Accepting New Clients
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Yes
Rates*
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$165
*Prices Exclusive of GST
Availability
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Tuesday - Friday
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Daytime and Evening
Therapy Formats
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Virtual
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In-Person
Populations
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Individuals
Nicola Thackwell (She/Her/Hers)
Registered Clinical Counsellor, MA, RCC
Accepting New Clients
-
Yes
Rates*
-
$165
Appointment Times
-
Tuesdays
-
Thursdays
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Wednesdays (Evening)
Therapy Formats
-
Virtual
-
In-Person
Populations
-
Individuals
Full Bio
Feeling stuck, insecure, or spiralling is what often brings people to see me. Within the safe container of a warm and genuine therapeutic relationship, I use proven therapeutic interventions to help my clients reduce their anxiety, improve their self-worth, and learn to trust themselves enough to take healthy emotional risks. Seeing my clients leave behind self-defeating patterns and move forward with more confidence and less reactivity is the most gratifying part of my career.
The experience of being able to speak freely about ourselves and share our inner world without fearing judgement is one that we don’t often get in our everyday lives. My genuine curiosity enables each of my clients to explore their suffering and vulnerability with safety and honesty. In this way, my clients start to see and understand themselves in a new light.
Areas of Focus/Specialty
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Relational Trauma & Attachment
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Immigration & Assimilation
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Prenatal/Postpartum Difficulties
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Personal Exploration & Growth
Therapy Modalities
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Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy
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Existential Therapy
What You Can Expect When Working With Nicola
In our first session, we will dive into what has brought you to therapy, whether it be a particular problem, or a desire for personal growth. As an integrative therapist, I use a blend of approaches that are tailored to your presenting concerns and therapy goals. A treatment plan could include psychoeducation, resourcing, and skills building, or could be less structured and open-ended, depending on what we decide would be most helpful. I am guided by the evidence base when recommending treatment approaches.
For clients who are experiencing the consequences of trauma (acute, chronic, relational, systemic), I offer integrative somatic treatment that aims to integrate the brain-body connection to reduce stress and tension and increase emotional regulation.
Nicola's Experience & Training
Counselling is my second career! I worked as a fashion stylist for many years and I changed my course when I realised that I was exhausted, and feeling like my life had lost purpose and connection. I left that field to complete a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Stellenbosch University in South Africa in 2015. I went on to work in various hospitals, government, and community organisations as part of my clinical experience and training. Before coming to Canada in 2020, I ran a busy private practice in Paris, France, where I worked with the English-speaking community as well as with students and teens at The American University and The British School. I am registered with the BCACC and various other regulatory bodies in France, South Africa and the UK.
I am very interested in the pursuit of ethical and just societies particularly in relation to the fight against discrimination and oppression. I have extensive experience working with psychological health and safety in the workplace. My research on systemic racism in medical training has been published in peer reviewed academic journals.
More About Nicola
I’m a mom to a lovely toddler, which makes me feel really lucky (and sometimes, really exhausted). Navigating the challenges and joys of parenthood has helped me know myself in a new way. I once heard this quote in a lecture, and it stuck with me: ‘’parents lend their minds to their infants’’, in that we help them know the world, and their place in it, through our connection with them. I try to remember this on difficult days. I also think this notion of co-regulation and attunement applies to the therapeutic relationship.
I grew up in a pretty wild African place and I love to reconnect with this side of myself at night, around a campfire – just listening to the crickets and talking and laughing with family and friends.
