About Me

Meet Nicole

Hello!

My name is Nicole. I don't think I would function without Google Calendar. I was recently a co-caretaker for both of my aging parents from over 2,000 miles away. I am proud of the fact that through that, my siblings and I have managed to maintain *mostly* functioning relationships, likely because I am the middle child. I learned early on how to keep the peace in my family of origin while simultaneously flying under the radar, and then, through my own therapy, learned how to keep my own peace within.

I love to work with women who have taken on a sense of super-responsibility in order to hold it all together. They appear high-functioning but feel chronically overwhelmed. They are trying to disentangle caretaking from control, love from doing. For some people, this realization comes to a head during perimenopause. Having experienced my own over-functioning, which looks different from yours, I have felt the relief of trusting others to do what needs doing so that I do not have to do all the things for all the people. I have spent two decades dedicated to helping people find a sense of ease, balance, and reclamation over their lives from anxiety, negative body-image, insomnia, and over-functioning.

If you have felt twinges of liberation from the idea of letting go but still want to maintain control over your own peace, you’re in the right place.

Professional Background

Certifications and Licenses

Licensed Clinical Social Worker California, 2023 Illinois, 2008

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1, Spring 2026 IFS Institute (in process)

Registered Yoga Teacher- 200 hours, 2012

Education

Master of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago, 2003

Bachelor of Science, Eastern Illinois University, 2001

Trainings

Treating Insomnia with CBT-i, 2025

Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1, 2024

Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra, 2019

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Chronic Stress, 2008

Partners and References

"I’ve referred people to Nicole because I trust her expertise and ability to see clients clearly, connect with them, and guide them towards their goals. She is deeply compassionate and nonjudgmental while also holding ethical boundaries. She has the ability and experience to draw from a variety of modalities so that she meets clients where they are and can provide what they need to grow. "

-Dr. Marisa Crandall, PhD
Founder of Marisa Crandall Family Mental Health Coaching

"I refer to Nicole for her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering professional excellence. She is a diligent clinician who stays at the forefront of research and best practices so that her clients receive the most informed, effective care possible. What makes me so confident in her work is how she pairs this expertise with a sincere presence and a sophisticated understanding of how the world shapes our mental health. By skillfully integrating yoga and somatic awareness, she supports the whole person. Nicole also values and honors client agency, empowering those she works with to be active, informed partners in their own wellbeing."

-Dr. Morgan Duggan, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist

"Nicole is an excellent listener and I appreciate how she is able to recall and reference previous conversations within the context of a new session. We work together to develop therapy goals and she listens actively to what I have to say. Even when the topic of a session might change, she is able to find a through line to link things back to an overall approach to framing a situation or thought process. She is sensitive to my cultural background and needs as it relates to my care."

-SV
Former Client