Hi, my name is Nicole Powell, LPC
Staff Therapist
Nicole Powell is an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). She has a background in evidenced-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based therapies. Nicole works with adults, young adults, and older adolescents who are dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, body image issues, and general life transitions.
Nicole’s Education and Training
Nicole received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2019. She then received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lewis University in 2022. Nicole has been working with adults since 2018 in a variety of different settings including emergency shelters, and medical organizations, and has been working in private practice since 2021. When Nicole is not working, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, moving mindfully, and painting.
Client-Centered Approach
In her therapy sessions, Nicole creates a safe and supportive environment for her clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. She utilizes a client-centered approach, working collaboratively with her clients to set goals and develop personalized treatment plans. Nicole is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to her clients and is committed to helping them achieve their full potential.
Nicole’s Journey as a therapist at Shift Counseling, PC.
Nicole was chosen to join the Shift Counseling, PC team due to her previous clinical experiences with using the evidence-based treatment and her desire to continue to learn more about these very effective types of treatments. Nicole has strong clinical skills and a lot of knowledge about coping skills that help clients find relief from their most distressing symptoms quickly. Nicole is very respectful and enjoys getting to know her clients while having fun with the therapy process. You will not be bored in therapy or feel like you are just talking to a friend if you work with Nicole.
Individual Therapy
Nicole only provides individual therapy. She does not provide family therapy, couple’s therapy, or see children. Nicole sees clients both in person and online using a secure telehealth platform. Nicole is a provisionally licensed counselor practicing under the supervision of Rebecca Malley Fitzgerald. LCPC. Nicole is only licensed to provide counseling services to clients who are physically located in the state of Illinois at the time of service.
Some words from Nicole about her ideal clients:
I like working with people who have some insight and who aren’t afraid to bring their whole selves to treatment. I often find that people coming to counseling tend to focus a lot of their sense of self on their flaws (we all have them) while glossing over their strengths. If you are feeling overwhelmed or a bit complicated, I look forward to getting to know you and helping you figure out how to be your best self.
The Struggle with Self-Comparison
I find that many people struggle with comparing themselves to others, which only makes them more ashamed and unhappy. I love to help people stop focusing on others and learn to start appreciating the amazing parts of themselves. If during our work together, you also notice that there are parts of yourself that you would like to improve, I can help you make a plan to work on that.
Become Internally Motivated
I enjoy helping people learn to be more internally motivated. I often teach client mindfulness skills to get in touch with their bodies and calm their minds. I am active in sessions with clients. I am here to listen, but I also offer resources and suggestions. I am also open to feedback myself, and I understand that finding out what is helpful and not helpful because it helps me fine-tune my approach. We have value even if we have flaws. I believe this about myself and I believe this about you, too. I appreciate your willingness to be vulnerable and your commitment to the hard work of growth.
Working With Psychoeducation
I also like to provide psychoeducation. Yes, I have expertise but I like to share my knowledge with you so we are playing on the same field. Some people have a strong intuitive sense of what they need- if that is true for you, I respect your insights and appreciate this information. If you don’t have a strong sense of what you need, that is OK, too. I am happy to help you strengthen your knowledge of yourself. When we merge what I know with what you know, we have a lot of material to explore and we can start looking for patterns together. Once we figure out these patterns in session, we can also start making plans for how you can make changes to your behavior outside of the session to change these patterns.
Counseling for Body Image issues:
I am a health-at-every-size therapist. I know that struggles with maintaining healthy eating habits are very common for people who suffer from depression, anxiety, or trauma-related issues, but these struggles often go unaddressed. Sometimes clients are too ashamed to bring up these issues, often due to previous negative experiences with healthcare providers around weight.
Working Together to Find Joy
I know that healthy bodies come in many different shapes and sizes. If we work together on issues related to body image/eating habits, our focus will always be on health and finding joy in being good to ourselves. No foods are “bad.” We will not focus on the number on your scale or on your clothing size, as these are not true indicators of your health. These numbers are definitely not indicators of your worth, either.
Specialties:
Begin Counseling with Nicole, Chicago-Area Therapist
Getting started with your new therapist, Nicole is easy. Our North Riverside, IL counseling practice is convenient to multiple areas of Chicagoland including Riverside, La Grange Park, Brookfield, Broadview, and Saima offers telehealth options as well. If you’re ready to begin, simply follow these steps:
Services Offered by Shift Counseling in Chicago, IL, and Beyond
Shift Counseling, PC specializes in treating young adults with mental health concerns with a variety of techniques. In addition to therapy for depression, we also offer Adjustment Disorder Therapy, Multicultural Counseling, PTSD and Trauma Therapy, Young Adult Focused Therapy, and Anxiety Therapy online or in person.
