Nicholas Young

Currently available on weekday evenings and Friday afternoons in-person or online.

I am an Integrative Counsellor and Coach, offering in-person counselling in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, as well as online sessions. I hold an MSc in Integrative Counselling and Coaching (Distinction) and am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

I work under the name Quiet Guidance Practice, reflecting my belief in the value of careful listening, thoughtful reflection, and gentle direction. My approach offers a calm, non-judgemental space where you can slow down, feel heard, and begin to make sense of what’s happening in your life.

Alongside counselling, I also integrate coaching where this feels helpful — particularly for clients who want to explore goals, decisions, or changes, and to take practical steps forward once deeper understanding has been established.

Before training as a counsellor, my professional background was in education and the charity sector, including primary and further education teaching and community development leadership roles. Having lived and worked in five countries across three continents, I bring an open, culturally sensitive perspective to my work, and a strong commitment to supporting people through change, challenge, and growth.

My priority is to create a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space where you feel able to speak freely and be listened to with care, respect, and curiosity.

Our work begins with listening — to where you are in your life, what has brought you to counselling, and what you may want to explore or change. There is no agenda other than yours, and we work at a pace that feels right for you.

As an integrative counsellor, I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches — including person-centred, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural (CBT), and existential perspectives — alongside coaching methods. This allows our work to be shaped around your individual needs rather than a single model. This way of working is sometimes described as Personal Consultancy, supporting both deeper emotional understanding and practical, forward-looking change.

Clients come to me for many reasons, including anxiety, stress, low mood, relationship difficulties, life transitions, career challenges, or a sense of feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Some people are looking for short-term support around a specific issue, while others prefer longer-term counselling to explore deeper patterns over time. I offer both short- and long-term counselling, depending on what feels most helpful for you.

Before booking a first session, I offer a free 20-minute introductory phone call. This is an opportunity for you to share a little about what you’re looking for and to ask any questions you may have. I’ll also explain how I work, so you can decide whether my approach feels like a good fit.

There is no obligation to proceed after this call. If you choose to go ahead, we can arrange an initial session, for which normal fees apply.

In the first session, we’ll begin to get to know one another and explore what has brought you to counselling at this point in your life. We’ll talk about what you’d like support with and how we might work together. The session is as much about you getting a feel for me and the space as it is about beginning the therapeutic work.