Nicola graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Psychology in 2013 and MSc in Forensic Psychology in 2014 from the University of Central Lancashire. Nicola began working for the National Probation Service as an Approved Premises Offender Supervisor, before gaining a Forensic Psychologist in Training role with HMPPS in 2016. During her time with HMPPS, Nicola gained experience working with males with histories of violence, intimate partner violence, sexual offending, fire-setting behaviour, personality difficulties, substance misuse problems, mental health disorders, Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), trauma, PTSD, brain injury, learning/intellectual difficulties, low motivation and denial. As part of this role, Nicola regularly provided written and oral evidence at Parole Board hearings as a professional witness and has completed Expert Witness training as part of her training route.

During her training, Nicola spent some time working in a service within the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway, providing clinical support within a preparation Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE). Within this role, Nicola was responsible for screening referrals, conducting service evaluation, providing group supervision, staff training, and delivering structured groups to residents on the unit.

In 2021, Nicola gained employment within a specialist children's service and is currently working with children and adolescents presenting with Harmful Sexual Behaviours (HSB). This role involves undertaking assessments and providing intervention. Nicola is trained and experienced in a range of therapeutic approaches including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for trauma. She is due to complete specialist EMDR training for children and adolescents. Nicola is trained in the Life Minus Violence programme Enhanced (LMV-E) for violence and HSB. She has also completed Essential Skills and Foundational level training in Dialectal Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Nicola currently facilitates weekly DBT skills groups with adolescents and is part of a DBT consult group.

Nicola is trained and experienced in the use of a range of risk assessment tools for children, young people and adults including HCR-20, RSVP, SVR-20, SAPROF, RM2000, SARA-V3, JSOAP-II and SAVRY. Nicola is trained and has experience assessing general cognitive functioning using Wechsler Intelligence Scales (WAIS/WISC) and is also trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). Nicola is trained in the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE) assessment and has also completed KUF (Knowledge and Understanding Framework) training in Personality Disorder.

Alongside her clinical work, Nicola has gained experience providing supervision to Forensic Psychologists in Training, Assistant Psychologists, and Prison/Probation officers. Nicola is also currently employed to provide a supervisory role to therapeutic social workers who are undertaking CBT informed sessions with children and young people.