Finding Room to Be Heard
Perhaps you know exactly what has brought you to counselling. Or perhaps you just know that something doesn't feel right.
You might be struggling with something happening now, carrying experiences from the past, questioning who you are, or finding yourself repeating patterns that you don't quite understand.
You don't need to have it all worked out before coming to therapy.
I'm Nicola Preece. I'm a relational and integrative counsellor, and I'm interested in understanding your experience with you — rather than assuming I already know what it means.
Room For You
Every part of who you are can have a place in therapy.
Our identities, relationships, bodies, abilities, backgrounds and the environments we live within can all influence how we experience ourselves and the world around us. I recognise that difficulties don't always exist solely within an individual; sometimes the environments and systems around us contribute to distress too.
As a disabled therapist, my own lived experience has shaped my awareness of accessibility, difference and what it can be like to navigate environments and systems that don't always make room for us.
At the same time, I recognise that my experience is my own. I won't assume that I understand yours simply because we may share an aspect of identity or experience.
Instead, I aim to meet your experience with curiosity, respect and openness, creating room for the parts of yourself that may not always have felt understood, recognised or welcomed.
You don't need to be disabled to work with me. I welcome clients with a wide range of experiences and reasons for coming to counselling.
How I Work
I am a BACP-registered counsellor and hold a Level 6 BSc.
I work relationally and integratively, drawing on person-centred values and Transactional Analysis (TA). I don't follow a one-size-fits-all approach. I'll be curious about your experience, but I won't assume I already understand it.
I believe relationships matter, including the relationship that develops between us. Sometimes patterns from other relationships can find their way into therapy too. If something between us doesn't feel right, I'd rather we could talk about it than pretend it isn't happening.
I'll take you seriously without assuming that everything needs to be fixed. Sometimes therapy is about change; sometimes it's about having the space to understand and make sense of what you're experiencing.
I'll bring my therapeutic knowledge, curiosity and perspective, but I won't position myself as the expert on your life.
For me, counselling is something we do together.
Support for Higher Education Students
University and college life bring a unique set of pressures, from academic stress and deadlines to the challenges of independent living and navigating new social landscapes. It is common to feel overwhelmed as you balance your studies with your personal identity and mental health.
I offer students a confidential space to explore these experiences without judgement or pressure to have everything figured out. Whether you're experiencing anxiety, burnout, isolation, relationship difficulties, questions around identity, or simply finding university life harder than you expected, we can take time to understand what is happening for you and what you might need.
Could We Work Together?
Finding the right counsellor matters.
You don't have to decide immediately whether I'm the right person for you. Reading about my approach may give you an initial sense of how I work, and you're welcome to get in touch if you'd like to explore things further.
I offer online counselling for adults (18+) via Microsoft Teams. To help you feel at ease, I provide a free 15-minute introductory consultation. Full sessions: 50 mins. Fee: £40. Location: Online. Availability: Please enquire for current openings.
If you have an access requirement, you're very welcome to discuss it with me. I won't assume what you need.
Get in Touch
If something you've read here resonates with you and you're wondering whether we might work well together, you're welcome to get in touch.
Please don't include urgent or highly sensitive information in this form.
