Hi, my name is Nicki Lad, and I am pleased you’ve taken this step towards caring for your emotional wellbeing. Beginning therapy can feel daunting, but my aim is to create a safe, warm space and provide a calm, supportive, and confidential space where you can talk freely and feel heard without judgment.

I am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and I demonstrate a strong commitment to the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. I consistently consider issues of confidentiality, safeguarding, and client autonomy.

I use a range of counselling skills with clinical sensitivity, drawing upon a variety of modalities. I integrate humanistic and Person-Centred approaches, while also employing elements of Gestalt, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Psychodynamic Theory where clinically appropriate. This breadth of integration reflects my capacity to meet the diverse needs of my clients while maintaining a clear therapeutic focus.

I have undertaken client work across different organisational contexts, including a school environment, a charity supporting unpaid carers, and a therapy centre.

I have worked with a broad range of clients spanning from early adolescence (11 years) through to older adulthood (60s–70s). I have engaged with a wide spectrum of presenting issues, including bullying, navigating friendship issues, bereavement, the challenges of caring responsibilities, homelessness, impact of immigration, substance misuse, physical and mental health difficulties, parental and attachment issues, victims of narcissistic abuse, contested wills, faith- and religion-based concerns, and working sensitively with neurodivergent clients.

I have experience in helping clients recognise recurring relational patterns such as avoidance, people-pleasing, or defensive anger and explore the origins and functions of these patterns. By raising awareness, I aim to empower clients to make more conscious choices in their relationships.

As a British Asian woman, I know what it can feel like to grow up between cultures and to balance different expectations at home, in the community, and in wider society. These experiences have shaped who I am, and they also shape how I work as a therapist.

For many people from Asian or South Asian backgrounds, speaking about personal struggles isn’t always easy. There can be stigma, cultural pressures, or the sense that others might not understand. Having a therapist who shares some of that cultural awareness can make it easier to open up and feel understood.

While everyone’s story is different, my background gives me a natural sensitivity to the themes that often come up when living across cultures—whether that’s questions of identity, family expectations, belonging, or finding your own voice. I don’t assume our experiences are the same, but my own journey helps me to meet you with empathy and understanding, and to notice the little things that matter. I am fluent in speaking Gujarati and Hindi, which allows me to connect with people from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. I know how important it can be for someone to express themselves in the language that feels most natural to them, especially when talking about something difficult emotional issues.

I am a committed counsellor. I bring warmth, understanding, and dedication to every interaction, and I am passionate about walking alongside adults and children as they navigate emotional challenges.

If you would like further information, please complete the form below, and I will be in touch.

Qualifications:

• Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
• Level 3 Diploma in Certificate in Counselling
• Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
• CPD – Certificate in Adult Safeguarding
• CPD – Advanced Child Safeguarding (Level 2)

Professional Memberships:

• BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)

If you would like more information on working with Nicki Lad, please complete the form below, and she will be in touch.