Nicola Parle

I am an integratively trained therapist which means that I listen carefully as you speak and select from a range of modalities to respond from. 

At first we may be getting an overview of your life story and your concerns and my focus may be on holding the different parts of the story together while you examine each. During this examination I may help you to deepen understanding, to find more contact with an emotion or to find a link with another part of your story or the wider context of your life.

As the work progresses we may start process specific events or to create more awareness around how you relate to yourself and others with a view to giving you a wider range of responses to choose from, rather than defaulting to early patterns that may limit you. This may look like working on your boundaries or your awareness of your subjective emotional experience.

As we work on specific areas we may notice more about how a pattern in one part of your life relates to other parts, or to your life as a whole. We may notice the effects of wider society and the currents of violence, oppression or scapegoating that can affect us all and that we can internalise. We may notice how the currents in wider society may have been replicated in your other systems- your family of origin, groups you are a part of or the different parts of yourself.

I am a qualified Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes practitioner and we may use this creative approach to explore, contain and work through some of these issues.

As our work comes to an end we can explore how the story of your life has changed, where the emphasis lies and who the important characters are within it. We may reflect on how the relationship between us has influenced your outlook and how you wish to carry that forward. By this point your awareness of your process and what you are bringing to any situation will be clear and my aim is that you will find agency, power and freedom in that.

I work online via zoom and in person in my garden therapy room within West Blean and Thornden Wood Nature Reserve, a few miles north of Canterbury. My therapy room is perfect for some as it is surrounded by nature and birdsong but it is not for everyone as it can be muddy when the weather is damp. 

Most of my appointments are during the day but I can occasionally offer early evening appointments.

I also run free online group therapies (talk-based group therapy and creative writing for therapeutic purposes) for female and non-binary survivors of sexual violence through Not Just You charity. Please email enquiries@not-just-you for further details.