My Approach to Helping
Hello, I'm Nicole! And I am the CEO and founder of Women Empowerment Counseling. I have not only worked in the behavioral health field for over a decade, but I have also experienced challenges and barriers in my life that prevented me from experiencing happiness. I understand how vulnerable you may feel when entering therapy, especially if its your first time or if you've had negative experiences with previous therapists. I believe we are S U R V I V O R S rather than victims of our past! My personal and professional experiences in the counseling field inspired me to establish my own practice so that I can ensure that each counselor I hire provides quality, holistic care. We are a group of women who are passionate about empowering other women to be the best versions of themselves and to live lives filled with joy and wellness.
Our 3-tiered approach is what makes us different from other practices therapists. Here's what you gain with a counselor at Women Empowerment Counseling:
1. Learn coping skills to manage the symptoms you are experiencing right now.
2. Explore + process root causes, and heal unresolved issues.
3. Receive ACTION steps to work on between sessions to enhance the therapeutic process.
Let's Get Well Together.
More Info About My Practice
You are moms, daughters, sisters, wives, students, career-women, teenage girls, women in recovery, [fill in the blank], who have lost your way. The reality is as women you have numerous roles that you play in your life. You are often the matriarch and leader of those multiple roles you fulfill, whether it’s leading a team of employees or being the super mom you are to your kids; it all starts with YOU. If you’re struggling, chances are those around you who rely on you are also affected.
*Are you struggling with worry, fear, or stress?
*Have you been trying to manage feelings of sadness or grief?
*Do you need support as you navigate recent life changes?
*Are you struggling with relationship or family issues? Or dealing with parenting challenges?
*Is your teen overwhelmed with school, relationships, stress or engaging in self-harm?
*Are you in early recovery and need support managing triggers or urges to use?
At Women Empowerment Counseling, our goal is to provide support through your life journey, regardless of what chapter you’re in. We specialize in women and teenage girls, ages 12+ and offer individual, family, + couples counseling.
We are a passionate team of women who empower other women, teenage girls, families, and couples to become the best version of themselves. We use a holistic approach and view you as a whole person rather than just the symptoms or stressors you are experiencing. We tailor and individualize our therapeutic approach to meet your goals, strengths, and needs.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
We are skilled in a variation of treatment modalities, which we individualize and tailor to meet your goals, strengths, + needs. We have a special focus on Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Trauma Therapy, Women's Issues, + Substance Use. We offer individual, family, + couples counseling, with a special focus on women and teenage girls (12+).
Individual Counseling is the perfect way to address common issues, such as, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, grief, anger or stress management, trauma, eating disorders, women's issues, suicidal thoughts, + more.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy, often referred to as ART, is a specialized trauma therapy technique that uses eye-movements to resolve trauma + offers immediate relief of PTS symptoms. This technique requires specialized training in addition to our Master's degree, continuing education, and licensing requirements. WEC has two trained ART Clinicians. With ART, you can heal trauma in as little as 1-3 sessions. Check out our website to learn more.
Addiction affects the whole family! Each of our counselors has experience navigating substance use treatment and how to offer support to loved ones.
What I Usually Need to Know to Help
You are just 3 simple steps away from taking back control of your life + starting your healing journey!
1. View real-time counselor availability + schedule an appointment online.
2. Complete intake documents + consents in your Client Portal.
3. Receive your Teletherapy link via email + attend your first session!
Our first session is called an Initial Assessment, which just means we learn about who you are as a whole person by exploring different areas of your life-- past, present, and future goals. This may sound intimidating, but we make the process comfortable and easy by allowing you to fill out the majority of that information on your intake form in your Client Portal before the session. Your counselor will review your intake questionnaire prior to your first session, then use that information to guide the initial conversation, explore areas further (if needed), and focus on your goals for therapy. You can learn more about our Initial Assessment on our website and by watching a brief video on our YouTube channel.
You are in control of your therapy process. Whatever you're ready to share is where we'll start. We do not pressure, or pry into your life in any way. You are the expert on your life; we are just the guide on your journey.
On the Fence About Going to Therapy?
Try out WEC! I am confident that after just one session with one of our counselors, you will already feel motivated + hopeful that you can improve your quality of life. Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you're unsure or to share your concerns. We are happy to offer guidance, information, or support as you decide if you're ready to start your healing journey.
We would love the opportunity to address your concerns and reassure you that you can do this! There are so many ways to contact us (email, text, phone, social media, contact form on our website), so choose whichever you feel most comfortable with and reach out today!
Had a Negative Therapy Experience?
I understand how vulnerable you may feel when entering therapy, especially if it's your first time or if you've had negative experiences with previous therapists. My personal and professional experiences in the counseling field inspired me to establish my own practice so that I can ensure that each counselor I hire provides quality, holistic care.
Oftentimes, root causes aren't explored and resolved in therapy. This is key! If we don't explore and resolve the root of the problem, then it will continue to return in your life in different forms. Also, the work you do in-between sessions is where the change happens; when you intentionally do things different or notice your thoughts changing.
We guide you through your healing journey each step of the way! We work together as a team! You are the expert on your life; we are the guide on your journey. Each session is tailored to your goals, strengths, + needs. We customize our therapeutic interventions to YOU.
With Women Empowerment Counseling, we provide effective, quality therapy that is solution-focused and holistic. We are confident that you can heal + recover.
How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist
We all have a past! At WEC, we believe that we are SURVIVORS rather than victims. Our own unique challenges and barriers that we have overcome is what led us to become counselors. We want to empower you to overcome whatever challenge you may be facing because we know that you can with the right support, guidance, knowledge, and learned insight through the therapeutic process. We are not a "one-size-fits-all" approach!
Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed
Therapy is like a cardio workout for your brain! Just as we have our physical health, our emotional +mental health are just as important, and are interconnected with our physical health. It takes emotional strength, courage, willingness, authenticity, honesty, introspection, and open-mindedness to participate in therapy!
Therapy provides you a safe, non-judgmental, unbiased space to talk about literally whatever you want. While you may have friends or family who support you, their emotional attachment to you creates a bias. Their feedback is often based off their emotional attachment to you and what they would like to see for you. The hardest part about therapy is the reality that you will outgrow people in your life as you start making progress and changes in your life.
Help us in breaking this stigma! Therapy doesn't mean you have a problem, diagnosis, or illness, or that you're "crazy"! People in therapy often have more insight than those who don't participate in therapy, and this insight will help you become more successful in your life.
My View on the Nature of 'Disorders'
Diagnoses are a symptom of something greater, not the problem itself. For example, you can learn to cope with anxiety, but unless you explore, identify, + resolve what's causing anxiety in your life, it will continue to manifest in other ways.
Women Empowerment Counseling provides holistic care in our therapeutic approach. This includes decreasing the need to diagnose. It's our approach to learn about who you are as an individual, human-being, in life, and rule out potential contributing factors that can easily look like a mental health diagnosis. Most "diagnoses" have a root cause, and our goal at WEC is to help you explore and identify those root causes and resolve them.
The truth is diagnoses don't actually help you! For example, if you're presenting with anxiety in a session, the anxiety will be addressed regardless of the specific "anxiety disorder".
Diagnoses can also be misleading and cause people to become self-defeating. Our goal at WEC is to empower you to overcome your challenges, allow you to become the best version of yourself, and find complete wellness + happiness in your life. No Labels Needed!
