Hello, I'm Nicole Thomson.
I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor living in Squamish BC.
Personally, I enjoy things like art, snowboarding/skateboarding, playing music, camping, and being a mom.
Being a therapist is more than just a job for me—it’s a genuine passion. I’m thankful to work in a field that keeps me updated with new research and knowledge.
Spending time with people who are actively working to improve their lives never feels like work; it’s an inspiring journey.
Present Momentum is the name of my counselling practice (because “Nicole Thomson” is a pretty generic name, right?).
Having my own practice lets me focus on what I love most—helping people overcome tough times and find more happiness in their lives.
You might be wondering, “What does ‘Present Momentum’ mean?” It’s about finding the right balance between living in the present moment and moving forward with determination.
Specifically, I utilize techniques from a number of evidence- based therapies; such as mindfulness – which has so many benefits (such as improving concentration / self-control) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the gold standard treatment for depression and anxiety.
But to be clear, before diving into specific approaches like CBT and mindfulness, our journey begins by ensuring a shared understanding of your experiences and goals for counselling. Your input is crucial, and you have the final say in every step we take towards achieving those goals. Your needs and preferences guide our process.
So: my years of being psychology nerd + your years of being you = a custom plan to meet your goals.
But I do have a confession. I don’t just understand how this works from reading books and hearing lectures; I’ve lived my own version of this story (shocker).
As a teenager, being ‘present’ was hard. Literally, I got kicked out of high school for skipping too much. I had no direction, I didn’t see the point of going, and whenever someone asked me what I wanted to “do with my life,” I froze.
My entire life? I didn’t even know on any given day if I would end up skateboarding in a parking lot, or just spend hours on the internet (it took hours to download a single song back then).
One day, I was reading a self-help book (a weird hobby I had), and I learnt about how our thoughts aren’t always true. I began to learn about how we can challenge our beliefs, and I decided to challenge the idea that I hated school.
I tried some psychology classes, and knew what I wanted to do.
When I finally found my passion, motivation came easy!
Wait- that’s not the end of the story. Even though motivation came easily- actually getting through university was not! I had to learn how to be a student who not only cared now, but cared so much that it was overwhelming and stressful.
I’d think, “If this paper sucks I’ll get a bad grade… & then I won’t get into grad school… & then I won’t get the job I want… OMG THIS PAPER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
– now I’m too stressed to do it!”
I kept researching and learning about things like procrastination, motivation, study skills, and goal setting. Eventually, I got there. I even graduated with a first class honours degree (humble brag). Now I’m living the life I worked towards, and I am lucky to say I love it as much as I’d hoped.
As a counsellor, I get to help people clarify their values, embrace their uniqueness, challenge their limitations, and get started towards the life they want. It is awesome!
As fun and exciting as I find therapy; I do want to add that being a counsellor is such an honour, and I do take that seriously.
I know all too well what it’s like to be in that “stuck” place, and how hard it is to ask for help.
If you’re feeling stuck now, take a deep breath (to get present- of course), and then reach out: because that might be the first step forward; the first of many.