Have you been doing your best to hold everything together - showing up, getting things done, and meeting expectations - even when you feel stretched beyond your limits? Do those around you think you’re in control, managing it all, while the reality is that exhaustion and self-doubt are making it hard for you to trust yourself or know what to do next?
You might be trying to cope with the relentless fatigue, brain fog, and heightened sensory sensitivities that come with CFS/ME and autistic, ADHD or HSP burnout. Or perhaps you're caught in the exhausting cycles of restriction, bingeing, shame and constant battling with your body that are such a large part of eating disorders, disordered eating and body image struggles. For so many of the people I work with, perfectionism, self-criticism, and overthinking keep them pushing harder, even when what they really need is care and permission to slow down.
Even when you’ve done everything you can think of, it can still feel as though nothing truly shifts. But that doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it means you need support that understands how complex recovery really is, and meets you exactly where you are.
That's why this is a space where you can pause, breathe, and begin exploring ways to build a life that feels gentler, realistic, and truly your own.
Pause - breathe - explore
If this sounds like the kind of space you're looking for, I'd love to speak to you.
My story
Like many of my clients, I grew up feeling like I didn't fit in. I was highly sensitive, intense, often anxious, and easily overwhelmed. Because nothing seemed to make sense, I assumed I must be the problem. So I did everything I could to change myself - to be more acceptable, more likeable, more "normal." From the outside, it looked as though I was coping, even thriving. Inside, though, I was battling perfectionism, cripplingly low self-esteem, and an inner critic that never let up.
School was particularly hard. I was bullied for years, and I never quite figured out how to belong or feel safe. I learned to keep my head down, work hard, and try to be whoever I thought people wanted me to be.
There were warning signs - glandular fever, depression, and comfort eating throughout my teens as I tried to swallow my feelings. Then, in my early twenties, I developed an eating disorder. It took time, but I recovered. At least, my weight and eating did, but I was still somewhat disconnected from myself, and the sense of not fitting in lingered on.
When I discovered psychology, something finally clicked. After years of false career starts and trying to make sense of myself and others, it was a huge relief. I completed a degree, then a Master's in Health Psychology, a Foundation Course in Counselling, and later a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. I completed placements in the NHS, in an eating disorders service, and a trauma clinic, and I trained in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and NLP.
But despite having learnt so much, I still hadn't fully faced the years of trauma stored in my body. Looking back, I'm not sure I would have if my body hadn't forced me to stop: I caught a virus, which was followed by post-viral fatigue, and then, two years later, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue. I knew I had it before I got the diagnosis, but it gave me some reassurance that the sensory sensitivities, debilitating digestive problems, brain fog, emotional overwhelm, and exhaustion that made even simple tasks feel impossible weren’t just “in my head.”
My recovery took years, not months, but it taught me things I would never have found in a textbook. The most important lesson? There are no quick fixes. I had to stop searching outside myself and start getting comfortable with who I was - recognising my limits without labelling myself as broken or weak. I couldn't keep forcing myself into a way of living that wasn't mine, chasing impossibly high standards I could never sustain. Instead, I had to create a life that truly suited me.
My approach
When I returned to work, I wanted to approach things differently - I knew talking therapies helped, but I’d learnt firsthand that they weren’t always enough. So I trained as a wellbeing coach, became an EFT and Matrix Reimprinting practitioner, and a Belief Coding facilitator. Together with my psychology and therapy training, I now had a vast toolbox from which I could draw.
The other change I made was to focus on the areas closest to my heart - recovering from chronic fatigue, healing from trauma, and overcoming eating disorders. I was already a specialist in eating disorder recovery, but my own experience with chronic fatigue showed me how important it was to have practitioners who truly understand. That's why I became a Chrysalis Effect Specialist Practitioner in CFS/ME, Fibromyalgia and Long COVID - so I could combine clinical expertise with the firsthand knowledge I wished I'd had access to when I was struggling.
Today, I’m working with clients I genuinely care about, and using my training and experience to help others in a way that feels deeply meaningful. I spend my time doing things I care about and enjoy, and I get to make plans without the constant worry of having to cancel. I still step back at times, but it’s a choice rather than a necessity. None of us can do everything, and that’s okay.
My recovery hasn’t been about returning to who I was before, or reaching a place where everything feels easy. It’s been about understanding and accepting myself as highly sensitive and neurodivergent, recognising how things like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and relentless self-criticism were driving me to exhaustion, and learning to listen to my body instead of overriding it.
I'm based in Somerset and work online with clients across the UK and internationally. My approach is holistic, trauma-informed, and tailored entirely to you and what's genuinely possible in your life right now.
I share my story because I want you to know that recovery is possible, and that you don't have to do it alone. If we work together, I'll be here to walk alongside you, hold hope when you can't, and help you reconnect with yourself so you can move towards a life that feels more authentic, more balanced, and more your own.
If my story resonates in any way, and you'd like to find out if we'd be a good fit, please do get in touch.
The core beliefs guiding my work
01
Who you are is enough. You don't need to achieve more, do more, or be more to deserve care and compassion. The struggles you're facing aren't signs that you've failed - they're signs that you've been trying to prove your worth through perfectionism, putting others first, and overlooking your own needs. Our work together is about understanding what's been happening, and helping you design a life that recognises your inherent value - not one that demands you earn it.
02
There's no one-size-fits-all solution. Everything we do will be tailored to your circumstances, your needs, your values and what's realistic for you right now. I won't hand you a rigid plan or expect you to follow someone else's path. Instead, we'll find what helps you move forward in a way that feels true.
03
Healing happens through partnership. You're the expert on your life. I bring psychological insight, clinical training, and a genuine understanding of what you're navigating, but you're always the one who sets the pace and focus. I'm here to walk with you, offer reflection and guidance, and help you trust yourself again - not to tell you what to do.
04
Mind and body are deeply connected. Whether you're experiencing chronic fatigue, disordered eating, or burnout, there are emotional and psychological patterns underneath that need attention. I work with a trauma-informed holistic approach which recognises that your body holds wisdom, and that recovery involves more than just managing symptoms.
05
Real change takes time and practice. Lasting change doesn't happen in a single session. It comes from reflection, experimenting with new ways of doing things, noticing what works, and integrating what you've learnt over weeks and months. Our work together will give you the continuity and support you need to do this and make sustainable progress.
What to expect
From the moment we begin, you'll notice what it feels like to be truly seen and understood. You'll know that you can bring everything you've been carrying - the fatigue, the self-criticism, the worries about food or your body - and voice the things you haven't been able to say before.
As we talk, things will begin to make more sense. You'll gain clarity about what's been happening - the patterns, the pressures, and the ways perfectionism, self-judgment and self-abandonment have been shaping your choices. Sometimes you'll see things in a new light. At other times, it might simply be a quiet recognition of what comes next. Nothing is blamed because everything is explored with care and curiosity.
You'll find our sessions warm and conversational, never clinical or distant. I'll share what I notice, ask questions that help you reflect on things, and gently challenge the unhelpful stories you've been telling yourself - always with respect for who you are and what you're carrying.
Over time, life will start to feel lighter. The constant drive to get things "right" will begin to ease. You'll make decisions with more confidence, relate to your body and food in healthier ways, and return to the things that matter most in your life. The voice of self-criticism will soften, and in its place will come a sense of trust - that change doesn't have to be forced, that your needs matter, and that you're worthy of care exactly as you are.
If this sounds like the future you want, it would be lovely to talk to you.
Recovery in my clients' own words
"I didn't expect to enjoy online sessions, but Nic put me at ease immediately. Some of the work was unusual and strikingly effective, allowing my inner self to answer questions without censoring myself. By the end of our work together, I came away feeling invigorated, changed and at peace with what I thought had been true but I was now able to view differently." - Sarah S
“Initially, I was quite apprehensive to work with someone as I have always been a ‘fix it yourself’ kind of person, but I knew that I was struggling and needed help. When I started working with Nic, I remember noticing the tension and apprehension melt away within the first few moments of talking to her. She had a very gentle and caring demeanour and made me feel very comfortable, she was very understanding and attentive. With her help, I found myself digging deeper within myself and finding the root cause of my beliefs, which she then helped me to reframe or change. I have never been comfortable letting my guard down with anyone, but I was very comfortable with Nic, knowing that I was good hands. My life has certainly changed for the better since working with her.” - Rachel W
The practicalities
Recovery from CFS/ME, burnout, and eating disorders takes commitment, persistence, and an openness to looking at what’s happening beneath the surface. Because of this, meaningful change unfolds over time rather than overnight.
The support I offer is flexible and designed to give you the structure and continuity required to help you move forward in ways that feel genuine, sustainable, and empowering.
If you're working on eating disorder recovery, we'll typically meet weekly to build momentum and consistency. In contrast, if you're navigating chronic fatigue or burnout, we might meet fortnightly or monthly to fit in with your energy, concentration, and capacity. All sessions are online, and typically last for an hour.
In order to give you the kind of support and attention that's truly responsive to your needs, I intentionally work with a limited number of clients at any one time.
If you'd like to find out more about working with me, I'd love to hear from you.