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Paul Nicholson

Course Director

Paul Nicholson is a BACP accredited relational psychotherapist, training supervisor, senior lecturer and postgraduate Course Director. He has worked in mental health since 1997 and as a therapist in the NHS, voluntary sector and in private practice since 2005.

Paul Nicholson staff profile image

About

Paul Nicholson is a BACP accredited relational psychotherapist, training supervisor, senior lecturer and postgraduate Course Director. He has worked in mental health since 1997 and as a therapist in the NHS, voluntary sector and in private practice since 2005.

Paul Nicholson is a BACP accredited relational psychotherapist, training supervisor, senior lecturer and postgraduate Course Director. He has worked in mental health since 1997 and as a therapist in the NHS, voluntary sector and in private practice since 2005.

Paul has worked as a therapist and educator with children, young people and adults in educational, psychiatric and learning disability settings. Working as a lecturer from 2010, he enjoys creating and delivering courses that integrate theory with experiential work and is passionate about ensuring that the training we provide our students prepares them for life in the workplace as accurately as possible.

Paul particularly enjoys working with groups in developing their understanding of the complex and subtle application of effective therapeutic skills. His main theoretical focus is in how the actions involved in therapy may be interpreted and labelled differently by conflicting styles of practice yet often have common themes which can be enlightening, instructive and integrated into one's practice. Underlying all of his work is a keen interest in how the way we all make sense of events, our life experience and each other relates to how we understand why therapy works. As a result he has previously written about relational therapy and how life experience impacts on counselling practice.

In 2016, Paul became a Fellow with the Higher Education Academy and a senior fellow in 2019.

Related links

School of Health

Research interests

Paul has a long standing interest in effective practice development in therapy and has been involved in qualitative research investigating how life and professional experiences influence the practice of long standing therapists. He is currently carrying out PhD research into the student experience of developing an integrative approach to counselling which aims to inform upon best practice in teaching and learning.

Paul has also been involved in research published in international research journals investigating how counselling could be used in dementia care and has presented at the BACP and SPR research conferences.

Publications (15)

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Conference Contribution

Kung Fu Counselling - The evolving art of integration

Featured 24 May 2016 To Boldly Go - considering the future of psychological therapies leeds Beckett University
Conference Contribution
In search of excellence, sharing our experiences of inspirational teaching.
Featured 10 May 2017 Teaching Excellence: Building Bridges ANTF Open Conference Leeds Beckett University
AuthorsSmith A, Charura D, Nicholson P
Conference Contribution

It's only words: Language and meaning in therapy.

Featured 21 May 2013 ‘WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?’ AN EXPLORATION INTO ‘WHAT WORKS’ IN COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY Leeds Metropolitan University
Conference Contribution

Intuition and intent: Linking life experience to use of self in practice.

Featured 12 May 2015 SELF IN THERAPY’ AN EXPLORATION INTO THE ‘SELF’ IN COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
Journal article

The therapeutic relationship: buzz phrase or essence of success?

Featured 30 January 2013 Addiction today
AuthorsNicholson PE, Charura D
Newspaper or Magazine article

Rising mental health issues in young girls

Featured 03 December 2018 Yorkshire evening Post21 (1 Pages)

Opinion piece commenting on NHS research into childhood mental health issues.

Journal article
Kung Fu Counselling
Featured 12 June 2017 BACP Private Practice Journal10-13
Conference Contribution

Use of self: exploring what you bring to practice

Featured 08 June 2017 The Leeds Beckett University 9th Annual Conference for Psychological Therapies and Mental Health – “Keep Calm and Carry On - “Enhancing Therapeutic Practice in Uncertain Times” Leeds Beckett University
Conference Contribution

Life after combat: the veteran and psychological well being issues, towards 2050.

Featured 12 September 2014 BPS NEEB regional conference. Northumbria University
AuthorsNicholson PE, charlesworth B
Chapter

Relational Therapy:Defining the Therapeutic Relationship

Featured 01 January 2014 The Therapeutic Relationship Handbook: Theory and Practice Open University Press
AuthorsAuthors: Charlesworth B, Nicholson P, Editors: Charura D, Paul S
Other

An evaluation of the impact of St. George's Crypt Growing Rooms Project

Featured 20 April 2018
AuthorsCharura D, O’Dwyer L, Nicholson P

The Growing Rooms counselling project at St George’s Crypt is embedded within a wider alcohol and drug rehabilitation service for homeless and vulnerable adults in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The evaluation of the project examined clients’ experiences of engaging with the counselling service provided in order to understand the development of the therapeutic relationship and the impact of counselling on clients. The findings drawing from the voices of the participants highlighted the following: • Voices from those accessing the service on the impact of counselling. • Further insight and understanding of benefit of counselling in helping individuals presenting with complex, multi-layered challenges. • Recognition of the time needed to engage and complete process. • Importance and appreciation of interventions offered to this service user group. • Results and evidence base, as identified by Clinical outcomes in Routine Evaluation CORE-18, demonstrate reliable and positive change in the participants’ wellbeing. • Strong appreciation of help offered by counselling and The Growing Rooms at St. George’s Crypt. Given the limited number of therapists and services working in this specialist area, published results from this study will raise awareness of this line of work and encourage more therapists to work within it. Results from the research conducted and the contextualization, which took place within the evaluation of this project, will provide practitioners and policymakers with important information that can help inform commissioning decisions and service provision for individuals presenting with homelessness, substance misuse and social isolation.

Chapter

Counselling Children and Young People with Mental Illness - A Relational approach.

Featured 2018 The Handbook of Counselling Chldren and Young People Sage
AuthorsAuthors: Nicholson PE, Charura D, Charlesworth B, Editors: Robson M, Pattinson S
Journal article
Delivering effective counselling for people with dementia and their families: Opportunities and challenges
Featured 26 May 2021 Counselling and Psychotherapy Research22(1):1-12 Wiley
AuthorsSass C, Griffiths A, Shoesmith E, Charura D, Nicholson P

Abstract

This article explores the prospect of delivering counselling to people affected by dementia from the perspective of persons responsible for delivering an integrated dementia support service, emphasising an underpinning relational approach. Findings originate from interviews with an experienced counsellor, the counselling service co‐ordinator and people affected by dementia. Framework analysis was adopted to generate themes related to the study aims. Effective counselling delivery is reliant on the counsellor’s practice philosophy and appreciation of the lived experience of dementia from a person‐centred understanding. Participants discussed the benefits to offering a holistically understanding service, supportive of the needs of people affected by dementia, and how this can affect access or uptake of counselling. Findings demonstrated that counselling is a worthwhile and effective intervention to offer to people living with dementia and family caregivers. A number of recommendations for adjusting the scope of relationship‐based counselling to promote effective delivery have been made.

Journal article
Relational counselling as a psychosocial intervention for dementia: Qualitative evidence from people living with dementia and family members.
Featured 31 December 2020 Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice20(6):2091-2108 SAGE Publications
AuthorsGriffiths A, Shoesmith E, Sass C, Nicholson P, Charura D

Counselling and other psychotherapeutic interventions can be offered to people with dementia and their caregivers, to treat specific conditions or symptoms (e.g. affective disorders such as depression). Psychotherapeutic interventions also offer the opportunity for individuals with dementia and their families/caregivers to engage in psychological support for a wide range of presentations. However, little is known about how those within this demographic who receive these interventions perceive the experience. This study aimed to understand the experiences of individuals with dementia or caring for someone with dementia, before and after a 12-week relational counselling intervention delivered through a third sector organisation within England. Semi-structured interviews were completed with participants (29 pre-intervention and 25 post-intervention). Framework analysis was conducted, with four main themes identified; expectations and outcomes of counselling, emotional impact of life with dementia, appraisals of identity, and importance of therapeutic relationship. Participants reported that counselling interventions addressed a range of needs and concerns that they had, enabling them to reassess and reconsider these. Specific training is needed before therapists deliver therapeutic interventions with people with dementia, to ensure that appropriate support is provided for those with more severe cognitive impairment or who may have fluctuating capacity. Future research should explore the experiences of people with dementia and their caregivers, across different counselling modalities, to establish the appropriateness and effectiveness of relational counselling.

Newspaper or Magazine article

Great escape as rubbish brings down the house

Featured 08 November 2012 Yorkshire Post9 (1 Pages)
Authorslavery M

Current teaching

  • DipHE Therapeutic Counselling
  • PG Diploma Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • MA integrative counselling
  • MA integrative counselling (Top up)

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Paul Nicholson
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