Our Story

‍At The Trauma Recovery Collective (TRC), we created the kind of service we could see was missing.

The Trauma Recovery Collective (TRC) was founded by Mick and Nikki Bignell, with a shared vision: to create a trauma-informed space where people can feel genuinely safe, understood, and supported in their recovery.

Nikki’s work as a somatic therapist treating clients using Bowen Therapy, Reiki and intuitive healing techniques, alongside Mick’s experience as a psychologist, highlighted a common pattern: many people were receiving either psychological support or body-based therapy, but rarely both in a connected and collaborative way. Clients were often left navigating separate services on their own, despite trauma and stress affecting both the mind and body.

Through years of working with people experiencing trauma, chronic stress, pain, anxiety, burnout, and nervous system dysregulation, we recognised a significant gap in care. There were very few places where people could access integrated support that considered the whole person.

TRC was founded to bridge that gap. Our vision is to provide a safe, supportive space where psychological therapy, somatic care, nervous system regulation, and holistic well-being services work together under one collective approach. We believe healing happens most effectively when people feel understood, supported, and cared for as a whole person, not just through isolated treatments or disconnected services.

Mick

Mick brings a diverse professional background that combines lived experience, psychological training, trauma-informed care, and personal development work. Before entering the psychology field, he worked as an electrician for over 30 years, including FIFO roles while raising a young family, and running his own business. Through these experiences, Mick developed a strong understanding of the pressures associated with demanding work environments, leadership responsibilities, stress, burnout, identity, and the challenges many people face balancing work, family, and personal well-being.

Alongside this, Mick worked as a Life Coach facilitating a men’s personal development group focused on emotional growth, self-awareness, accountability, and connection. This work deepened his appreciation for the importance of relational safety, vulnerability, purpose, and community in the healing and growth process.

Mick also spent five years working as a Prison Officer, where he gained first-hand insight into the profound effects of trauma, adversity, emotional dysregulation, and unmet mental health needs. This experience reinforced his understanding that many individuals living with trauma have never had access to safe, supportive opportunities for healing and personal development.

More recently, Mick completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) along with a Master of Professional Psychology. He has worked as a psychologist within the prison system as well as in private practice. These roles have allowed him to support a diverse range of adult clients experiencing trauma, anxiety, stress, emotional difficulties, behavioural challenges, and complex life circumstances.

Mick’s approach is grounded, practical, compassionate, and collaborative. He works to help clients better understand their nervous system, emotional responses, behavioural patterns, and life experiences in a way that feels clear, supportive, and empowering. He values evidence-based care while recognising that healing is deeply individual and requires safety, trust, authenticity, and connection.

Nikki

Nikki brings over 25years of experience in supporting clients to restore emotional and physical balance, along with nervous system regulation, leading to whole body well-being through an integrative and deeply compassionate approach to healing.

She holds a Masters in Bowen Therapy, Certificate in Mind- Body Bowen and is also a Reiki Master, with extensive experience in helping individuals experiencing stress, grief ,anxiety and emotional overwhelm causing nervous system dysregulation. On a physical level, she is a body-worker, using the Bowen technique to release tight muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia tension causing headaches, sore shoulders, backs, hamstrings, etc.

Nikki's approach to healing stems from having lost her sister and several friends in tragic car accidents whilst teenagers and feeling like there was nowhere to go for help to process and work through the grief.  In 2010 she was  diagnosed by chance with stage 3 cancer which caused her to look even deeper into the mind body connection.

She believes healing begins when we find a space where we feel supported and safe enough to slow down, reconnect with ourselves and allow the body the opportunity to soften, restore and heal naturally.

Nikki brings a supportive, calm, compassionate, and intuitive presence to her work, helping clients to reconnect with their bodies and develop a greater sense of balance, regulation, and well-being.

Her background allows her to bridge the physical and emotional aspects of healing, supporting a more holistic approach to trauma recovery and nervous system health.

Our Shared Approach

Together, we integrate evidence-based psychological care with a broader understanding of trauma, nervous system regulation, mind-body connection, and holistic well-being. We believe healing occurs in safe, supportive relationships where people feel respected, understood, and empowered to move at their own pace.

Rather than using a one-size-fits-all model, we work collaboratively with each person to tailor support to their unique experiences, needs, and goals.

Why We Do This Work

TRC was built from a simple but important belief: people heal best when they feel safe.

We are committed to creating a service where clients don’t feel like a number, a diagnosis, or a check-list, but a whole person with a story that matters.

Our goal is to support people, not only to reduce distress, but to rebuild stability, connection, and a stronger sense of self over time.