I am a passionate advocate for mental health and social welfare with 13 years of experience in the clinical field. Starting in 2012, I built my career in the mountains of Utah and have since found great solace in practicing mindfulness through the outdoors. You could say this has become my "life worth living". A concept of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, "a life worth living" is a concept that means life is a precious gift with deep meaning, and every person has the potential to live a fulfilling and satisfying life. I want to help you explore your values and embrace your life worth living!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Clients can rest assured that my priority is for you to feel heard, safe, and understood. I value your story, and my job is to be the navigator to you as the captain of your ship. In our first session, we will examine the moving parts that brought you into therapy, and from there we will explore the ways to best achieve your goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I have been fortunate enough to work in many leadership and teaching opportunities that have helped me to grow into a confident and forthcoming clinician. At the same time, I am also first and foremost a DBT Therapist, which allows me to create a dialectic of validating where you are, and encouraging change through your mental health journey.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I have worked with moderate to severe substance use and mental health disorders, with a specific expertise in Personality Disorders. I am qualified to work with clients who struggle with suicidal and para-suicidal thoughts, along with mood disorders, eating disorders, life skills, and OCD.
About Nicole Shaw
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I am a trained and certified practitioner of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which I have been specializing in for 13 years. I was trained at the DBT Institute of Portland and also traveled to treatment programs throughout the United States to teach clinical teams how to implement DBT and formulate a clinical team.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
With my clients I focus on the dialectic between accepting where you are, and making changes that align with your values, using ACT strategies such as cognitive defusion, values inventory, and choice point strategies.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP)
I have spent most of my career specializing in acute care with chronically suicidal and para-suicidal patients. I use the strategies of CBT to shape and orient clients' thought-patterns towards their life worth living. Additionally, I have experience coaching clients through crisis to adopt coping strategies and maintaining safety.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
12 years of experience working in mindfulness-based psychotherapy. I have attended the silent mindfulness retreat at the Whidbey Institute in Oregon in association with the DBT Institute of Portland. Since 2016, I have implemented the practice of mindfulness in both group and individual therapy within my clinical practice.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
I am trained in two prolonged exposure therapy techniques-- DBT Prolonged Exposure (EX/RP), and Trauma Incident Reductions. Both I have used to treat the symptoms of clients with phobias, anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.