I am so excited to have you visit me here and for giving me the chance to introduce myself! My name is Sarah Nickolson-Kemper and I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). I am also a certified middle school teacher. After spending almost 10 years in the classroom, I recognized I wanted help in a different way. I love helping people realize the strengths they have within themselves and understand that we are all part of many systems (family, work, community, culture, etc) and as such, there are many contributing factors to our daily experiences in life. I believe if it isn't broken, don't fix it. Encorporating various techniques such as mindfulness, journaling, art, and role play provide you the opportunity to find the right fit to help you set measurable and attainable goals to realize the change you want.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During the first session I like to get some history on the clients identified issue(s) and work with them to identify some goals they would like to set. I also like to just get to know who they are and share a little about myself so that they become comfortable because I want my office to feel comfortable to my clients. I aim for them to feel like they're talking to a friend that is on this journey of healing with them.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I center my treatment around a theory called Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT). Solution-Focused Therapy works on finding solutions in the present and exploring one’s hope for the future. You are the expert on your life. I am here to walk with you on this discovery as an objective viewer. I want to help you remember that you have the talents and abilities to live your life with the success and enjoyment you deserve. My focus is to help individuals, couples, and families heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. This is achieved by providing a neutral safe space, listening to your concerns, and customizing a treatment plan.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I love working with couples and helping translate their speech to one another while teaching them how to speak their partners language themselves. We all have a certain way of communicating and we don't always communicate the same. This often causes conflict. I also help couples reconnect and remember why they got together to begin with and help them how to express their expectations, needs, and desires to one another. Also, one perk of having been both a teacher and now a therapist is a passion for helping parents and students advocate and navigate within the school system's SPED departments. Working with families with kids that are suspected to have or do have educational concerns such as ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia are very important to me.