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Psychotherapeutic Counsellor Based in Billericay

Hi, I’m Nicki

I am a qualified Person Centred and Attachment Based Psychotherapist. I am trauma trained. I also work with many neurodiverse individuals and those in the LGBTQ+ community. I offer therapy sessions, face-to-face, and online in the UK from in my private therapy room in Billericay, Essex.

I will provide you with the opportunity to explore your issues in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space. My goal is to establish a therapeutic relationship that is built on trust and mutual respect. The connection between you as the client and myself is of great importance to me. I am aware that I may not be able to change your circumstances or able to ‘fix’ you. (After all you are not broken). What I can do is help you to explore difficult thoughts and feelings that can arise within the challenges of life. My role is not to give you answers but to help you discover the answers for yourself and find your own path. Additionally, I may share some psycho-education when I feel it will support and guide you.

 

My core approach is Person-Centred 

Person-Centred Therapy is a type of counselling that has the view that, everyone has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change when they are in the right environment and conditions. The counsellor is not considered to be the expert or as director of the therapy, but instead offers the vital core conditions; unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence to help you come to terms with any negative feelings and to change and develop in your own way.

Attachment-Based Psychotherapy is a supportive and empowering approach to therapy that focuses on building healthy relationships and emotional well-being.

  • Focuses on attachment: Attachment theory is a well-established framework for understanding how early relationships impact our emotional development. Research shows that attachment styles are born at this time. By acknowledging its importance, I can help you to have an understanding of the root causes of potential issues.
  • Safe and secure environment: This is crucial for any therapy to be successful. By emphasising creating a safe space, I will aid you to feel safe so that you can be open and vulnerable without fear of judgment. This will help to build earned security.
  • Building self-worth and relationships: Many therapeutic goals revolve around these two areas. I can help clients develop healthier relationships with compassion for yourself and others.
  • Reduced conflict and improved emotional regulation: These are common struggles for many people in therapy.By working on these improvements, it will potential benefits your overall life experience.
  • Psycho-education: is an excellent tool for helping you as the client to understand your own experiences and it can promote self-awareness and will help you to engage in the therapeutic process.

Trauma Therapy

With my diploma in trauma therapy, I can offer a safe, supportive environment for those navigating the impact of trauma; whether rooted in childhood experiences, intimate relationships, or other life events. This includes working sensitively with individuals affected by sexual, physical, emotional, or domestic abuse, as well as coercive control and financial manipulation.

I also integrate a somatic approach, helping clients to understand how trauma can be stored in the body and how we can work together to gently regulate and restore the nervous system.

I have experience supporting individuals living with PTSD and Complex PTSD, as well as those healing from relationships with narcissistic parents or partners. My approach is compassionate, grounded, and led by your pace — ensuring you are met with care, respect, and understanding throughout your journey

A Background Rooted in Compassionate Support

My path into counselling has been shaped by a longstanding commitment to supporting others during their most vulnerable moments. I began this journey with Samaritans, where I offered crisis support to individuals in emotional distress, it was an experience that deeply influenced my decision to train as a counsellor.

I currently work with Circles South East, supporting survivors of sexual abuse and trauma with care and sensitivity. My counselling experience also includes working in a secondary school, providing therapeutic support to teenagers, as well as with a low-cost counselling service, ensuring that those on lower incomes have access to the help they deserve.

Each of these roles has strengthened my belief in the importance of accessible, non-judgemental support and I bring that ethos into every session I hold.

My Journey Into Counselling

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent over two decades as a hairdresser, it was a career that naturally fostered deep listening, trust, and connection. As many say, hairdressers often become informal counsellors, and in many ways, that was true for me. I had the privilege of supporting people not only in how they looked, but how they felt about themselves. I successfully ran my own salon for 12 years and trained many aspiring stylists, which was an incredibly rewarding chapter of my life that laid the foundation for the therapeutic work I do today.

A Personal Path to Healing

My transition into counselling was inspired by my own experiences. After years of caring for others, I began to recognise how much I had neglected myself. Seeking counselling was a turning point and it helped me understand my struggles, reconnect with who I was, and begin to heal.

I’ve lived through anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. I’ve grieved deeply through close bereavments, navigated the pain of bullying, endured the loss of relationships, and worked hard to rebuild my sense of self-worth. Through therapy, I’ve explored my attachment patterns, my inner world, and the parts of myself that had been long overlooked.

Having a space to talk that is free from judgement and outside of my personal circle; has been life-changing. It’s helped me develop self-awareness, set boundaries I never knew I needed, and move toward a more authentic and compassionate relationship with myself. My commitment to continuing personal therapy is something I value deeply; I believe it’s essential in helping me stay grounded and present for my clients.

I bring this lived experience, alongside my professional training, into the counselling space. I will offer you a compassionate, grounded, and non-judgemental environment where you can explore whatever you need, at your own pace.

Contact me here if you would like a free intro call to discuss your counselling needs and how I can support along your counselling journey.

My Training and Qualifications

I am a fully qualified counsellor and a resgistered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP).

I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for the counselling professions and have regular supervision. I am fully insured, and have a Enhanced DBS. My qualifications include:

  • CPCAB Level 5 Diploma Integrating Attachment Based Psychotherapy into Clinical Practice
  • CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
  • CPCAB Level 3 Counselling Skills
  • CPCAB Level 2 Counselling Skills
  • Diploma in The Beech Practice Trauma Training
My prior training includes:
  • Samaritans Listening Volunteer Training
  • Circle South East Vicarious Trauma Training
  • Circles South East Pre-Trail Therapy Training

To continue my learning, I regularly attend ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses so that I keep up to date with as much information as possible.