"With the support of Nicola, I was given the space to talk and work through what I wanted and she gave me tasks to work on, which were occasionally scary but worth pushing myself."
Sally-Primary Teacher
About Nicola
I am an experienced teacher and former SENDCo based in Lancashire in the UK. Before retraining as a teacher, I worked in the UK and abroad in sectors such as education, IT and sales & marketing.
I am a survivor of workplace stress and burnout and now work to ensure that others are prevented from experiencing the full extent of these debilitating states by arming them with tools and strategies. I ensure that my clients know that they are not alone at this time of vulnerability and self doubt. Stress and burnout block your vision of the future, so I work with clients to help them find the life that is waiting for them after recovery.
Whilst working in secondary education in the UK, I became involved in developing and running coaching and mentoring programmes for students at risk of exclusion, those who felt isolated and those individuals with additional needs. This area of supporting people through difficult times is what first ignited the idea of moving into coaching full time.
Away from work
When away from work, I can usually be found enjoying the countryside whilst walking my dog or out in the garden; being in green spaces has proven to be so important for my mental and physical health and it proved pivotal for my recovery from burnout.
An aspect I love about my personality is that I'm endlessly curious about the world and its contents, so reading is a big love of my life and it's one way in which I manage to switch off. Hence, I can often be found reading a book on anything from understanding perfectionism to getting absorbed by a gripping murder mystery!
Areas of study
I am studying towards an MSc in Psychology with a particular interest in stress and burnout and the moderating role played by Emotional Intelligence.
My research looks at the life cycle of developing and succumbing to stress and burnout and the pain that they can cause, all the way through to recovery and the way that stress and burnout can change you.