Nicola graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 1997 with an honours degree in Physiotherapy. She initially worked for the NHS in Leeds, West Yorkshire specialising in musculoskeletal and rheumatology physiotherapy, before moving to Essex where she worked at both The Oaks Hospital and The Physiotherapy Practice in Colchester before setting up Performers Physiotherapy, based within one of the country’s leading performing arts colleges. Nicola spent 19 years leading the clinical team responsible for the physical health and welfare of the college and university students at three performing arts colleges in Essex, undertaking ground-breaking research on musical theatre dancer health. Nicola offers both in person and online appointments for performers of all levels and abilities, including both dance and vocal physiotherapy advice.

Nicola gained her MACP (specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist) qualification in 2005 & her MSc in advanced clinical practice in 2011. Despite developing a specialist role in dance physiotherapy, Nicola has maintained her long held interests in Rheumatology and arthritis management, which has been invaluable in her work in private practice. In 2026 Nicola gained her Post Graduate Certificate in Sensory Integration from Sheffield Hallam University and is now a recognised Sensory Integration Practitioner. Nicola hopes to offer sensory processing and integration assessments to young people in education, to support home and study life, but her passion is to support parents and older people, especially those with neurodiversity, better understand their own sensory systems, and how this impacts them when they are injured or in pain.

Following her family’s relocation to Brightlingsea in 2021, Nicola has set up Brightlingsea Physiotherapy within the consulting room in Lifecare Mobility Ltd in the town centre. She is excited to be able to provide private physiotherapy services to the local community.

Nicola is married to Leon – who owns Sudbury Physiotherapy Centre – our sister clinic in Suffolk. They have a daughter, Robyn, and can often be found walking by the sea and enjoying our lovely town.

Leon Stephens, BSc, MCSP

Leon graduated from Brighton University in 1996 with an honours degree in Physiotherapy. He worked with elite athletes and dancers across London and the south east before establishing Sudbury Physiotherapy in the town centre in 2001. Leon works on a Tuesday morning in Brightlingsea Physiotherapy.