Nicole studied towards a Masters degree in Psychology, Psychotherapy and Pedagogy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, from 1995 to 2001, and towards her Phd from 2001 to 2003 with a focus on psychoanalytic theory and approaches.
Until her move to England in 2002, Nicole worked in a variety of acute and rehab-orientated psychiatric settings at the University Hospital in Innsbruck, offering group therapy and individual therapy sessions for inpatients, completing mental health assessments of new patients and also contributing to research projects relating to the effects of alcohol dependency on the brain and schizophrenia.
After her move to England Nicole has worked from 2002 to 2008 in a managerial role in a range of Mental Health and Learning Disability services for adults and older people.
From 2009 to 2012, Nicole worked for a local authority in England, managing a multidisciplinary Community Learning Disability Team, providing training to the local Mental Health Team in new client assessment processes and finally as an interim manager for the Safeguarding Adults team.
Nicole has continued her professional development as a psychotherapist in England and has completed a postgraduate diploma in Integrated Psychotherapy and EMDR Therapy in London.
Since 2012 Nicole has been focussing on independent consultancy work and clinical private practice. Next to offering psychotherapy and counselling to clients in the Algarve, Nicole is continuing her consultancy work in England, Scotland and Wales, providing local authorities, NHS services and private service providers with training and consultancy support with regards to Safeguarding Adults, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and a variety of mental health-specific topics and therapeutic approaches.
Nicole is able to provide sessions in English and German.