Co​unseling by Nicole

I hold a bachelor's in anthropology and master's in counseling, both from California State University, Fullerton. During my undergraduate education in anthropology, I studied various aspects of human expression such as: language, art, religion/spirituality, personality, marriage and family practices, gender roles and identities, and human sexuality - all from a cross cultural perspective. Through this multicultural lens, the various norms, values, and beliefs which influence human behavior were explored. I find anthropology to be an extremely vital and holistic discipline that continuously informs my work as a counselor. Ultimately, my goal was to utilize the broad human perspective that anthropology provides in order to serve my community, and I felt called to the field of counseling psychology from a very young age. So, I decided to pursue my MS in counseling.

 

It was during my graduate studies that I found a home for my anthropological education in narrative theory, and, as a student-level trainee, received extensive training in narrative therapy at Miracle Mile Community Practice in Los Angeles. After graduating and becoming a Registered Associate MFT, I went on to train at Southern California Counseling Center (SCCC), also in Los Angeles, where I continued my grounding in narrative therapy and completed a 9-month specialized trauma training program which included both EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and TRM (Trauma Resiliency Model).

 

During this time, I also co-facilitated an 8-week experiential Dreamwork group where participants were guided through the practices of dream incubation, dream re-entry, dream dialogue, dreaming the dream forward, and dreaming and expressive arts. I have been a vivid dreamer and avid dream tender for over 20 years. And, I believe in the wisdom of our nocturnal dreams to help us work out solutions to difficult life challenges and guide us in the direction of our waking hopes and dreams. 

 

After completing the specialized trauma training program at SCCC, I moved to North County San Diego and began seeing clients in a private practice setting in Solana Beach. Still on the road to licensure, I also continued to work in community mental health as a volunteer Registered Associate MFT at North County Lifeline. There, I served individuals, couples and families through the Communities in Action Program - a collaborative program designed to help community members overcome the effects of poverty, homelessness, trauma and relationship difficulties. Now, as a licensed therapist, I specialize in providing integrative, trauma-informed care to individual clients. I also work with couples and groups.

 

In addition to my work as a psychotherapist, I have also worked in the university setting. From August of 2015-June of 2023, I served the Department of Counseling at Cal State Fullerton as the clinical fiedlwork coordinator. In that role, I advised graduate students during their practicum year and supported the department in various ways. For several of those years, I also taught an undergraduate course in Leadership and Personal Development and guest lectured for full-time faculty members on narrative theory and trauma informed care. I truly loved working with students, but felt called to move into a full-time psychotherapy practice. I believe that my greatest strength is my ability to meet others pain with an open heart, and it's my highest honor to dedicate my life's work to that continually growing effort.