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.
For me, therapy isn't only about what we talk about; the relationship we build together matters too. Having a space where you can be heard, where we can be curious about what happens between us, and where difficulties don't have to be ignored or quickly fixed can offer an opportunity to experience relationship differently.
Over time, that can open up new ways of understanding yourself and relating to others.

Room For You

Our relationships, identities, experiences and the environments around us can all shape how we understand ourselves and relate to others.

I aim to offer a space where we can be curious about your experience together, without assuming there is one explanation for what you're feeling or one particular way you should be.

I welcome adults with a wide range of experiences and reasons for coming to counselling. My own lived experience of disability has contributed to my awareness of difference and accessibility, but I won't assume that sharing an experience means I understand what it means for you.

Every part of who you are can have a place in therapy.

How I Work

I am a BACP-registered counsellor and hold a First Class BSc (Hons) in Counselling Skills and Therapeutic Communication. I am continuing my professional development through advanced psychotherapy training.

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. How we experience relationships elsewhere in our lives can sometimes show up in 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.

Get In Touch

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.

Online & Face-to-Face Counselling
I offer online counselling across the UK and face-to-face sessions at Barmoor Hub in Ryton.
50-minute sessions · £40
Adults 18+
Fully wheelchair accessible
Free on-site parking
Free 15-minute introductory call available
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.