NW Counselling Hub CIC is a Community Interest Company – founded by Naomi Watkins-Ligudzinska & Alex Parkin in April 2017.
They knew there were gaps in mental health provision in Lincolnshire and decided to do something about it. Alex had a background in Health & Social Care and Naomi in Psychology & Psychotherapy.
A lot of thought went into the name used as NWCH and hoping one day NW would stand for Nationwide.
They decided on tree names being used for various aspects of the hub, such as names for rooms, which we now have named as Blossom, Oak, Olive and Acorn. We also name our projects after trees too, such as Elm and Birch. We are careful not to choose anything that could be triggering for anyone, and we particularly like to use trees based on the tree of life story.
By December 2017, NWCH had received over 200 referrals, grew to a team of 10, and took on another building in 2018, with funding from Keyfund and Bromhead Medical Charity.
In 2020, when Covid hit, we closed our doors for 3 months and moved to online and telephone work. We then re-opened as a Covid safe business, secured further funding from many sources and started to offer group therapy. This enabled us to grow and become more sustainable. Since then, NWCH has gone from strength to strength, and we had helped over 7,000 people with their mental health and wellbeing. In 2024, we moved to our new premises in Lincoln, and we have since had our busiest months on record.
We are now an award-winning organisation.
We have helped literally thousands of clients and boast a team of 25, including our Directors and a mascot dog called Joy!
The Tree of Life Meaning:
This is a symbol of personal growth, strength and beauty. The Tree of Life symbol represents our personal development, uniqueness and individual beauty.
Just as the branches of a tree strengthen and grow upwards to the sky, we too grow stronger, striving for greater knowledge, wisdom and new experiences as we move through life. All trees begin life in the same way, yet as they grow older, they weather nature’s forces and develop in their own unique and beautiful ways.
The logo is a bird:
Our logo is a bird, which symbolises a client who makes their way through the Tree of Life, through therapy and flies to where their path takes them next. The bird represents freedom, and this is often significant for our clients’ journeys.
Our Founders
Naomi Watkins-Ligudzinska
A WISE100 woman, Churchill Fellow and award-winning Psychotherapist, EMDR Practitioner, Growth Coach, Researcher, Motivational Speaker, and Author.
Naomi helps people discover their purpose, achieve personal growth, and thrive in all areas of life through psychotherapy, EMDR, and growth coaching. Her focus is on empowering individuals to transform challenges into opportunities for emotional healing and personal success.
With over a decade of experience in business and coaching, Naomi has shifted from social enterprise coaching to focus on psychotherapy and growth coaching. She is passionate about guiding people toward emotional well-being and fulfilment in relationships, careers, and confidence.
Naomi has been featured by the BBC, Refinery29, Bella Magazine, Happiful, and BBC Look North as one of the UK’s leading figures in her field. A natural leader, educator, and motivator, she is committed to helping people achieve their visions of becoming successful, fulfilled individuals.
Naomi enjoys traveling with her Polish husband Michal and their beautiful Fox Red Labrador, Joy. They currently live in Spain, where they love exploring new destinations together.
Alex Parkin
Alex knew this is where she wanted to work. Alex has worked in children’s and adult’s residential settings for two years, providing daily support to them in a home from home setting.
Alex recently returned to education and completed her BSc Hons Degree in Health and Social care at Lincoln University, during her time at Lincoln University Alex started volunteering for local organisations within the care sector. Where she met Naomi Watkins, Alex worked alongside Naomi for over a year teaching Domestic Abuse workshops to young people and teachers. As well as providing nurture groups for young children within schools.
Alex found her passion working with children and young people, whilst supporting them with various topics. Alex began by providing one to one support work with young people, since then Alex has developed a passion to run support groups for young people in Domestic Abuse relationships and for Young Parents.
Since graduating in May 2017, Alex became the Co-founder of NWCH CIC alongside Naomi, a new and unique counselling hub in Lincoln, set up to support and help people within the local community following Alex’s passion.
Alex is also a mum to young children and loves spending time with them visiting new places. Alex can be found reading books and taking long mindful walks with her dog in the local park.