Hello, my name is Nicola. I'm 53 and a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor and coach, supporting people who are struggling and in distress.

I offer a warm welcome, an open heart and time and space to be with you, to walk alongside you for as long or as short a period as you need. No judgment, no 'if I were you'; just acceptance and a commitment to really 'being' with you as we explore what's going on for you. Together we can look at you and your life, and see how it is and, perhaps with gentle challenge, look at how you can come to live the wholehearted life you deserve to live. To be the 'you' you are meant to be.

If you feel you would like to work with me I pledge to be real, open and entirely trustworthy, working with you working at your pace. You are in charge and I will follow your lead. Often my clients have things going on in their life that have become overwhelming, maybe too hard to deal with on their own. Often they feel lost, broken, and can’t find a way through.  I have worked with clients suffering from trauma, grief, anxiety and depression, and with those who have suffered mental, physical or sexual abuse. I also help people with low self-esteem, and those who are suffering from work or family-related stress.

Alongside my private work I have been a volunteer counsellor at Leeds Mind and at Support after Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL).

I worked at Mosaic II, a charity specialising in providing support for people who have been affected by sexual abuse and am also working with the Palm Cove Society in Leeds which supports vulnerable and traumatised adults trying to rebuild their lifes after fleeing violence and slavery.

I am an Accredited Registrant of the National Counselling Society; a member of the National Council of Psychotherapists and a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and fully signed up to their code of conduct and ethical framework. 

I had a different life before all of the above.

Previously I was a journalist for 30 years and, latterly, the Editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post & Managing Editor, Yorkshire Post, where I completed and graduated from a  Senior Management Development, Leadership & Coaching programme.

I’m a Yorkshire lass. I lived in Brussels for several years, I love being by the sea and I have a passion for driftwood and beachcombing.

I had a special boy called Thomas who died in 2008. I battled on, I thought I was fine. I wasn’t. A wonderful counsellor saved me - and in being saved, I found a new path.

I appreciate this is a lot to take in but I believe a life that has seen great challenge has made me a better and more empathic counsellor. Please contact me if you think I can help you. I promise warmth, acceptance, and a space for you to be whatever you need to be.

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Therapeutic counselling gives you time and space to consider and reflect what is going on for you. It's not about me telling you what to do (though perhaps we can together challenge perceptions, behaviours and harmful beliefs), and it's not about me advising you or making suggestions about what you might do differently.

No one knows you like you - and together we explore different ways of understanding yourself and how you relate to those around you.

Sometimes it's about looking at harmful behaviours or beliefs about yourself, looking at your feelings, your thoughts about your worth and esteem, about finding part of you perhaps you have never acknowledged or didn't even know existed.

Above all, be assured this is your session and you are front and centre of it. I bring no agenda; no 'plan of action' - but together we can make important and lasting changes in your life.

I am integrative in my approach which means our work together can take many directions and will be specifically tailored to you.

I believe that a lot of pain we endure in our present life comes from things that happened to us when we were younger; and when our issues are about present day difficulties it can often be the case that our approach and resilience is affected by our lack of self-belief, self-worth and self-esteem.

I have worked with many clients who have suffered significant trauma in their lives and exploring body and mind responses after trauma and looking at coping strategies can be a large part of the work we do together.

What's most important, is that our relationship will be at the heart of how we work together to help you work through the issues you bring. You are most welcome to call me to discuss how we might work together before making an appointment.

For more information about me please see my website: nicolafurbishertherapy.com.