Nicola Willoughby, BACP

Nicola Willoughby is a BACP counsellor based in the United Kingdom. She has practised since 2020 and uses a flexible approach that adapts to each person's needs. Nicola aims to make therapy straightforward and approachable for people dealing with big life stresses.

She supports people with trauma and abuse, grief, parenting difficulties, career concerns and coping with life changes. Nicola also focuses on attachment issues, communication problems, divorce and separation, domestic violence, eating and food-related issues, fertility matters, guilt and shame, hoarding, narcissism, panic and phobic symptoms, pregnancy and childbirth, self‑esteem, social anxiety and women's issues.

Her training is integrative, which means she mixes different methods to suit the person in front of her. During training she completed a higher diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy and a foundation certificate in working with children and teens, and has undertaken additional courses in bereavement and loss, domestic abuse, anxiety, anger and emotional regulation. Nicola describes therapy as a joint process of discovery.

She aims to help people notice their strengths and use them to make practical changes. Sessions tend to focus on clear, manageable steps and finding ways to cope day to day. Nicola values open conversation and works at a steady, realistic pace.

Nicola offers sessions by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging. People can expect straightforward guidance about next steps, with options that suit different schedules and preferences.

How Nicola adapts approaches for online therapy

Nicola describes herself as an integrative counsellor who blends methods to match each person's needs. One commonly used technique is cognitive behavioural work, which looks at how thoughts and behaviours link and teaches simple strategies to reduce anxiety and panic symptoms. Another often drawn-on approach is bereavement and loss work, which helps people process grief through guided conversation and paced emotional work.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Nicola will discuss your goals and preferences, try different ways of working and adjust the plan as you go. The aim is to find a method that feels useful and manageable rather than one prescribed from the start.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to make therapy fit around life. Video calls allow face-to-face feeling when needed, phone sessions work well when internet is limited, live chat suits shorter check-ins and text messaging can fit a busy schedule. These options make it easier to keep regular contact and to use therapy in ways that match everyday routines.