Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Bazaco.
Hi Nicole, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
A little over 10 years into my first career in marketing, I was sitting in my boss’ office as she gave me a raise and a promotion, and the only thought I had was…“RUN!” I didn’t want more responsibility. I didn’t want more money. I didn’t want more stress. I was out of sorts, out of passion, and out of energy.
I suffered from chronic health issues like thinning hair and extreme heartburn. I had recurring bouts of depression, one time leading to friends knocking on my front door after I refused to answer the phone or leave the house for several days. I ended up hospitalized for three days after getting a DVT blood clot in my leg that went into my lungs and nearly killed me. I was on four daily medications and found myself on the couch at 3 am several days a week after drinking a bottle of wine (or two) for dinner.
But even after enduring all of that, it still took me another two years to actually leave my job and embark on a journey of true wellness in my career. A few winding roads later, I went back to graduate school and got a Master’s degree in Counseling. I am now a therapist with Foundations Counseling in Colleyville helping others find their way through difficulties they face in their careers and relationships.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest challenge in making significant change in my life was what I see many people struggle with, namely that while I knew I was unhappy, I was more afraid of what I didn’t know. I stayed stuck in a career I no longer connected with because the unknown of what could be just felt daunting. What I learned along the way is that change is not a linear process with a clear roadmap. I started by just doing something, one thing that felt different, and then did another thing. It was step-by-step and included several missteps along the way that I had to adjust to. It took me almost 6 years after first quitting my job to return to graduate school. I tried several other options during those years that just never felt right. And I ended up learning from those things to get me where I am now.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a therapist, I specialize in working with people who feel disconnected from themselves. For many reasons, people find ways to protect themselves from painful feelings or people who might hurt them, and these protective behaviors often lead them to feel disconnected from themselves. I believe that most mental health struggles aren’t pathological. What I see is ways people have adapted to survive difficulties in life that have in turn created new challenges like relationship issues, anxiety, career burnout, and addiction. I want to help people find their voice, reconnect to themselves, and know that there is no shame in exploring who they are.
My knowledge comes from education and experience but also just wisdom gained along the way going through and surviving my own life challenges. I have great compassion and empathy for those who are struggling, and my own life experience helps me know that, without a doubt, there is possibility on the other side of pain.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’ve lived in the DFW area since 2005 and been a Texan all my life. This city has evolved a lot since I first moved here, and as someone who welcomes change, I appreciate that. I think there is a neighborly, friendly culture in this city, and during hard times, we easily come together to support one another. And I still see the fallouts of this being a historically segregated and divided city. Change comes slow to structural issues. I believe there is great opportunity for this city to be a leader in kindness, generosity, and a shared humanity for all citizens.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.foundationscounselingpllc.com/
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/nicole-bazaco-colleyville-tx/1030951
