About

Hi! I'm Nikki, a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. I've been working in human services for 25 years starting with an Alzheimer's unit in a nursing home and intellectual disabilities in group homes to wraparound services with children that have Autism. I gained my education in psychology and counseling and began working with at-risk youth in juvenile delinquency settings and now working with transition-aged youth. I really enjoy helping young adults find themselves and their path in life with their personal life and professional endeavors. I've also grown with the BFRB community (body-focused repetitive behavior) being recovered myself and providing outreach and advocacy. I have been featured on the Dr. Oz television show, spoken at the Pennsylvania Counseling Association, and written in the book Project Dermatillomania. I continue in these areas such as ACT Therapy, ERP Therapy, DBT Therapy, etc. My main approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for general anxiety and depression and sometimes expressive arts approaches for those that have difficulty expressing themselves. I currently only offer online therapy and do not accept clients with severe mental illnesses. On a personal level, I am married and have a 5-year-old daughter and we enjoy outdoor activities and spending time with our pets (Boston Terriers, cats, chinchillas, and frogs). My favorite activities and hobbies include crocheting, scrapbooking, gardening, and sometimes drawing/painting. I really believe in the quote "You are the author of your own life story" and would like to hear your story as you're the expert in navigating it! I live and teach by my own SELF approach: S for searching your soul and the therapeutic approaches that will work for you, E for changing your environment from a toxic one to a healthy one, L for surrounding yourself with those that love and support you along with learning to love yourself, and F for forgiving yourself for setbacks or relapses.