Nicola Willoughby , BACP

Nicola Willoughby is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She has practised since 2020 and supports people facing trauma and abuse, grief, parenting pressures, career uncertainty and big life changes. Nicola pays particular attention to women's issues alongside attachment, communication and relationship stress.

She works in a flexible, person-centred way and adapts how she meets people to suit the individual. Nicola uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and practical tools to help people understand patterns and make manageable changes. Sessions are conversational and focused on what the person needs right now.

Nicola trained as an integrative counsellor and has studied cognitive behavioural approaches during a higher diploma in CBT. She also completed a foundation certificate in working with children and teens and further training covering bereavement, domestic abuse, anxiety, anger and emotional regulation.

Her experience includes supporting people with neurodiversity-related concerns, including clients with ADHD and autism spectrum conditions. She describes helping people notice their strengths and practical strategies that make daily life easier.

Nicola believes the person often holds the answers to their struggles and aims to help them find those answers through collaboration. The focus is on clear goals, gentle challenge and small steps that build confidence and lead to lasting change.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Nicola draws on evidence-based techniques to help people manage feelings and make practical changes. Cognitive behavioural approaches focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and replacing them with more helpful habits; this can ease anxiety, panic and mood struggles. Integrative work combines different methods into a tailored plan, so sessions might blend practical skill-building with reflective conversation to suit the person's needs.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Nicola will discuss options, check what feels helpful, and adapt methods based on a person's goals and preferences. The focus is collaborative so the plan can change as progress is made.

Online therapy offers flexibility and makes it easier to fit support around a busy life. Video sessions allow face-to-face interaction, phone calls can be helpful when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text messaging suit people who prefer shorter check-ins or not being on camera. These formats can make it simpler to access regular support from wherever someone is in the United Kingdom.