Hi there! Welcome to Hope, Strength, & Resiliency Counseling Services LLC. My name Nichola Lydon. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Alcohol Drug Counselor, and a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. I obtained my Masters from the University of Southern California and my undergraduate degree is in psychology from Montclair State University. I have been practicing for six years and worked with a wide variety of clients. I honestly love what I do and I love seeing the successes my clients achieve. I am a straight and direct counselor. I do not sugarcoat difficult conversations. But no matter what I will never place judgement. My office is a stigma free/judgement free place. I can help guide you to a better well-being and increase resilience. I hope you are ready to work and rise to challenges. I am excited to be able to work with you on this journey!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, we will get to know each other. We will discuss what has brought you to treatment and discuss what it is that you would like to accomplish while seeing me. When you enter a session with me you are in a stigma and judgement free zone. Meaning, I will never utilize language or comments that are stigmatizing or judgmental. My job is not to judge you but to help guide you on a path to well-being.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My greatest strengths as a provider is my ability to connect with my clients. I work from a place of understanding and empathy. I have worked with numerous populations ranging from anxiety, depression, to schizophrenia, PTSD/trauma, perinatal mental health/postpartum depression, to substance use. Each of my clients are given undivided attention and the best care. I treat my clients the way I would want someone to treat my family member/loved one that is in treatment.
About Nichola Lydon, LCSW, LCADC, CPRS
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize CBT with clients to assist clients in reducing symptoms by changing the thought process. Often times, we send ourselves negative messages. CBT helps retrain the brain to think differently. When utilizing CBT with diagnosis such as depression and anxiety it helps reduce symptoms. CBT is also effective when working with substance use and co-occurring disorders.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an intervention I utilize for both my clients and myself. MI helps me help my clients. I am able to gain a better understanding of my clients and the needs of my clients. In addition, my clients gain a better understanding of their own needs. When utilizing MI with clients, the clients in return become more motivated to achieve goals that they may have been a little resistant to working on.
Eclectic
Eclectic therapy is a wonderful evidence based treatment. This allows me to utilize multiple evidence based treatments/therapies to assist clients in their treatment. No client is the same as the next client. No one client has the same story. Therefore, no one therapy technique is perfect for every client. This type of therapy allows me to utilize multiple treatments with clients. For example, I may utilize Strength-Based Therapy, Person-centered therapy, and CBT together. The combinations are in abundance to help clients gain coping skills to cope with issues in their lives.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-centered therapy allows for the client to grow through self-determination and realization of ones own strength. This helps clients discovery their own strengths and positive attributes while exploring themselves.
Trauma Informed Care
I utilize trauma informed care in many areas of my work. Often times, we come to therapy due to a trauma. Trauma Informed Care helps me treat my clients who have experienced trauma from a different perspective. I am able to assist my clients in mood/emotion regulation and gaining coping skills by utilizing the Five Guiding Principles of TIC. The Five Guiding Principles are: safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness, and empowerment.
