Welcome to UK Therapy Guild. My name is Nichola Doyle, and I am the founder of this training school. I am so glad you have chosen to begin, or continue, your therapeutic journey with us. The ethos of the Guild is built not just on professional theory, but on lived experience, and I wanted to share a little of my own story so you can understand the ‘why’ behind everything we do here.

I am now happily married to my husband, Jim, who I have been with since I was 16, and we have two wonderful grown-up daughters. But my life wasn’t always filled with the safety and security I cherish today. My own childhood was marked by instability, beginning when my parents’ marriage broke down due to domestic violence and mental health struggles. I was placed into the care system and went to live with my grandparents, separated from my brother. Growing up, I navigated a difficult relationship with my father and a feeling of never being quite good enough, which led me to cut ties with that side of my family simply to protect my own sense of self.

My life continued with periods of joy and connection, but also immense loss. In a devastatingly short space of time, my nan, my brother, my mother, my mother-in-law, and my best friend all passed away. This compounded grief left me spiralling, and I knew I needed help.

My first steps into counselling were not what I had hoped for. I experienced constant changes in therapists without notice, forcing me to re-tell my painful story to strangers week after week, which only amplified my deep-seated abandonment issues. Later, I tried a person-centred approach but felt unheard in sessions where I was offered no questions, no gentle challenge, and no collaborative exploration.

It was in that moment of frustration that my purpose became clear: I knew I could, and should, create a better, more engaged, and more secure learning environment for others. I decided to train as a counsellor myself and discovered the transformative power of integrative counselling, particularly the psychodynamic approach and attachment theory. For the first time, I began to truly find myself. With the help of a brilliant mentor and 15 months of my own intensive therapy, I felt like a new person, living a life filled with the safety, security, and motivation I had always craved.

This personal and professional journey is the foundation upon which UK Therapy Guild is built. At its heart is a simple truth: hurt people often go on to hurt others, creating a cycle of pain. Our fundamental ‘goal’ is to break that cycle.

That’s why I have meticulously designed our Level 5 Diplomas in Integrative Counselling and Hypnotherapy to be the course I wish I could have found all those years ago. It’s an approach that doesn’t just teach theory; it holds you, it challenges you, and it empowers you. My own healing taught me that a life filled with safety and joy is possible for everyone.

By joining this course, you are not just learning to be a therapist; you are becoming part of that ripple effect of healing. I look forward to supporting you on your incredible journey.

Nichola Doyle
Director of UK Therapy Guild