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Nicole Henry MSc | Child Therapist

@thenicolehenry

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Helping Parents SEE the Child behind the behaviour
Child Counsellor • 13years experience
Feelings • Behaviour • School
DM “SEEN” for early access
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Hey, I’m Nicole,

If we haven’t met yet, pull up a chair.

I’m a mental health specialist in education. For over 8 years l’ve sat with children, parents and school teams, and I’ve supported them with insightful ways to support the mental health of students and their children.

Here’s what I’ve learned:
The behaviour we see is rarely the whole story.
Behind the “naughty” child, the quiet child and the “fine” child, there’s usually a child who needs someone to notice.

That’s my work. Helping parents and schools see the child behind the behaviour.

On this page you find:
Practical tips for parents
Wellbeing strategy for schools
Behind the Tea: my life, my business, my son and me

Say hi in the comments and tell me: are you here as a parent, a school leader or a fellow counsellor? 😊

#mentalhealthineducation #childmentalhealth #schoolwellbeing #parentingsupport by @thenicolehenry

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4 days ago

In 13 years of working with children, do you know what they talk about most? Not the expensive days out or the big birthday party. They talk about the moments someone noticed them.

Being present doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to be costly. The simple things matter the most, and they’re often the ones we overlook.

🍦 An ice cream date, just the two of you
🎮 Chatting while you play FIFA (even if you lose… again)
🚗 The car journey chat
🤗 The hug after a hard day

Those little moments are the ones they’ll remember.

What’s a simple moment with your child that made you smile this week? Tell me below 💜

#parentingtips #childmentalhealth #presentparenting #mumlife #abudhabimums by @thenicolehenry

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4 hours ago

More than my job title 💜

My job title tells you what I do. It doesn’t tell you why I do it, or what I believe. So here’s a little of that…

✨ I believe every child has a story to tell, and too many never get the chance to tell it. I pride myself on giving them the space to share, so I can truly hear them. Because there’s a big difference between listening and hearing.
✨ I believe in consistency. I show up, every single week. That’s how trust is built.
✨ I believe every child deserves at least one adult who truly gets them.
✨ I’m a mum first, so I understand this from both sides of the school gate.
✨ I believe laughter is healing. Some of my best sessions have had the most giggles.
✨ My faith keeps me grounded when the work feels heavy.

These are the things that shape how I show up, for the children I work with, for their families, and for you here.

What’s one belief that guides how you show up?

#morethanmyjob #childtherapist #mentalhealthineducation #childmentalhealth #behindthetea by @thenicolehenry

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a day ago

Professional. Knows her stuff. Brings her whole self 🍵

Yes, I’m a child therapist and mental health specialist in education. But here’s what you won’t find on my CV….

😂 I love a good laugh. If we’re in a room together, we’re laughing at some point.

Since moving to the UAE I’ve become a proper little foodie. There’s just SO much to try.

My friends are my people. Good company, good conversation, and I’m happy.

🙏🏾 My faith grounds me. Time with God, prayer and a good sermon fill my cup back up.

I love moving my body: the gym, swimming, anything active and fun. Some days it doesn’t feel like I enjoy it… but I do 😅

I’m the girl who once threw a spin party for her birthday. Yes, really.

At the end of the day, behind the qualifications and the job title… I’m just a girl 💜

Now your turn. Tell me one thing about you that has nothing to do with your job - see you in the comments 😁

🧡

#childtherapist #mentalhealthineducation #abudhabilife #foodieinabudhabi #behindthetea taken in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates by @thenicolehenry

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2 days ago

What if the behaviour we’re seeing isn’t the whole story?

This is The Child We Miss™️, the framework behind everything I do with schools and families. Four stages:

1. See: notice the quiet changes
2. Understand: get curious before you get firm
3. Respond: connection before correction
4. Sustain: build it into the system, so support doesn’t depend on one adult remembering

Most children don’t fall through the cracks because nobody cares. They fall through because nobody was looking in the right place.

Swipe through, save it for your next staff meeting, and tell me which stage your school finds hardest 👇

#thechildwemiss #schoolwellbeing #pastoralcare #mentalhealthineducation #schoolleaders by @thenicolehenry

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3 days ago

It’s not rocket science—kids just need more chances to actually know each other.

Save this if you work with kids, teach, parent, or build community in any way. The best relationship-building doesn’t have to be a huge program. It can be:
* A few intentional activities at the start of the year
* Regular check-ins about friendship and conflict
* Small moments where people feel comfortable with each other
That’s how trust grows—not by overcomplicating it, but by making space for connection, over and over again.What’s one small thing that helps people feel safe together in your space?

Go listen, watch, like, share and SUBSCRIBE 🔔 — links are in my bio!

🎧 Apple Podcasts — link in bio
🎧 Spotify — link in bio
📺 YouTube — link in bio

#schoolcommunity #relationshipbuilding #educationmatters #mindfulteaching #Thewellbeingtable by @thenicolehenry

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9 days ago

I think sometimes we make therapy feel like something we only need when everything has fallen apart.

But it doesn’t have to be.

You can be doing well on paper and still feel overwhelmed.

You can love your life and still need somewhere to talk.

You can be the person everyone else relies on and still need someone to listen to you.

You can simply feel like something isn’t quite right and want to understand yourself a little better.

You don’t need to wait until you’re at breaking point.

After years of working therapeutically with children, young people and families, I’m reopening up space for online private therapy for adults, children and teenagers.

A space to talk.

To slow things down.

To make sense of what’s going on.

And to work out what you need next.

If you’ve been thinking about therapy but keep telling yourself “I’m not sure I need it yet”…

Maybe that’s exactly why it’s worth having the conversation.

You can find out more - link in bio 🩷 by @thenicolehenry

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11 days ago

What does an intense week look like for me?

It looks a LOT like this. 👇🏽

🍦 Ice cream
🌊 Beach time
📺 A good TV series
💆🏽‍♀️ Massage
💬 Chats with my people
☀️ Doing absolutely nothing for a little while

Because after spending so much of my week giving, supporting, creating, working and making decisions…

I need time where nobody needs anything from me.

And honestly?

Sometimes I don’t want to be productive.

I don’t want to learn something.

I don’t want to build something.

I don’t want to tick another thing off my list.

I just want to eat the ice cream. 😂

I’ve realised that rest doesn’t always have to look impressive.

Sometimes rest is just the little things that make you feel like YOU again.

So if you’ve had an intense week too…

Go to the beach.
Call your friend.
Book the massage.
Watch the series.
Eat the ice cream.

Come back to yourself. 🤍

What does YOUR reset look like? by @thenicolehenry

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15 days ago

Every child needs one trusted adult at school.
Not 10 adults.
Just one person they know they can go to.

Drop a ❤️ if you believe schools should feel safe enough for kids to be fully themselves.

When a child always hears “you’re a problem” or “you’re annoying,” it changes how they show up.
But when they have one person who sees them clearly, it can change everything - confidence, behaviour, even how they carry themselves.

That kind of support doesn’t just make school easier.It can help a child feel lighter, braver, and more like themselves.Who was your trusted adult growing up?  Go listen, watch, like, share and SUBSCRIBE 🔔 — links are in my bio!

🎧 Apple Podcasts — link in bio
🎧 Spotify — link in bio
📺 YouTube — link in bio

#TeaOfTherapy #TrustedAdult #ChildMentalHealth #SchoolWellbeing #thewellbeingtable by @thenicolehenry

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16 days ago

The 7–4 view vs the 4–until-the-task-is-done view 😂

One thing about me… I’m disciplined with my routine. Especially midweek. I know how important my sleep is, and I really do try to switch off, reset and be in bed at a decent time.

BUT sometimes… the task just has to get done.

Not because I’m trying to glorify working late. And definitely not because I think we should all be working ourselves into the ground.

Sometimes I just know that if I leave it until tomorrow, my brain is going to keep going over it anyway 😂

So yes… this is the 7–4 view.

And this is the 4pm–“let me just finish this so I can actually sleep peacefully tonight” view.

There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes that nobody sees.

The meetings.
The ideas.
The planning.
The emails.
The things I’m building.
The things I’m trying to get right.

And sometimes the workday ends at 4pm…

…but the work doesn’t.

Anyway, back to my regularly scheduled sleep routine tomorrow 😂☕️

Because balance is the goal — even when some days don’t quite look like it.
#Businessowner #mumpreneurs #womeninbusiness #fypppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp #childrensmentalhealth by @thenicolehenry

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18 days ago

It’s only Wednesday…. It’s a lot!

#schoolcounsellor #education #safeguarding #fyp by @thenicolehenry

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23 days ago

Okayyyy… I think these might be the cutest representation of me 😂💜

Apparently my personality can be summed up in enamel pins:

☕️ Tea Changes Things
💜 Empathy
📚 Children + Mental Health + Education
🛡️ Safeguarding
🎙️ The Wellbeing Table
🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi
💻 Big Dreams. Real Plans.
🙏🏾 God First
🌍 Bigger Than Me

And honestly, looking at them all together made me realise something…

These aren’t just things I do. They’re pieces of what I believe.

The children.
The conversations.
The safeguarding.
The schools.
The community.
The big dreams.
The faith behind it all.

Thanks ChatGPT 👌🏽

#schoolcounsellor #teaoftherapy #thewellbeingtable #uae #chatgpt by @thenicolehenry

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24 days ago