Work with ADHD/ Executive Functioning Skills
Nicole includes psycho-education in sessions with clients with ADHD.
Nicole creates goals and lists to help the client remember goals and to increase an understanding on what “progress” means
Nicole works to help the client find a balance academically and socially for teens that struggle with “ in between”
Nicole finds coping skills to offer to clients that may feel at loss with academic performance
Nicole works to welcome different learning ideas. Nicole has different strategies for taking in information, and can share these strategies!
Nicole considers small wins as big wins. ADHD is hard and Nicole has personally gone through this struggle
CBT- Cognitive Reframing
Nicole works using CBT and the art of reframing thoughts. This has been proven to be beneficial for anxiety disorders. Nicole works to make CBT fun, and incorporates humor into the learning factor.
Strengths based work for children, youth and young adults with self esteem
Intentionally focusing on what we are doing positively
Nicole includes positive feedback and reinforcement to reinforce permanent change
Nicole sees ALL clients as good people, and works to bring out strengths in the client. Nicole will be working to build client self esteem during therapy.
Trauma Informed work
Nicole uses a deep trauma lens, helping clients reveal the most painful experiences in a deeply supportive and warm manner. Nicole is comfortable asking questions and encourages clients to stay with the discomfort in the moment and explore it. Nicole is also experienced with comforting clients who can become triggered with difficult memories. Nicole uses a “ circling back” approach that allows deeper understanding of triggers.
Play In Therapy
Nicole uses play in therapy with younger clients that are exploring the world (or interested) through play. Kids offer a ton of information when therapy incorporates games, art, action figures and more! Play therapy also encourages emotional regulation and learning through simulated experiences. Kids love observing and can also project their lives into games. This makes the even therapeutic.
Art in Therapy
Nicole provides canvases, painting materials, coloring books, mandalas and other creative and expressive opportunities. Using art, Nicole encourages clients to explore anger, sadness, happiness, and deep rooted feelings. Nicole also offers art therapy with music, and relaxation techniques.
Substance Use Prevention/ Substance Misuse
Nicole works closely with Dr.Gregory Allen and believes in the importance of using a preventive approach that can potentially save a teen from spiraling into addiction. The preventive approach Nicole uses, has been taught from Dr. Gregory Allen. Nicole proceeds with encouraging the client to…
Rid themselves and their surrounding environment of the substance. This can include alcohol in a liquor cabinet, removing proximity and closeness in friend groups that use substances or removing nicotine completely from the home. This removes the URGE to comply with using.
Nicole will then help the client switch the focus and reason to why sobriety is important to the client . If a parent is pushing sobriety, an important milestone to reach is that the client eventually recognizes THEY want to remain sober.
If a client is casually using, Nicole will collaboratively form a plan that encourages and promotes sobriety day to day. Once accomplished, the new goal becomes how to remain sober for 6 months- +.
After a year, the focus of therapy changes. It begins to focus on WHY the use began, and how we can integrate purpose and passion into our life instead of the substance or habit.
Exposure therapy
Nicole has extensive experience with exposure therapy. Nicole will go to trader Joes with a client with social anxiety, set up walk and talks that encourage socialization ( ideal for isolated clients) and work on mock interviews with a client that struggles with self esteem and public speaking. Exposing to a stressor repeatedly can help diminish the anxiety and discomfort of a trigger.
