NichOlas Messing

Practitioner Psychologist.

Parent-Infant Psychotherapist.

Pronouns - He/Him

Nicholas completed two Masters in Counselling Psychology, including an award of distinction for Advanced Counselling Psychology.

Nicholas trained as an Parent-Infant Psychotherapist at the Anna Freud Centre. Nicholas has also completed the postgraduate diploma in Psychoanalytic Infant Observation at the Tavistock Institute. Nicholas has spent the vast majority of this time in the NHS, working in adult, child and family and perinatal settings.

This breadth and depth of experience has meant that Nicholas is adept at helping individuals, couples and families, particularly in understanding relationships, both with oneself and between others. He uses a psychodynamic therapeutic framework, to help bring understanding to the distress that a person is experiencing and place it in the context of their lives.

Nicholas also specialises in supporting mothers, fathers and carers with their mental health, their relationship with their infants and the couple relationship, in the perinatal period. This is from pregnancy through to birth and up until baby is two years old. Therapy may take place individually, as a couple or together with baby.

Nicholas’s specialisms include:

• Helping parents and carers with their mental health and their relationship with their infants in the perinatal period (babies 0-2 years).

• Working with parents when they are finding it hard emotionally to care for their child and with couples to support them in the transition into parenthood.

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Anxiety - Stress

• Relationship difficulties

• Nicholas uses a psychodynamic therapeutic framework, to help bring understanding to the distress that a person is experiencing and place it in the context of their lives.

• Family Issues - Conflict

• Parenting Issues

• Pregnancy & Birth

• Relationship - Attachment issues

• Relationship - Codependency

• Relationship - Communication difficulties

• Relationship - Doubt in relationship

• Relationship - Intimacy

• Anxiety - Separation

• Anxiety - Fears of abandonment

• Anxiety - Social

• Perinatal Anxiety

• Perinatal Depression

• Low Self-Esteem

  Nicholas can also work with:

• Anxiety - Agoraphobia

• Anxiety - Generalised (GAD)

• Anxiety - Performance

• Emotional Regulation

• Family Issues - Adoption

• Family Issues - Blended families

• Emotional Regulation

• Family Issues - Adoption

• Family Issues - Blended families

• Grief / Bereavement / Loss

• Infertility

• Miscarriage

• Perfectionism

• Relationship - Separation & Divorce

• Trauma - Childhood Trauma

• Work - General

• Work - Stress

Therapy Models Nicholas uses in his practice include:

• Parent-Infant Psychotherapy

• Couples Therapy

• Psychodynamic therapy
  

Nicholas’s background & training

• Nicholas is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) - Number PYL19382

• Parent-Infant Psychotherapist. BPC Registration number: 25206

• Master in Counselling Psychologist & Advanced Counselling Psychology.
  
  
  

Nicholas works with:

• Children (Under 10 Years)

• Adults (19-65 Years)

  
  
  

What is a Counselling Psychologist?

A counselling psychologist is a highly trained mental health professional who combines psychological theory and therapeutic skills to support clients with a wide range of personal and psychological challenges. With expertise in understanding how emotional, social, and physical factors intersect, counselling psychologists help individuals manage issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and self-esteem concerns. By providing a safe, empathetic space for self-exploration, they guide clients through tailored strategies that foster personal growth, resilience, and improved well-being. Counselling psychologists work collaboratively with clients to identify strengths, enhance coping mechanisms, and promote lasting positive change in their lives.