Nicky Ashby

I am a BACP Accredited, qualified and experienced integrative counsellor and psychotherapist (MA Distinction). I work with individual adults, students and young people. 

I am genuinely warm, empathic, compassionate and non-judgemental. I provide a safe, accepting and confidential space for you to feel free to make sense of your life, your concerns and challenges. 

My approach is relational integrative and I can adapt my particular approach to meet your specific counselling needs. I remain led by you as we explore what is troubling you - we may explore your current day concerns, and/or we may explore how difficulties in your childhood and during the past impact you now (the psychodynamic approach). I further offer grounding and mindfulness techniques (these can be helpful for anxiety and relaxation) and self-compassionate approaches (for feelings of shame), as well as cognitive behavioural approaches if required. 

Additionally, I have specialist trauma training and counselled in a sexual abuse charity. I am experienced in counselling individuals who have experienced any form of abuse from childhood to adulthood (whether emotional, mental, verbal, physical and/or sexual). I have a warm, gentle approach to help facilitate your healing after trauma. 

You may want counselling to help you to process grief and losses, whether from infertility, baby loss, miscarriage, death of a family member or friend, separation or divorce. I have experience of counselling in a pregnancy crisis centre and a hospice and understand the importance of having someone alongside you as you process extremely painful life experiences.

I believe that therapy is a collaborative process, where we can explore your difficulties and find ways forward together, at your pace, in a way that best suits you. 

If you are unsure about the therapeutic process, hearing others' experiences can be helpful. Here is some client feedback I have received over the last few months:

A (25) said "I feel incredibly grateful I had you as a therapist, you created a safe environment where I felt comfortable to be vulnerable and talk about what was on my mind. I felt confident that whatever I said would be met without judgement and you helped me to process things I hadn't told anyone else. I feel like in our time together I grew so much as a person and learnt a lot about myself. I feel like I understand myself and my behaviour better, which has improved my relationships with the people around ... I'm grateful for the way you were present with me throughout." 

T (67) wrote "I always felt that you really listened to me and made sure you understood what I was saying. You tailored our sessions to what I needed at any particular time, and I never felt like I was being subjected to ‘techniques’. You always seemed to genuinely care. If you asked me a question, you gave me time to think about my answer if I needed to. I never felt rushed, and I always felt I could be honest about what I was feeling or thinking. I didn’t feel I had to try to say the ‘right’ thing. You helped me to see positive things in myself and grow in confidence, and I believe that I am becoming a much more complete person, which has rather surprised me!"

F (52) reported "Nicky was particularly skilled at getting me to talk about events relating to my Fathers death. I found it very hard initially, however, without pushing me and with gentle, sympathetic questions, I was able to talk about something extremely traumatic. I was only able to do this because I trusted Nicky. She is excellent at relationship building and her gentle approach was just what I needed in order to open up to her. Nicky has helped me get my life back in order, I am far happier, more grounded and far more capable of dealing with things."

An initial session is free for a 30 minute telephone call to assess your counselling needs and whether I am the best therapist for you.