Nicholas Tonks

Sessions are available online across the UK and face-to-face in Stourbridge and the surrounding area in the West Midlands, with daytime and evening appointments available.

Online counselling can offer greater flexibility and allows us to work together from a private and comfortable space wherever you are in the UK. Face-to-face sessions are available in Stourbridge for those who prefer to meet in person.

We can discuss availability when you first get in touch and find a regular time that works for us both. Where possible, some flexibility around appointments can be offered to accommodate work, education and other commitments.

If you're unsure whether online or face-to-face counselling would suit you best, we can talk through the options before arranging your first session.

Reaching out for counselling can feel like a big step. You may know exactly what is troubling you, or you may simply feel that something isn't quite right and that you don't want to keep dealing with it on your own. You don't need to have everything worked out before getting in touch.

Counselling can offer a warm, down-to-earth and non-judgemental space where we can talk openly about what is happening in your life. It isn't about being told what to do or someone assuming they know what is best for you. Instead, we can work together to understand what you're experiencing and explore a way forward that feels right for you.

My work includes adults, young people and couples experiencing a wide range of difficulties, with particular interests in anxiety, ADHD, autism and neurodiversity, grief and loss, relationship and family difficulties, and the impact that social media, gaming and the pressures of modern life can have on our wellbeing.

What matters most is that you feel comfortable being yourself and able to talk openly without feeling judged or pressured.

Finding the right counsellor is important. If you're unsure whether we might be a good fit, you're welcome to get in touch. We can have an initial conversation, you can ask any questions you may have, and together we can decide whether working together feels right for you.

My approach to counselling is integrative, which means we aren't limited to one particular way of working. Different therapeutic approaches can be drawn upon depending on you, what you're experiencing and what you would like to get from counselling.

The relationship we build is an important part of the work. Our sessions provide a space where you can feel genuinely heard and understood, while we explore what is happening for you at a pace that feels comfortable. You remain in control of what you choose to talk about and where you would like the counselling to take you.

When working with adults and young people, areas of particular interest include anxiety and stress, low self-esteem and confidence, loneliness and feeling isolated, ADHD, autism and neurodiversity, and loss and grief. These difficulties can often overlap – you may be feeling overwhelmed, struggling to understand yourself, finding relationships difficult or simply feeling that something in your life needs to change.

I also have a particular interest in how social media, gaming and the pressures of modern life can affect our wellbeing, self-esteem and relationships, particularly for young people and their families.

Couples counselling is a separate area of my practice. When working with couples, the focus isn't on taking sides or deciding who is right or wrong. Instead, we create a balanced space where both of you can be heard, explore difficulties and patterns within the relationship, improve understanding and communication, and consider what you would like to change.

Counselling can be short or longer term depending on what you need. As our work progresses, we can regularly review how things are going, what may be changing for you and whether counselling continues to feel helpful.

Our first session is a little different from ongoing counselling sessions. It gives us an opportunity to get to know each other and to explore whether working together feels right for you.

We can talk about what has brought you to counselling, what is happening for you at the moment and what you might hope to get from our sessions. You don't need to arrive with a clear goal or know exactly what you want to talk about – we can begin wherever feels right for you and work things out together.

We'll also talk through how counselling works, confidentiality and what you can expect from our sessions. It's equally an opportunity for you to ask questions, talk about any concerns you may have and let me know what you need from counselling.

As we talk, we can begin to build a fuller picture of what is happening for you and what you would like from counselling. There is no need to cover everything in the first session – we can take things at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

By the end of the session, we can think together about what might be helpful going forward and whether you would like to continue.

Finding the right counsellor matters, so attending a first session doesn't commit you to further sessions. What matters is that you feel comfortable with how we work together and that counselling feels like the right step for you.