Laura Nichols
Hello and welcome. I'm a board certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Licensed Independent Social Worker. I earned my Master of Social Work from University of Illinois and practiced in the clinical, workplace-embedded, and deployed settings while on active duty for 16 years during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Much of my experience is in treating first responder and veteran traumatic stress, general life stressors/major life transitions, depression, anxiety and insomnia. I have worked in addictions and family maltreatment outpatient programs as well as in community education and outreach. For a couple of years, I got to help Airmen and Soldiers as part of a partial hospitalization and inpatient mental health care team. I have experience prior to licensure as a domestic violence victim advocate and sexual assault survivor advocate in the the state of IL, as well as having worked with adults with developmental delays in a residential setting.
First session
At our first session, we'll get to know each other a bit. We'll go over some basic confidentiality and emergency guidelines and contact information and make sure we're on the same page. I'll ask about the concerns that brought you to therapy, and start discussing with you your background, the things that you believe make you who you are and may be contributing to the concerns as well as what's helping with the concerns. At the following sessions, we'll continue that discussion where we left off, and work together on a plan to address your concerns. I'll often give an exercise try at home between sessions as applicable to the circumstances.
Strengths
Having worked with active duty military and their families has exposed me to people and cultures from all over the world, many different types of industrial and office jobs, and mental health concerns. This kind of work has helped me develop a creativity in collaborating and problem solving in different settings and social circumstances to work towards best possible outcomes with and for clients.
Ideal clients
Each person has unique strengths and an interesting story to tell. I enjoy people from all walks of life. Clients who know they want things to be different but maybe just don't know what to do next or what to try or who to tell might all be a good fit. Contacting a therapist can be a challenging first step - but be assured that it is a step forward!
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have found this method to be helpful primarily with difficulties adjusting to life stressors, depression and anxiety, most often in combination with a client-centered and strengths-based approach.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i)
This particular modality has been helpful for clients suffering insomnia once medical causes have been ruled out, and is very specific for directly addressing sleep problems. Sleep problems are so important to address directly as they are often a part of further mental health concerns or exacerbate on-going stress.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
I have used this method and Prolonged Exposure therapies to treat clients presenting with overwhelming symptoms of post traumatic stress. I have seen multiple clients improve to return to more adaptive living and so that their intrusive symptoms no longer are so pervasive in their day to day lives.
Feminist
Feminism is the acknowledgment that all people should have equal rights in all aspects of life. For all clients, I keep an ear out for ways social inequities may have affected their lives and mental health. Sometimes there are ways to incorporate advocacy or social programming that can add to improvements in overall mental health.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I practice mindfulness myself and find it helpful for grounding myself in the present. In practicing with clients, I've applied this type of treatment in groups and individually for depression and for PTSD. I have found that when clients incorporate the intentional practice of awareness into their lives, it then becomes easier to interrupt old thought patterns and habits, paving the way for new ways of living.
Location
Virtual sessions