About Therapy with Me
Life is moving too fast.
Every day feels like CHAOS, and it’s hard to know whether this is the way life is now or if there is another, better way to live – a way to be truly happy.
They tell you to slow down and be present, that mental health matters, but it’s hard to know how to act on all that.
It’s hard to make that a reality because that doesn’t seem feasible for your life.
It’s hard to know how to make that a reality because learning how to build it into daily life is complicated.
Self-care “things” aren’t enough anymore.
But “self-care isn’t selfish.” Right?
Nothing is horribly wrong, but things aren’t that great either. This funk has been around longer than it hasn’t – and nobody warned us about this part of growing up.
Affirmations fall short; manifesting doesn’t always make sense. The critical voice has been living in your head rent-free for a while now.
We LOVE a fun brunch, a bestie weekend trip, an occasional treat-yourself manicure, and the classic self-care strolls through the aisles of Target. But the joy is temporary, fleeting. Sometimes, the effort to engage in all the “things” feels heavier than the joy of getting to DO them.
It’s OK to want more for yourself.
You’ve accomplished things and “should” focus on living now. Showing up for yourself isn’t something you learned how to do. You don’t need a list of things to work on in therapy and all the feelings identified.
I will work with you to finally understand what it means to be present in your life according to your values.
Consider the following: What got you here but no longer works for you? Who have you had to be to make it this far? What do you wish for in this life?
Together, we will find answers to these questions to help you understand what healing looks like for you and what it means to take care of yourself.
Meet Nicole, the Person
Becoming a therapist was sort of a happy accident for me.
A nod to my Philippine culture, I had every intention of becoming a nurse until a cousin saw what brought me joy and pushed me to want something different.
I am the daughter of immigrants and the oldest daughter in my family – I understand what it means to wish for a life different from the one your family imagines for you.
I recently said goodbye to my corporate life of seven years and to the college town where I spent all of my 20s. Right now, I am enjoying getting back in touch with a life outside of the hustle culture. The transition has been fantastic, and my passion for therapy has been a gift!
As a therapist, I love connecting with clients while being authentically myself. My wish for my clients is they develop their own feelings of happiness and enthusiasm for life, as they start their own journey to living authentically – whatever that means for them.
More about Nicole, the Therapist.
I received a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Psychology from the University of California, Irvine (zot zot!) my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, and am currently a Doctoral Student in Applied Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School.
In California, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#135401) and have training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Since 2017, I have spent most of my clinical experience practicing in-person therapy in the community mental health setting.
In 2021, I transitioned to private practice and have enjoyed supporting all women on their journey to lasting healing and happiness.
When I’m not doing schoolwork or seeing clients…
Through my own work in therapy, I’m finding the balance between living a life full of joy, rest, and fulfilling work (in that order!).
I like to stream and binge-watch shows, read one of the many (non-psychology) books sitting on my bookshelf, and spend quality time with my family and friends. Good food is almost always involved. Recommendations welcome!
This commitment to balance and self-care allows me to bring my best self to our sessions and offer you the support you deserve.