Nicola Banks

Hello, I’m Nicky. A warm welcome to my profile.

Are you looking to reduce stress or anxiety in an area of your life?

Do you want a healthier relationship with yourself, family members or friends?

Would you like to explore the impact of a traumatic experience?

Is your wish to be heard and understood without fear of criticism or judgement?

The partnership between a counsellor and client is key to believing that change is possible, with open and honest communication, mutual trust and respect all necessary factors to ensure a successful outcome. As your counsellor, I would work collaboratively with you to explore a different, improved way of living – such as finding more effective ways of coping, gaining new perspectives or problem solving. I offer an empathic, confidential and supportive environment, ‘shining a torch’ on your future path to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.

I adhere to the BACP ethical framework, thereby ensuring that your wellbeing is always my highest priority. I have a Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling (based on Transactional Analysis), a theory which explores why we think, feel and act the way we do.

I have particular experience working with women who have experience of domestic abuse, either as a survivor or as a current sufferer of coercive control, having volunteered as a counsellor at a women’s refuge. Past client issues include chronic illness, depression, marital problems, emotional eating, grief and loss and feelings of being ‘stuck’. I am passionate about helping clients to develop greater self-esteem, freedom of choice in the future, and hope.

I have always enjoyed working with people through relationship building, having been an Account Manager and also a parent governor at a local school. 

My objective for the first session is for you to leave feeling glad that you have taken the first step on your counselling journey, you have a basic understanding of the counselling process and that you feel safe and comfortable working with me.  

This first session has a number of necessary elements to it - discussing the contract and the required commitment by both client and counsellor to ensure that the counselling relationship is fruitful.  We would also look at your reasons for registering for counselling - however broad - and what would you like to explore first, the main issue on your mind.  Confidentiality and safeguarding are key topics for the first session and also it is important for me to explain the counselling process, to manage your expectations moving forward.  

A risk assessment is also undertaken, through our conversation, about how you have been feeling in the last week - physically, mentally and emotionally; this is reviewed every six to eight weeks with you to help illustrate progression in mental wellbeing or areas that show a need to potentially review the issues being discussed.