Nicole Powell (she/her)

Unfortunately, depression is one of the most common issues my clients struggle with, so I treat it regularly - validating how painful and debilitating it can be, exploring how my clients are coping with it, and when possible, helping identify patterns of thinking that may be contributing to or worsening it. I also deeply understand what depression is like from personal lived experience and seeing many loved ones struggle with it.

I've completed advanced therapist training on treating this issue and sought out other relevant training and information. Rather than oversimplifying treatment by focusing on just getting rid of these behaviors, I work with my clients on exploring deeper unmet needs or relationship issues/dynamics that might be driving the behaviors. Our focus will typically include identifying what needs these behaviors are meeting, which might include sensory-related issues and/or underlying emotional needs.

I've completed professional continuing education trainings, researched strategies that help in treating and coping with ADHD, worked with many clients with ADHD, and also have lived experience as a person with ADHD. My focus is on helping my clients develop strategies to manage ADHD - we'll often problem-solve around practical strategies they can use to compensate for executive functioning deficiencies, for example exploring organizational strategies related to managing time, space, and tasks.

By gently asking thought-provoking questions, I help my clients dig deeper and develop greater insight into their lives by reflecting on their beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and past experiences that feel unresolved or might be influencing their current problems. Together, we also work to identify recurring patterns in behavior or relationship dynamics.

I believe that the therapist/client relationship is central to the therapy process. Nothing is more important to me than providing a safe space for my clients in which I accept them unconditionally - too many of us did not receive this from those who raised us, and it can be a powerful ingredient in the process of beginning to heal and feeling able to truly open up without fear of judgment.

I believe that each individual client is the expert on their own life. No one - including me - can possibly know what is best or right for another person better than they do. My goal is to serve as a guide, supporting my clients as they tap into their own inner wisdom and begin to trust themselves and their own judgment more.