Hi, I'm Nicole

My style? Casual, warm, non-judgmental, and genuinely human. I'm the therapist who's often running in with the biggest Diet Coke I could find, probably apologizing because I cut it a little too close. I laugh easily, I swear like a sailor (when it's appropriate), and I don't believe therapy has to feel stiff or clinical to be deeply effective.

I do yoga to avoid my own crashouts and try really hard to practice what I preach. I value authenticity over perfection, and I want you to feel like you can show up exactly as you are. Whether you're polished and put together or barely hanging on, there's no version of yourself you have to become before you walk through my door.

I care deeply about creating a space where everyone feels genuinely welcome—all identities, all backgrounds, all family structures, all ways of being. You belong here exactly as you are.

And while the atmosphere is relaxed, the work is anything but casual. My background in science and my love of understanding the brain and nervous system shape everything I do. I approach life from a secular, science-informed perspective, and I believe in using the best available evidence to guide treatment. That also means I'm open to integrating complementary approaches when solid research supports them. Every person is different, so I tailor therapy to fit the individual sitting across from me—not the other way around.

I'm a bit of an unusual therapist. Before I became a counselor, I spent years as a college professor with a PhD in Biology. I taught future healthcare providers about the nervous system, stress responses, and the intricate connections between brain and body. I still teach — I love it, and I love working with young adults who are navigating their own big questions about life.

All that scientific knowledge became deeply personal when I started to process my own trauma and anxiety — and when I learned that my child is neurodivergent. I knew exactly what was happening in the nervous system, but knowing wasn't enough. I wanted to understand my daughter, to understand myself, and what I discovered was that therapy is incredibly powerful.

That's what drew me to become a clinician. I went back to school for counseling, and now I help others the way therapy helped me — at the intersection of hard science and genuine compassion. I still teach healthcare professionals, because I believe the best therapists never stop learning. Whether you're an individual struggling with anxiety, a couple trying to reconnect, or a parent navigating the complexities of raising a neurodivergent kid, we'll use evidence-based approaches that actually work.

📚 Olivia & Bun Bun: The Extraordinary Extra X

Nicole is the author of a children's book about Trisomy X — a chromosomal variation where a female is born with an extra X chromosome. This gentle, affirming story helps children and families understand and celebrate neurodivergence in a way that is accessible and warm.