Nicola Spence, BACP

Nicola Spence is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who supports people facing midlife challenges, stress, anxiety, grief and low self-esteem. She also helps with depression, motivation, confidence and coping with life changes. Nicola approaches work with empathy and a human-centred focus, and she is open about not using diagnostic labels or symptom lists in her practice.

Nicola has three years of professional experience and holds BACP registration, which is shown as BACP. She describes her way of working as compassion focussed and trauma informed, emphasising the person behind the difficulty rather than a diagnostic category. This means conversations begin with the individual story rather than a checklist.

In the first sessions Nicola will explore what brought someone to therapy and work to build a shared understanding of their life story. She makes links between past experiences and current struggles, and helps people identify choices for change. Her role is described as collaborative and empowering, offering options and jointly deciding the direction of the work.

Nicola values the therapeutic relationship and speaks frankly about the courage it takes to be vulnerable. She has personal experience of seeking support and says this shapes her appreciation for people who reach out. Her style is warm and respectful, aiming to create a space where people can speak honestly about what matters to them.

People interested in starting can expect grounded, plain-spoken conversations that focus on practical steps as well as emotional understanding. Nicola asks clients to consider whether a non-diagnostic, human-centred approach fits their needs before booking.

Therapeutic approaches and online access

Nicola draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy alongside client-centred ways of working. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people make room for difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that match their values; it can be useful for anxiety, depression and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and helps people understand and change those relational habits; it often helps with trust, intimacy and relationship-related difficulties. Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s experience at the heart of sessions, offering empathic listening and support to help people find their own solutions.

Finding the right approach is usually a shared process. Nicola will discuss what feels most useful based on the client’s goals, history and preferences. Together they decide which ideas to try and how to pace the work, making adjustments as required.

Practical benefits of online therapy include easier fitting of sessions into a busy week and shorter travel time, which can make regular meetings more realistic. Because the biography does not list specific session formats, confirm the available options before booking. Registered or accredited professionals often offer a range of ways to meet, and Nicola will help match the format to your needs so sessions can fit into everyday life.