Hi! My name is Nicky and I am glad you are here. Finding a therapist who is a good fit is incredibly important. I've created this introduction to help you make the decision of whether or not our styles would be compatible.
General:
I am a Louisiana native that moved to Florida in 2010 and I just love it here. I am married to a Florida native with two young kids. Some things I love include reading, creating, being outdoors, working on house projects, traveling, and working out (love Peloton community). I'm an Enneagram 7 so I love trying new things. I can be high energy and I find it hard to sit still. I practice antiracist, feminist, and queer allyship values.
Therapy Philosophy:
I believe that everyone has a different journey and that it's important to adapt to the needs of each client. I tend to operate from a holistic approach and usually start each therapy relationship by assessing how an individual is doing in a variety of life areas including cognitive, emotional, physical, and spiritual. I believe that your relationship with your therapist is one of the most healing aspects of therapy. We are relational beings after-all.
I think that birth is a powerful moment for a women and can help set a tone for how we ease into our parenting selves. I like to utilize the "village mentality" as much as possible.
I believe that movement is powerful and that sometimes we need to experience feelings and sensations in order to understand and heal. I do not believe that all therapy should be done in a room on a couch. I think that therapy outdoors or in a kayak or on a bicycle or on a blanket surrounded by trees or sand is necessary sometimes.
I believe that sometimes therapy is deep and emotional and other times it is energizing and affirming.
I believe in rituals. We all have our rituals, whether we call it that or not. Maybe we know it as a routine or pattern. I like to utilize ritual to help affirm or create/represent movement for people.
I am most aligned with Positive Psychology, Reality Therapy, CBT, and of course, Adventure Therapy.
Special Focus:
// Maternal Mental Heath (pregnancy through postpartum)
// Birth Trauma
// Adventure Therapy
// Eco-psychology
Education and Experience:
I graduated with a Master of Arts in Counseling from Northwestern State University in 2010 and have worked in a variety of settings since then including Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient programs for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. I have held many roles from primary therapist to Clinical Director. I became licensed in 2013 and then proceeded to open Anchors Aweigh Counseling following the birth of my daughter.
In 2015 I completed the Certificate Training for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) through Postpartum Support International. And I continue my training in PMADs through webinars and Courses published through PSI, 2020Mom. and others. This started my specialization in Maternal Mental Health. Working with women from pregnancy through birth and the first two years (and beyond really). I have chosen not to pursue the PMHC credential as a professional protest of the excessive capitalism that exists in the mental health field. If you are curious about that, I can share more through conversation.
Also, in 2015, following my role as Clinical Director of an adventure based treated center, I became more involved in the Adventure Therapy world and strengthened my training by attended Association for Experiential Education national and local conferences, as well as attending regular webinars. In 2021, I received the Certified Adventure Therapist Credential (C-CAT).
Professional Affiliations:
// Nationally Certified Counselors
// Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
// Postpartum Support International (PSI)