoking, or alcohol, heart-attacks, cancer. Understaffed and underfunded health services result in delayed diagnosis or treatment causing further pain for far too many. 

Some people feel angry as they lost trust in politicians and media to tell the facts, e.g. given that some of the statistics don’t make sense, with reports of increases in cases in the UK, compared to times when far less tests were done; or puzzled when comparing the deaths of 2020 to those of 2021, why worldwide since the begin of vaccinations the number of deaths did not decline but even increased by 50%. 

Some feel saddened, that the media focus upon 'cases' and 'deaths' but leave out to mention that over 99% of the population is healthy - as if health has been taken out of the equation. Some wonder where is the humanity in ‘cases’ when we do not talk about human beings.

Others feel a weird sense of calm and relief that something had to change in our world with its focus upon material things, and finding themselves less interested in consumerism. 

Some embark on practicing mindfulness, endeavouring to come away from these times with meaningful insights about the lives we live and take at times for granted. Some feel a sense of increasing care and concern emerging for our planet, for humankind, for loved ones and for more balance within ourselves.

Many more feelings are evoked, including opposing feelings and feelings of division.

Some of us feel a mixture of the above.


With this message I would like to reassure you, that during these intense times I remain committed to the work I love, to working with you.


Your well-being and safety are central and at the heart of my decision making.  I offer you appointments IN PERSON and appointments can also be BY SKYPE. 


I continue to be committed to respecting difference and similarities: of race, religion, sexual orientation, health choices, philosophy of life, ... 

And I am here to assist you in making the choices which are right for you, to assist you to fulfil your potential and actualise who you really are.


Keep looking after yourself and others, keep connecting with yourself, others and nature,

Warmly,

N i c o l a

Qualifications

You are in safe hands

I am a:  Psychologist - Psychotherapist - Counsellor - Lecturer - Supervisor - Consultant

• Dipl.-Psych. - MSc - Masters in Psychology (specialised in: Clinical Psychology; Counselling Psychology; and Educational Psychology)
• PGDipHE - Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education
• MBACP (Senior Accredited) - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
• UKCP Registered - United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
• Member MBPsS - British Psychological Society
• Fellow FHEA - Higher Education Academy

• Member of AHP - American Association for Humanistic Psychology

• Member of WAPCEPC - World Association for Person Centered & Experiential Psychotherapy & Counselling
• Member ADPCA- Association for the Development of the Person-Centered Approach.

I offer my services for holistic psychotherapy and counselling in 

St Albans, Hertfordshire - Greater London.

Also offered: clinical supervision for counselling and psychotherapy in St Albans. Research Supervision.


I am trained in humanistic person-centred counselling and psychotherapy (under the late Prof. Dr. Reinhard Tausch, friend and professional colleague of the founder of the approach, Prof. Dr. Carl Rogers).
For over 25 years I have successfully helped individuals and couples.

I work with Adults

Individuals

Adult Families

Individuals

Couples

Adult Families

Individuals

Adult Families

Adult Families

Adult Families

Groups

Organisations

Adult Families

Organisations

Organisations

Organisations

Areas of Counselling I offer


  • Abortion
  • Abuse
  • Addiction(s)
  • Affairs and betrayals
  • Alcoholism
  • Anger management
  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Anxiety
  • Asperger's syndrome
  • Autism
  • Avoidant personality disorder
  • Bereavement
  • Binge-eating disorder
  • Bipolar disorder/Manic depression
  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Bulimia nervosa
  • Bullying
  • Cancer
  • Career 
  • Carer support
  • Child related issues
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME
  • Dependent personality disorder
  • Depression
  • Disabilities
  • Domestic violence
  • Drug abuse
  • Eating disorders
  • Emotional abuse
  • Family issues
  • Gambling
  • Generalised anxiety disorder
  • Histrionic personality disorder
  • Hoarding
  • Infertility
  • Internet addiction
  • Low self-confidence
  • Low self-esteem
  • Miscarriage
  • Narcissistic personality disorder
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
  • Panic disorder
  • Passive aggressive behaviour
  • Personality disorders
  • Phobias
  • Physical abuse
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Postnatal depression
  • Redundancy
  • Relationship issues
  • Research supervision
  • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
  • Self-harm
  • Separation and divorce
  • Sexual abuse
  • Smoking
  • Spirituality
  • Stress
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Trauma
  • Work-related stress

Contact me to discuss your area of interest

Navigating - in a world of challenges & growth invitations

Our sessions during current Global Health Challenges

Our sessions during current Global Health Challenges

Our sessions during current Global Health Challenges

A little bit about me: I walk to talk, meaning:  I live a healthy life-style. My outlook on life is holistic caring for my body mind and spirit. And I encourage you to do the same. 

I am happy to continue our sessions in person or if you prefer also via Skype.

How to arrange a session

Our sessions during current Global Health Challenges

Our sessions during current Global Health Challenges

Please call me on: 01727-750088 or 

email me on: nicolarichter@yahoo.com to arrange for a session to take place 

in person or via Skype.

My practice is open for anyone, vaccinated or not vaccinated. Your personal choices matter here!

For Skype sessions

Our sessions during current Global Health Challenges

Speaking in confidence via video call

If you are unable to find a place to yourself where you can’t be overheard by others, you might consider e.g. a garage, garden-shed, or your car – an option others have taken in the past. 

If you can’t think of ways to make it work, call me and we can discuss your options and best way forward.

Speaking in confidence via video call

Making yourself and your session a priority

Speaking in confidence via video call

Please make sure that you are in a room where you can not be overheard or disturbed by others. Reason for this: to create an environment of confidentiality for you to feel safe and comfortable to speak with me about anything in your session much the same way as you do when we meet face-to-face. 

In person sessions are currently possible and I will email you the safety measures before the first session, so you can make an informed choice should you prefer video sessions.

Making yourself and your session a priority

Making yourself and your session a priority

Making yourself and your session a priority

To emulate the in-person experience you may find it helpful not watch the TV or computer in the background. This is not a chit chat, this is your therapeutic session. In turn, I will be sitting in the consulting room on the same place as always.

Should you have booked a couple-/joint-session and you are at different places, we can have a conference Skype call. I have good experiences with others of this option.

Be reassured

Making yourself and your session a priority

Making yourself and your session a priority

Throughout my therapeutic work of over 25 years, I have followed common sense guidelines for hygiene, safety, respect and well-being. 

Currently I’ve added:  one-use plant-based recyclable cups, mostly natural hand-sanitizer at the entrance and in the consulting room.

Covid-19 - Frequently asked questions

Coronavirus Information

Cancellation of sessions

Cancellation of sessions

Please inform yourself and follow responsible guidelines and common sense - and make informed choices.


DO I NEED A TEST TO BE SEEN BY YOU?

It is up to you if you feel safer with a test, or if you find it distressing to be continuously testing without experiencing symptoms. I won't be checking any certificates, or health passes.

Our therapeutic relationship is based on mutual trust. As such I trust you that you take responsibility for yourself - and others - and that if you acutely suffer from any easily transmissible disease, have fleas or head lice, etc, that you won't attend in person but rather on Skype, . The same applies to myself.


DO I NEED TO WEAR A MASK?

Again it is up to you, how you feel best. Part of therapy and especially holistic humanistic therapy as I practice it, is that I rely in the sessions on your words, on what you don't say, as well as your facial expressions. Hence I ask you to book a Skype session should you wish to wear a mask or should wish me to wear one. 


DO I HAVE TO BE VACCINATED TO ATTEND SESSIONS IN PERSON?

No. I believe that if we as a society want to improve our well-being and connections with each other, its best to minimise discrimination. Thus I welcome you whatever your health choices are, whatever the colour of your skin, sexual orientation, your background, career, goals, purpose, religion, spirituality, philosophy of life,  ...

Cancellation of sessions

Cancellation of sessions

Cancellation of sessions

As always: if you are unable to be available for your booked session, let me know as soon as you can and with a MINIMUM of 72 hours notice – i.e. 3 days - otherwise the full fee is payable.


Please bear in mind if you need to change your appointment due to unforeseen circumstances, I always endeavour – especially in the current global situation - to offer you an alternative for the same week at no additional cost. However please be aware that at times I have no alternative availability.


Thank you, for your understanding.


In the hopefully unlikely event that you are admitted to A&E, I will not charge you for the missed session and we continue the sessions when you are out of hospital. 





LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

Look after your overall well-being - physical health, psychological well-being, mindful approach to life.

General Well-Being Measures

Promoting your well-being during challenging times

Some people have asked me for advice, what you could do to stay safe. Use your common sense. Consider the guidelines as given by the government. Consult your GP, NHS information and your pharmacist as well as alternative places of information. I am not in a position to provide medical advice, as I am not a medically trained professional. I studied some Health Psychology during my Masters in Psychology as it is in my view important to have a holistic attitude to mental health.

Hence here some general comments about measures, which research I have come across over the years, has indicated to be useful for peoples overall well-being. Please note, that none of this is directly aimed at you personally and you should consult your GP, and your overall life-experience, also: none of this is proven to be useful for the coronavirus and is not targeted at this specifically, again, please consult your doctor or pharmacists or the NHS helpline on 111 AND inform yourself also by consulting alternative practitioners and sources. 

 
Research on well-being indicates that diminished physical health can impact our mental well-being and vice versa: feeling mentally unwell can impact our physical health. The immune system is often described as playing a key role. A whole field of research is dedicated to this, called: psychoimmunology. Helping and promoting our immune system can help us physically and psychologically and make us more resilient. I am happy to explore with you your thoughts and ponderings on how you can improve your overall well-being.


My experience especially since 2020 has shown, that it can be useful to be on a ‘news-diet’ – by the way in the UK over 680 different newspapers are sold, many daily or weekly, mostly reporting on doom and gloom and crimes and something negative. There is only one tiny ‘positive news’ newspaper. The human mind has a tendency to focus upon the negative. Hence its helpful to limit exposure to negative news. During these past two years many of my clients found it helpful to embark on old – or new – activities, e.g.: learning a language, dancing, watching comedy, going for walks, helping the elderly, …


Whilst hygiene and mindful distancing have their place, in well-being research I have consulted, what strikes me most is: the interaction of our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual/ transpersonal/ metaphysical well-being. 

Wellbeing paths - tested by research, myself & many of you

Physical Wellbeing

Emotional Wellbeing

Emotional Wellbeing

  • getting sufficient and restful sleep!!!
  • stress reduction e.g. through organising schedules more realistically
  • exercise e.g. running, gym, weights, swimming
  • relaxation - breathing-exercises; massage; sauna
  • nutrition – reduction in sugar – e.g. some cells which destroy our bodies feed on sugar; keeping the pH alkaline – e.g. many viruses don’t like alkaline environments; 
  • healthy gut – it affects our immune system, e.g. probiotics could be useful here
  • keeping ‘toxins’ low – this includes electro-smog, tobacco, alcohol, drugs
  • looking after some of your basic needs, e.g. getting hearing aids, glasses if you need them 

Emotional Wellbeing

Emotional Wellbeing

Emotional Wellbeing

  • making ‘me’-time, time for yourself where you can be a ‘human being’ as opposed to a ‘human doing’
  • socialising with friends – could now be virtually
  • group-activities – pursuing an interest such as archery, movie-nights in a group, …
  • being in nature and connecting with it – in my MA research many participants found that being in nature gave them ‘meaning in life’ and ‘inner strength’
  • dancing - engages our body and mind and provides social interaction, together providing often more joy than we expected
  • laughter - going out to be distracted and surprised by comedians, or watching them on video, often we can forget ourselves for moments, which provide inroads of change
  • counselling and psychotherapy

More useful Well-Being measures

Mental Wellbeing

Spiritual/transpersonal/metaphysical Wellbeing

Spiritual/transpersonal/metaphysical Wellbeing

  • writing bothersome thoughts down can bring order into thinking
  • counselling and psychotherapy
  • planning the week’s task in a !!!realistic!!!* manner and daily checking what you accomplished gives a sense of satisfaction and achievement. *Unrealistic goals, chasing what we ‘ideally’ wish to ‘get done’ has a tendency to burden us, resulting often in putting ourselves down
  • improve your self-confidence – e.g. learning new achievable things can be helpful here; generally accomplishing small things step by step brings us further 
  • learning new things - discussion groups, learning a language
  • developing ‘rituals’/rhythms – so the mind can stop thinking over and over about the same processes
  • asking for help
  • volunteering
  • improving your environment – e.g. declutter your (computer)desk, surrounding yourself with photos of people close to you and things which give you joy

Spiritual/transpersonal/metaphysical Wellbeing

Spiritual/transpersonal/metaphysical Wellbeing

Spiritual/transpersonal/metaphysical Wellbeing

  • practicing mindfulness 
  • meditation – there are many different forms we can discuss which might fit you
  • exercise with awareness – e.g. Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong
  • connect with nature
  • prayer
  • music – choir, mantra singing, chanting
  • inspirational talks e.g. on TedTalk, youTube, let me know what you might resonate with and maybe I can assist you in finding some gems on the internet


  • I practice what I recommend - I have been practicing for over 40 years mindfulness and currently practice daily about 2 hours yoga and meditation.

Private Insurances Approved

Registered health care provider for several insurances

In addition to offering you my services in private practice, I am also registered health care provider in psychotherapy  for several MEDICAL HEALTHCARE INSURANCES:


• Aviva 

• AXA

• Cigna 

• Exeter Family Friendly

• Helix Health 

• Vitality Health (formerly: PruHealth) 

• WPA and WPA Protocol

Please make sure you arrange with your insurance the referral details.

Other private insurers

Please ask me about other insurances, we might be able realively swiftly to arrange insurance cover for sessions with me. 

Contact me

Contact me

For any questions and to arrange an appointment, please call me on (01727) 750088 or email me.

email: NicolaRichter@yahoo.com


Nicola M. Richter, MSc, MBACP Senior Acc, UKCP Reg

63 Doggetts Way, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 2NF, GB

phone: (01727) 750088

Hours

Sessions available:

Mondays-Thursdays: first appointment starts at 9am - last appointment ends at 5pm


Phone Enquiries: 

Mondays-Fridays between 9am-5pm.

Or leave a message any day and time and I call you back.

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Privacy Policy

For your protection and to honour the trust of your working relationship, all information you'll give me is treated by me strictly confidential. 

All sessions are confidential, including your initial phone or email enquiry. 

In the rare event, that a breach of confidentiality would be required for your own safety, due to strong evidence-type grounds, that your or an other persons life is in serous danger, I will always endeavour to obtain your consent first before such a breach. 

Should you ever wish that I do release some information to a third party, such release will be discussed beforehand and agreed upon between us in writing, which serves to safeguard against any misunderstandings.

This statement has been made in adherence with the Code of Ethics of the professional bodies I am member of. I am compliant with the UK and EU GDPR data privacy laws.

Copyright of all content and photos © 2021 Nicola Richter, MSc, MBACP (Senior Acc), UKCP Reg, Fellow HEA - All Rights Reserved.

For permission to publish anything on this site anywhere in any way contact: 

nicolarichter@yahoo.com

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