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Hello and welcome. My name is Nicola Peacock and I am an integrative, trauma informed counsellor working in central Bath and online.

I am experienced in working one to one with young adults (18 – 35). I help clients manage and lessen the physical and psychological impacts of trauma, whether that is a single incident event (a car accident or a sexual assault or a sudden bereavement for example) or complex trauma including multiple traumatic incidents over time and historic sexual, physical emotional abuse or neglect.

I integrate a traditional ‘talking therapy’ approach with Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which involves working in a mindful way with thoughts, feelings, sensations and movement. I am also trained in EMDR and draw from various other models including Janina Fishers’ Trauma Informed Stabilisation Therapy and Internal Family Systems.

If you choose to work me, we will decide together what approach will best suit your needs.

I am a member of and abide by BACP ethical guidelines.

About me

My experience and qualifications:

Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (BACP accredited) 2013
Level 1 and Level 2 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy – 2014/18 (I am currently completing Level 3 - 2022)
Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy (EMDR). Full training completed - 2021
Trauma Informed Stabilisation Therapy (Janina Fisher) online Level 1 - 2021
Level 1 Mindfulness Teacher Training (The Mindfulness Network) - 2021

I have also completed training in Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems (online) and am committed to exploring and informing myself of recent developments in trauma informed therapy and neuroscience.

In addition to my counselling work, I have many years experience of working with young people in higher education as teacher, manager, mentor and advisor.

How will we work

I am an integrative, trauma-informed counsellor. This means that I shape my way of working to best suit your needs. We will discuss this at your initial session. At all times we will work at your pace and in a way that feels comfortable for you.

Working in a trauma informed way means:

Gently taking time to build a safe enough relationship within which the work can happen. Your experiences may have taught you to be careful about who you trust. It is important that we acknowledge, respect and work with these protective strategies that you have developed over time.

Equipping you with the skills and resources in order to approach difficult thoughts and feelings safely. I will help you to become more aware of when it feels ok to proceed and when to pause. I will also help you to find ways to ground, orient yourself in the present moment and stabilise, if you feel overwhelmed.

Using mindfulness to help bring awareness to thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and movements in the here and now. When we pay attention to present experience, we understand that many of our responses are habitual and learned, often developed early in life to ensure that our basic and fundamental needs were met, whether that was about receiving love and attention from our caregivers, or surviving in challenging, sometimes life threatening environments. Acknowledging that what was helpful then may no longer be helpful now can open the way to changes in the way we think, feel and act.

Working with the body. We know from developments in neuroscience that trauma memories are stored in the body so it makes sense that working with sensations, movements, impulses and posture can be both stabilising and transformative. I don’t use touch in my work and I am always respectful of your boundaries and your relationship with your body. As always, we proceed with care and kindness.

As an overriding principle, we will be working in unity with your bodymind system; counselling is a collaborative endeavour. You possess the necessary knowledge and capacity for growth. My role is to help you access and make best use of these resources towards achieving greater wellbeing, however this may look and feel for you.

Practical info

Location:

I am based in central Bath at "Openings" in George Street.
I can offer sessions on Zoom if you would prefer.

Availability:

I currently have limited availability Thursday afternoons and early evening
Please note: I am unable to work with students from the University of Bath as am currently employed there as a Student Counsellor. I AM able to see students from Bath Spa University.

Fees:

Initial consultation (50 minutes): £20
Ongoing counselling session (50 minutes): £50
Concessions are available on request.

Number of sessions:

I offer short term counselling (6-18 sessions) or longer term according to your needs.
It is usual practice to meet once a week at an agreed time.