My story.
From panic…….
It seemed to come out of nowhere, but looking back I can see all the factors that stacked one on top of the other, to create the situation I was now in…. curled up in a ball on my bathroom floor, heart pounding like it might come out of my chest, sweat pouring off my face, feeling so desperate for air that I thought I would die. No matter how much I breathed I couldn’t find relief. I felt sick and completely and utterly terrified. I had no idea what was happening or how to make it stop.
My job at the time was as a specialist breathing physiotherapist in the NHS, helping people to recover from hyperventilation. Hyperventilation happens when you breathe too much for your bodies needs, either by taking big breaths, breathing too quickly or both. After some time it finally dawned on me what was happening to me - the anxiety that I’d been experiencing had crescendoed into a panic attack and I was hyperventilating. Each time that I took another huge breath I was making the situation worse!
To calm………
Once I'd recognised the panic attack and hyperventilation, I applied the knowledge that I’d learnt through my job. I started to breathe less by using breathwork techniques. Within 5 minutes the panic attack had stopped. I felt calm and all the frightening symptoms had resolved. I was so relieved that it’s hard to find the right words. I was also incredibly grateful. As a counsellor as well as a physiotherapist, I knew about the panic attack cycle and how the trauma of a panic attack can lead to intense fear of them and set up a vicious cycle. The fear leads to more panic attacks and you can feel completely trapped and like there is no way out. By recognising and stopping the hyperventilation I had been able to stop the panic attack and I was back in control.
Over the following months and years I made a lot of much needed changes in my life. Through therapy I recognised toxic situations which were making me feel anxious and took the steps to change them. I realised what made me feel more happy and calm and brought more of these things into my life. I recognised life traumas which were unresolved and contributing to my anxiety and used a trauma therapy called emotional freedom techniques to release them. I practised breathwork exercises to calm my nervous system. I changed unhelpful thoughts to more helpful ones, which supported me in moving towards my goals.
I became less anxious and more calm and I managed to create a life that I love.
I now use my training, knowledge and experience to help others who are struggling with anxiety and panic. I am privileged to journey with my clients and witness their transformations. My aim is to support you to reduce anxiety and panic and create more calm and wellbeing. To re-engage with the things that you love and need to do and to fully live your life again!
Qualifications & Experience.
Counselling.
MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy (with distinction), University of Salford.
TA101 - Introduction to Transactional Analysis, University of Salford.
Adlerian Counselling Certificate, Six units, Bottisham Village College.
Intermediate Certificate in Counselling Skills, Hills Road Sixth Form College.
Introduction to Counselling Skills, Hills Road Sixth Form College.
Counselling Skills in Palliative Care, Arthur Rank Hospice.
Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, APT.
Over 2000 hours of experience providing counselling support.
Experienced in a range of approaches including: Person Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, Attachment Theory and Non-violent Communication.
Breathwork & Respiratory Physiotherapy.
BSc Hons Physiotherapy, University of Northumbria.
Chartered Physiotherapist since 1997.
Over 15yrs experience as a Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist in NHS including Team Lead Physiotherapist for Airways service at North West Lung Centre (specialist centre for hyperventilation assessment and treatment).
Breathwork and Pranayama teacher training certificate, with Laurent Roure.
Yoga Teacher training, Yasodhara Ashram.
Trauma Therapy.
Experienced trauma practitioner.
Using EFT since 2009, helping clients to recover from and reduce the impact of life traumas.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Level 3, Advanced Practitioner, with Gwyneth Moss.
Emotional Freedom Technique Level 2, with Tania Prince.
Emotional Freedom Technique Level 1, with Tania Prince.
“It has made a tremendous difference to me, to be able to talk to and have therapy with Nicola. She has the combination of deep awareness, spiritual depth and a wide range of “tools” which makes her a very professional and loving therapist.
If you want real change in your life I can recommend Nicola as your guide!”
- CLIENT FEEDBACK