Brighten Well-Being Centre

My name is Nicola Brown and I am a child and adolescent mental health and well-being practitioner and accredited counsellor. I specialise in therapy for children and young people but I also work with Adults.  I have my roots in Somerset and Dorset and worked in education for many years before moving into counselling. I held positions in safeguarding, student welfare and mental health support roles. I am passionate about providing an accessible, supportive service for all. 
It is not always easy for children and young people to talk about their mental health or things that may be worrying them. I strive to create a safe and welcoming environment where they feel able to explore the difficulties they are experiencing.  Equally, it can be hard, as parents, to know what may be normal childhood/adolescent behaviour or something that may indicate a difficulty or mental health concern.  I can work with both you and your child to help uncover any underlying issues and help you through any subsequent diagnostic process. I also work on a 1:1 basis with parents who are experiencing difficulties with their child, this can be helpful if your child is not open to the idea of therapy or assessment.  Together we can explore the difficulties and I can help you come up with strategies to help.   I also work with adults and can help with things such as loss, grief, anxiety, relationship difficulties, self esteem issues, and eating disorders. I aim to provide a safe space in which to listen and support in order to help you find a pathway through difficult times.  
I am pluralistic (meaning different people are helped in different ways by different approaches)  and therefore I use all forms of therapy, techniques and approaches which, if appropriate, can include CBT.  I also bring art and other creative activities into my work. I am fully insured, have enhanced DBS clearance and am a member of the Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) and The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).