Nicole Szetela
I am a Licensed MFT in California. My clients describe me as a very easygoing and great listener who uses empathy and compassion and matches them on their level. I get told often that I'm not like other therapist which is a compliment.
My clients describe me as a very easygoing and great listener who uses empathy and compassion and matches them on their level.
I have plenty of experience working with preteens, teens, and adults and helping with anxiety, OCD, trauma, depression, and life stressors.
First session
The first session is the evaluation to make sure we're a good fit, because if it's not a good fit then therapy won't work between us. It's about creating a therapeutic relationship and building rapport. This is where you can ask me questions and I ask you questions to see what brought you into therapy and ways to create plans to help you be a better you.
Strengths
I like to listen and let client's do the talking. I take a passenger type of approach and I only jump in when I notice things are getting steered off topic. I don't push clients to talk about things they aren't ready to but I also don't let client's avoid the issues either. I tend to take things from a CBT perspective or Narrative depending on the issue. I also like to use DBT, Solution Focused and ERP where needed.
Ideal clients
My approach is very client-centered. I tend to use CBT, DBT, ERP, Narrative, and Solution-Focused approaches to help people achieve their goals and tailor my techniques towards what my client needs because everyone is different. I have experience in many areas such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, OCD, BPD, grief, trauma, life stressors and changes, and relationship issues. I've also worked with many different demographics.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I help clients identify negative thought patterns and how they impact your thoughts/feelings/behaviors and teach ways to reframe their thinking.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
There are a variety of ways I use DBT to help clients with distress tolerance and emotional regulation.
Narrative
In this type of therapy, it is believed that we all make meaning in our lives through the stories we tell—about ourselves, our experiences, and our relationships. I listen to the stories and help clients determine where their story is coming from.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
This approach relies on being able to sit with anxiety and wait for it to decrease without completing a compulsion. It does rely heavily on homework.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 143859