Nicola Spence, BACP - Therapist in United Kingdom

Stress and anxiety
Grief and loss
ACT and CBT

About Nicola

Nicola Spence is a BACP-registered counsellor in the United Kingdom with three years of professional experience. She works with young adults on common early-adulthood pressures such as stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and depression, and helps people facing life changes or struggling with motivation and confidence.

She describes a human-centred, compassion-focused and trauma-informed approach. Nicola avoids symptom lists and diagnostic labels, and prefers to form a shared understanding of a person's life story before planning next steps. She asks questions, listens to what matters, and collaborates on what to try next.

Initial sessions focus on what brought a person to counselling and on building a practical account of history and current difficulties. Nicola links past experiences with present challenges, then discusses options for moving forward. Sessions emphasise making choices and setting clear directions rather than fitting people into a checklist.

She uses a mix of approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Attachment-Based Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. These methods are used to address anxiety, mood, relationships, trauma-related issues and patterns of thinking and behaviour.

Nicola is comfortable working with concerns such as addiction, intimacy-related issues, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD, career stress and parenting strain. She also lists additional focus areas like attachment issues, body image and chronic illness. Sessions are offered in English and are for people based in the United Kingdom.

Therapeutic approaches used and how they work online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasises noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choosing actions that reflect what matters. It can help with anxiety, low mood and feeling unclear about life choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing them through practical steps and experiments, which can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how earlier relationships shape present patterns of closeness and trust, and can be useful for relationship and intimacy-related issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Nicola will discuss different methods with each person and decide collaboratively what to try based on their goals and preferences. That means plans can change over time as needs become clearer.

The original profile does not specify particular session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around study, work and daily life, for example by cutting out travel, allowing shorter check-ins or avoiding the need to be on camera for a whole session. These practical benefits help people keep therapy in a busy routine without promising a particular service.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteem Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

Addictions LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Intimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issues Communication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesForgiveness Guilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual dysfunctionSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobia Women's issues Workplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

3+ years

Listed in

United Kingdom

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression and life changes among many other concerns listed in her profile.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her approach is human-centred, compassion-focused and trauma-informed, with an emphasis on building a shared understanding before choosing techniques.

How much experience does she have?

She has three years of professional experience in counselling practice in the United Kingdom.

What credential does she hold and where is she based?

She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.

Can I work with her if I'm outside the UK?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available?

The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current online or in-person options before booking.

How are fees handled?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin if I want to work with her?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.