Hello and welcome! I'm Nina, and I am a clinical psychologist with over 16 years' experience in the NHS. I have worked with diverse age groups from children to older adults and mental health issues in inpatient hospitals and community settings. I specialise in adult mental health, working with individuals experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties, from mild distress, anxiety to more complex issues. I have conducted research in clinical psychology, focusing on the prevalence and contributing factors of mental health problems. I also explored evidence on effective therapeutic support.
I have trained in therapies like Internal Family Systems Therapy (Level 1) which I predominantly use and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I also have foundational training in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Systemic Family Therapy, and Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). I use Polyvagal Theory to understand our unique nervous system responses and consider the impact of broader contexts on mental well-being. This involves considering how our survival responses—for example: fight, flight, freeze, shutdown/dissociation—are triggered by default to protect us. It also focuses on gently shifting these automatic reactions within a supportive therapeutic alliance for long-term benefits.
I approach therapy gently and respectfully, and I adopt a trauma-informed and compassion-focused lens. This means that I stay mindful of how your responses to distress and coping mechanisms, shaped by your circumstances, once kept you safe. Even if they now seem to hinder your well-being, they served a purpose in the past. My priority is to create a warm and welcoming space tailored to your unique needs. It is essential to me that therapy centers around you, fostering a collaborative, and trusting therapeutic relationship.
I hold a small private practice as I work in the NHS. As such I mainly offer evening appointments with a couple of morning slots. If you need help, please do reach out and we can work out how best I can support you.
Current availability: Until September 2026 I will offer therapy sessions on the following days and times:
Monday: 5.30 to 6.30PM in-person or online
Friday: 8.30AM to 9.30AM online session and 5.30 to 6.30PM for in-person or online sessions
September 2026 onwards: Therapy session times will change to day times only on Mondays and Fridays 9AM to 1.30PM for in-person or online sessions.
Who can I help?
Adults over the age of 18 with difficulties which may include:
Relationship difficulties
Relational trauma
Complex trauma
Childhood neglect, physical, emotional, sexual abuse
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Dissociative conditions
Bullying
Panic
Adjusting to life transitions and experiences
Anxiety
Low mood and depression
Low self-worth
Stress
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Sleep problems
Training & Qualifications
Level 1 Internal Family Systems Training, 2024
Clinical Supervisor Training, 2024
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), 2021
PG Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBT), 2016
Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), 2015
Motivational Interviewing, 2014
PG Diploma in Psychology, 2013
Compassion Focused Therapy for Eating Disorders (CFT), 2009
MSc in Work and Organisational Psychology, 2008
BA in Psychology, 2006
Crisis support
I am unfortunately unable to provide crisis or emergency support as I work part-time. If you are in the UK and need urgent assistance, please use the link below for information on how and where you can get support.
FAQ
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Seeking help and finding support can feel emotionally taxing and daunting. It's crucial that you feel safe and comfortable with your psychologist for therapy to be effective. I offer a free initial 15-20 minute telephone consultation to determine if therapy will be beneficial and if we can work together. Please fill in the brief contact form below or you can email me directly at dr.nina.fernandes@outlook.com if you wish to arrange a phone call.
If you decide to continue with me, I will send you the terms and conditions, which include a consent form for you to sign before we schedule our first session.
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Sessions last 50 to 60 minutes and cost £120 per session.
I am also registered with health insurers, if you wish to access therapy through them.
If you require letters or reports, these will be provided upon request and may incur a charge depending on what's requested.
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I offer in-person and online sessions.
In-person appointments will take place in Preston, where I am based.
Online sessions are offered on MS Teams.
Except for the initial 15 to 20-minute phone call, I do not offer telephone appointments.
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I offer an initial assessment and formulation period, lasting up to 5 sessions if needed, to help identify therapy goals. After this, we can jointly decide how many sessions you may need and conduct regular reviews to monitor progress.
You are free to stop working with me at any time. I simply ask for some notice if you wish to end sessions to avoid charges for sessions you no longer attend or require. This information is detailed in the terms and conditions document, which I will email you at the time of booking.
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There may be instances when you are unable to attend an appointment for various reasons. If you cancel with less than 48 hours' notice, a cancellation fee equivalent to a single session will apply.
If you inform me more than 48 hours in advance, there will be no charge. Please discuss any planned absences with me during our sessions in advance.
You will not be charged for any of my absences. I will aim to provide as much notice as possible for any planned leave. If I am ill, you will not be charged for the session.
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Your information will be kept in the strictest confidence and in line with current GDPR guidelines. It will also be stored safely and securely in accordance with these guidelines. The terms and conditions provide more details about this.
There are limits to confidentiality. If I have concerns about your safety or the safety of those around you, I may need to inform relevant professional agencies to act in your best interest and the safety of others, including the public. If such a situation arises, I will usually share this with you if I believe it is safe to do so.
Do get in touch!
Schedule a free 15-20minute telephone call with me for a brief chat about your needs and to determine if we're a good fit for each other.