Creating waves of positive change, one ripple at a time
Welcome to Ripples Psychology, the home of professional and compassionate health psychology services.
Our focus is on helping individuals achieve mental wellness and live fulfilling lives. Our practice is led by
Dr Nicola O'Donnell,
health psychologist and behavioural scientist.
About Dr Nicola O'Donnell
Approach
You may be visiting this site because you or your child have been newly diagnosed with a health condition. Or you might have been living with a difficulty for a long time. When dealing with health challenges it can be common to experience anxiety, depression, or stress. As a practitioner health psychologist, Dr Nicola O'Donnell uses an integrative approach to support people of all ages. Throughout her extensive training Nicola has developed competence in many different therapeutic techniques, meaning that she will tailor your sessions to you, rather than trying to make you and your experiences fit into a particular approach.
Education
PhD Health Science, University of York
Doctorate Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology, British Psychological Society. HCPC Registration: PYL044219
MSc Health Psychology, University College London
PGCert. Low Intensity Psychological Interventions, University of Sussex
BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology with Clinical Psychology, University of Kent
Experience
Dr Nicola O'Donnell works a psychologist in the NHS and has many years of experience working therapeutically with individuals across the lifespan. Having worked in world renowned mental and physical health services dedicated to children and adults alike, she is able to draw on these experiences to support you with how you are feeling. Nicola is passionate about supporting people to live better with physical health conditions, manage complex feelings about illness, and make changes to their behaviour to improve their quality of life.
Alongside her clinical work, Nicola is an established researcher with a PhD in Health Science from the University of York. Developing and publishing research focused on cancer, paediatrics, palliative care, type 1 diabetes, and women's health, she is dedicated to influencing health at individual and societal levels.
Specialties
Whilst Nicola has a list of specialisms, this is not exhaustive. If you are seeking support with a difficulty that is not listed, please get in touch to see if we can help. If we cannot, we will signpost you to someone who may be more suitable. Please be assured that Nicola will only offer support with issues and using therapies that she is qualified and competent to do so.
• Anxiety
• Attachment difficulties
• Behavioural difficulties
• Bereavement and grief
• Cancer (including childhood and teenage)
• Cardiology
• Child and adolescent mental health
• Chronic illness / Long-term conditions
• Chronic pain
• Coping skills
• Depression and low mood
• Diabetes
• Eating disorders and disordered eating
• Gynaecology
• Medically unexplained symptoms
• Neurodiversity
• Self-esteem
• Sleep issues
• Stress
• Weight-related concerns
Recent Publications
Roleston, C., Protudjer, J.L.P., Herbert, L.J., Jones, C.J., Warren, C., Brough, H.A,, Miah, M., O’Donnell, N., Omar, H., Ennifer, W., Marchisotto, M.J., & Knibb, R. (in press). The healthcare experiences and psychological support needs of adults and caregivers managing food allergy.
Roleston, C., Protudjer, J.L.P., Herbert, L.J., Jones, C.J., Warren, C., Brough, H.A., Miah, M., O’Donnell, N., Marchisotto, M.J., & Knibb, R. (in press). “It’s a permanent struggle to manage it really”: Psychological burden and coping strategies of adults living with food allergy.
O’Donnell, N., Noret, N., & Phillips, B. (In press). "Words Stick with You”: The Lasting Impact of Bullying on Retinoblastoma Survivors.
O’Donnell, N., Ellis, L., Morgan, J.E., Howell, D., Axél Gregersen, P., Willard, V., & Phillips, B. (2025). Psychosocial interventions to improve wellbeing in teenage and young adult post- treatment survivors of childhood cancer: a systematic review. Psycho-Oncology.
O’Donnell N., Folan, A.M., Gough B., Pacey A., Phillips B., Williamson, M., D., Lane S., Porteous C., Anderson R., Mitchell R., & Jones. G.L.,(in press). The development and evaluation of the first fertility preservation patient decision aid to support young males with cancer: the Cancer, Fertility and Me young males research protocol.
Williamson, M., Folan, A.M., Jones. G.L., Eldred L., O’Donnell N., Gough B., Pacey A., Phillips B., Yeomanson D., Lane S., Porteous C., Anderson R., & Mitchell R. (in press). Experiences of decision making for fertility preservation in adolescent males with cancer: a systematic review.
Wakelin, K.E., Read,, R. K., Williams, A,, Francois-Walcott, R.R., O’Donnell, N., Satherley, R-M., Harrington, M.P., & Jones, C.J. (in press). The effectiveness of psychological interventions for families of children with Type 1 Diabetes on caregiver and child functioning: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
O’Donnell, N., Phillips, B., Morgan, J., & Howell, J. (2024). “It’s not meant to be for life, but it carries on”: A qualitative investigation into the psychosocial needs of young Retinoblastoma survivors. BMJ Open.
Jones, C.J., Read, R., O'Donnell, N., Wakelin, K., John, M., Skene, S.S., Stewart, R., Hale, L., Cooke, D., Kanumakala, S., & Satherley, R-M. (2023). PRIORITY Trial: Results from a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a psychoeducational intervention for parents to prevent disordered eating in children and young people with Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. 10.1111/dme.15263
Harrington, M.P., Satherley, R-M., John, M., O'Donnell, N., Read, R., Wakelin, K., & Jones, C.J. (2023). Reliability and validity of a parent-reported screening tool for disordered eating in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. 10.1111/dme.15256
O'Donnell, N., Waller, J., Marlow, L., Anderson, N.C., & McBride, E. (2023). “Knowing that I had HPV, I literally just shut down”: a qualitative exploration of the psychosocial impact of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in women living with mental health conditions. British Journal of Health Psychology. 10.1111/bjhp.12688
Wakelin, K., Read, R., O'Donnell, N., Baker, M., Satherley, R-M., Stewart, R., & Jones, C. (2023). Integrating conversations about disordered eating in children and young people into routine type one diabetes care: a practical guide for paediatric diabetes teams. Practical Diabetes. 10.1002/pdi.2464
O'Donnell, N., Satherley, R-M., Davey, E., & Bryan, G. (2023). Fraudulent participants in qualitative child health research: identifying and reducing bot activity. Archives of Diseases in Childhood. 10.1136/archdischild-2022-325049
Zinser, J., O’Donnell, N., Hale, L., & Jones, C. J. (2022). Multi-family therapy for eating disorders across the lifespan: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Eating Disorders Review, 1– 23. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2919
O’Donnell N.R, Satherley R-M, John M, Cooke D, Hale LS, Stewart R and Jones CJ (2022). Development and Theoretical Underpinnings of the PRIORITY Intervention: A Parenting Intervention to Prevent Disordered Eating in Children and Young People With Type 1 Diabetes. Front. Clin. Diabetes Healthc. 3:822233. 10.3389/fcdhc.2022.822233
Jones, C. J., O’Donnell, N., John, M., Cooke, D., Stewart, R., Hale, L., Skene, S. S., Kanumakala, S., Harrington, M., & Satherley, R-M. (2021). PaRent InterventiOn to pRevent dIsordered eating in children with TYpe 1 diabetes (PRIORITY): Study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial. Diabetic Medicine, e14738. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.14738
Contact Us
If you are interested in finding out more about our services or scheduling an appointment, please contact us via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you!
Phone
07572046681
Find us
Malton, North Yorkshire