(She/Her)
New to Grow
I am Nikolya T. Sparks, MA, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Louisiana with nearly 30 years of experience in behavioral health. My clinical background includes outpatient and inpatient services, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), residential treatment, crisis intervention, disaster mental health, and tele mental health care. I work with individuals across the lifespan and specializes in anxiety, anger management, trauma (PTSD/C PTSD), grief and complicated grief and bereavement, ADHD and executive functioning support, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), compassion fatigue, and burnout. Clients across Louisiana seek counseling for many reasons—stress, grief, trauma, emotional overwhelm, or feeling “stuck.” My approach is collaborative, respectful, and practical, with an emphasis on helping clients develop effective coping strategies and meaningful, sustainable change. A true servant at heart, I view myself as your, "Change Agent." If you are located anywhere in Louisiana and are interested in counseling services, I welcome you to reach out to learn more about my current availability and discuss next steps. I am here to empower, encourage, inspire and motivate you to become the best possible version of yourselves. The journey to heal begins when we surrender to the feelings that have gone unmanaged. When life happens, call me; let's get you UN-stuck!
I am just a NOLA Girl who happens to be heavily credentialed and highly trained. You can always expect a big smile, burst of energy, lots of insight, candor, encouragement, and to be challenged, when needed. We work together for you! Prepare to learn, grow, cry, laugh, and sharpen your tools. Your journey to growth begins now!
Being my authentic self has been one of my greatest strengths. When we feel safe, we can be vulnerable, free and be open to change. Relatability makes me stand out more in that, I don't believe therapy has to be stuffy, cold and/or impersonable. I've learned to merge clinical perspective with practical experience into the fabric of behavioral change. I can meet you where you are and introduce you to a different perspective. With perspective you become armed with both insight and healthier coping skills. Let me help you identify and lean into your strengths and sharpen your tools!
I am here to support persons who are struggling to manage life, as it happens. I specialize in helping people find a healthy work-life balance, normalize neurodiverse learning styles, improve executive functioning and time management. Having "lived-in" experience with grief, I am here to help those who may have experienced a loss, struggling to find purpose, meaning and space to grief...healthfully!
ADHD
Grief
Trauma and PTSD
Anger Management
Bipolar Disorder
Child or Adolescent
Black / African American
Woman
Adults (18 to 64)
Children (6 to 12)
Elders (65 and above)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Louisiana
Arlo
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a practical, goal-focused approach that helps us understand the relationship between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. CBT is also one of the most effective evidenced-based practices widely researched and used to treat people with a wide range of mental and physical health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. CBT is also effective in improving coping with stress, relationship conflicts, emotional challenges, chronic pain, suicide prevention (CBT-SP), and insomnia (CBT-I). CBT is structured and time-limited (typically 12-16 sessions) and can be tailored to meet the needs of individuals, couples, families, and groups settings. Research has shown CBT is also highly effective in treating substance use disorders and addiction.
Couples Counseling
Cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) includes interventions that focus on partners' behavior toward each other, their ways of thinking about their relationship (cognitions), and their emotional responses to each other.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy designed to help individuals manage intense emotions and improve their relationships. It combines acceptance and change strategies, focusing on skills like mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I am sensitive, aware, and understanding of the influences of one's own background and culture and how it influences our belief systems as it relates to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or other important elements that makes up someone's culture and/or identity.
Grief Therapy
As a mom who's lost a child, I understand the gravity of how a significant loss can be crippling. I am here to help those who are struggling with grief learn how to process those feelings and move through the grieving process in healthy ways, become inspired and learn to find joy again!