Nicola StrudleY, MCoun, MBACP SNR Accred
I have always been interested in other people’s stories. The stories we tell create our identity.
My first job after getting my Psychology degree was at a female Bail and Probation Hostel, I then worked in a young offenders prison. It was here that I realised the power of how we talk about our lives influences how we view ourselves. I retrained as a psychotherapist and have continued to be fascinated by how we construct our realities, identities and possibilities.
Nicola’s experience
I have been practising psychotherapy for over 20 years. I was awarded a first class Masters degree in Counselling from the University College Cork in 2004. I've worked in a variety of contexts from a Barnardo’s residential school, an immigration removal centre & various charities.
I am passionate in equipping people with the techniques to implement lasting change. My style is practical & challenging.
Three of my stories - about the mind body connection:
The first:
Moments after the elation of realising I was pregnant with my first child, I was gripped with an overwhelming fear of having to give birth. I embarked on a hypnobirthing course that taught me how to stop cortisol (the fear hormone) flooding my body and a particular breathing style, called Ujjayi breath, to keep me calm. I practised the deep breathing alongside other techniques everyday for months before my due date. My drug free waterbirth was peaceful and painless. I have been convinced of the power of breathe ever since!
The second:
I am distinctly un-sporty, I made up excuses to miss PE lessons at school and the thought of getting out of breath and sweaty was enough to put me off exercise for much of my adult life … until I turned 40. I had run a few 5km Race for Life’s to raise money for Cancer Research. A friend of mine asked if I would join her in a 10km race. My initial thought was there is no way I could run that far. The next time I went out running I added a bit extra on and after a few weeks I had managed 10km. The realisation that I could do it, so I signed up for a half marathon. I am quite certain that coaching my mind was just as important (if not more) as training my body to be able to run 21km.
The third:
I am a doer, a completer-finisher. I pride myself on saying what I will do. I would never ask somebody to do something that I was not prepared to do myself.
People often say to me “Doesn’t it exhaust you listening to everybody else’s problems?” In order to do my job well my self care is imperative. I am a life long learning. I love new experiences.
I always have a book on the go. I listen to podcasts (my favourites are Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place & Dr Chatterjee’s Feel Better, Live More), I love being out in nature, I have started taking ice baths, I write in a gratitude journal, I nudge myself out of my comfort zones.
You have one precious life … go for it …. do it!
Where to find accredited therapists…