Shape the Programme – The Groundwork
Shape the Programme

For fathers who feel like they're holding it together,
but losing it in the moments that matter most.

I'm building a skills-based programme for fathers, and I want 30 minutes of your honest answers before I finish it. If what actually gets in the way at home is something you'd be willing to talk about, I'd really value hearing it.

30 minutes Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or phone No hard questions. No sell.
Does any of this sound familiar?

You're providing, present, getting through the week. And still something at home isn't landing the way you want it to.

Most dads I see in clinic don't arrive with a dramatic story. They arrive with a quiet, persistent sense that something is off. That they're not quite the father they thought they'd be. That their reactions at home aren't matching the person they are at work, or the person they want their kids to know.

If any of the below feel familiar, you're exactly the dad I'd like to speak with.

  • The snap over nothing.
  • The distance in the evenings, even when you're in the room.
  • The drive home replaying the morning.
  • The 11pm scroll, wired and empty.
  • Recognising yourself in your own dad sometimes.

Whether you've got a newborn, a primary-schooler, or a teenager in the house — the inside question is largely the same.

What this conversation is, and isn't.

What it is

  • A 30-minute research conversation
  • A chance to shape what the programme actually does
  • A practical chat about what gets in the way and what would help
  • Your words, in your own language, taken seriously

What it isn't

  • A therapy session or assessment
  • A sales call or pitch for the programme
  • A deep dive into anything personal you'd rather not share
  • A commitment to anything beyond the 30 minutes

Nic Nistor

Clinical Psychologist
Founder, The Groundwork

  • HCPC-registered
  • 12+ years, NHS and private practice
  • Senior Clinical Psychologist, community adult mental health team
  • Husband and dad of two
Why I'm doing this

Because the programme should be shaped by the men it's for, not built on theory alone.

After 12 years in the NHS and private practice, I've sat with a lot of men who look fine on the outside and carry something heavy underneath. I want to build something that actually helps men like that — which means hearing from them before I finish it. What really gets in the way. What you've already tried. What would genuinely help.

Your voice, in your words, directly shapes what this becomes.

What to expect

Four steps. No surprises.

The whole thing is designed to respect your time and make the 30 minutes worth having.

01

Get in touch

Email or DM. Tell me roughly where you are in fatherhood (new dad, school years, teens) and we'll find a time.

02

Book a slot

30 minutes. Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or phone, whatever works. Evenings and weekends available.

03

The conversation

I'll ask about what gets in the way, what you've tried, and what kind of tools would actually help. Practical, not personal.

04

That's it

No follow-up expected. If you'd like to hear when the programme opens, just tell me on the call and I'll keep you posted. Otherwise, nothing more from me.

Your privacy

What you share stays between us. I take notes on themes and language, not identifying details, and nothing you say will be attributed to you anywhere without your explicit permission. If I'd like to quote something directly in future content, I'll ask first.

This is research, not therapy. If something difficult comes up during the call, I'll pause and signpost you properly. If you're currently in acute distress, please contact your GP or Samaritans on 116 123.

You don't need to be in crisis. You don't need a diagnosis. If you're a dad who recognises any of this and has 30 minutes, you're exactly who I want to hear from.

Most dads don't get asked these questions. Not by their partners, not by their mates, not by anyone.

If you've got 30 minutes and something you'd want a programme like this to actually do for men like you, I'd really value hearing it.

Email Nic DM on Instagram

Or forward this page to a dad you know: thegroundwork.uk/research