Nicola Willoughby

• Trauma and abuse
• Grief and loss
• Parenting support

About Nicola

Nicola Willoughby works on trauma and abuse, grief, parenting, career and coping with life changes using an integrative approach that adapts to each person. She is a BACP member and has worked in counselling since 2020.

Nicola trained as an integrative counsellor, which means she draws on different methods to match the needs of the person in the room. During training she completed a higher diploma in CBT and a foundation certificate in working with children and teens. She has also undertaken additional training in bereavement and loss, domestic abuse, anxiety, anger and emotional regulation.

She has experience supporting children and adults connected to neurodiversity, including people with ADHD and autism spectrum conditions. Nicola describes helping people notice their strengths and the personal skills they already use, and then building on those strengths to tackle practical issues.

In sessions she aims to be direct and clear about strategies and steps that can help with day-to-day problems. That can include talking through patterns of thinking and behaviour, practicing ways to manage intense feelings, and looking at communication within relationships.

Nicola also works with concerns such as attachment issues, communication problems, divorce and separation, domestic violence, eating and food-related issues, fertility concerns, guilt and shame, hoarding, narcissism, panic and phobias, pregnancy and childbirth, self-love, social anxiety and women’s issues. She presents her approach in simple terms and encourages collaborative planning with each person.

People are invited to consider which techniques suit them and to take practical steps between sessions. Nicola’s background and short clinical experience give her a focused, practice-orientated way of working.

How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions

Nicola uses an integrative framework that adapts to what a person needs. Integrative work means combining practical techniques and reflective conversation so sessions can focus on thinking patterns, behaviour and emotional regulation depending on the issue presented. This approach can help with relationship communication, parenting concerns, and managing strong emotions.

She also draws on cognitive behavioural techniques. CBT involves noticing unhelpful thinking and testing different ways of responding, and it is often used when anxiety, panic or phobias are an issue. Another strand of her work addresses bereavement and loss with focused support for processing change and planning next steps.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide which methods fit best with a person’s aims, preferences and day-to-day life. That means aiming for practical steps and agreed goals rather than using a single fixed method.

Confirm the specific session formats and practical arrangements before booking, as the biography does not list formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work or family commitments, and they can reduce travel time. Different ways of meeting can also suit quieter check-ins, shorter sessions or appointments that avoid the need to travel.

Topics Nicola lists

• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Parenting issues
• Career difficulties
• Coping with life changes
• Attachment issues
• Communication problems
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Eating and food-related issues
• Fertility issues
• Guilt and shame
• Hoarding
• Narcissism
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Phobias
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Self-love
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues

Questions about Nicola

Does she work with trauma and abuse?

Yes. Trauma and abuse are listed among her main areas of work.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She describes an integrative approach, adapting methods to suit each person and drawing on different techniques learned in training.

How long has she been practising?

She has been working in counselling since 2020, which gives her three years of professional experience.

Is she accredited or registered?

She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP.

Can I have sessions in other languages?

Sessions are offered in English only.

Does she work with international clients?

No, she does not accept international clients at this time.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start counselling with her?

Select the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.