Hi! I’m Nikki.

From an early age, I knew I wanted to help people.

After many years working within our mental health system offering support for individuals navigating adoption, foster care, the courts, child protective services and behavioral health concerns, I gradually became disheartened. I questioned the longer-term impact of the work I was doing. So much of our societal focus is on the symptoms of our suffering and I became increasingly curious about the root causes.

Throughout my professional journey, I have been exploring different approaches to creating meaningful, lasting change in the lives of those I work with. I integrate a variety of therapeutic modalities into a balanced, somatic approach to holistically support individuals so they can heal and grow.

My Values

Kindness

One of the most powerful gifts you can give to someone, with the potential to change the course of a day. And it costs virtually nothing to share! 

Humility

We can only understand what we have learned. There is an immense amount for me to understand about each person I work with and I approach each session with openness and a genuine desire to learn.

Curiosity

I find the more I ask, the more I know. Being curious about ourselves, others, and our world can be enlightening.

Reliability

I work hard to be the kind of person who means what they say and follows through. For a therapeutic alliance to be effective, there must be trust and I can only foster that by being consistent and reliable. 

Fun Facts About Me

I’ve been a transplant to Pittsburgh ever since I relocated from Michigan to the Steel City in 2010. I found the energy and excitement for sports to be so contagious, I couldn’t help but get caught up! I am a college football fan (H2P) and enjoy games on a beautiful day.

I am a very avid reader who enjoys books across many genres: fiction, biographies, nonfiction mysteries—you name it. I am most likely to get ‘lost’ in a complicated story about a monarchy, romance, with a touch of mystery and magic. I suppose my love of Harry Potter as a kid started that.

I have started to prioritize the idea of ‘play’ and hobbies for the sake of personal enjoyment. I recently started experimenting with watercolors and paints, solely as an activity to encourage creativity, presence, and play.

My Credentials

I received my Bachelor’s of Science from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. I studied Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. I took some time to understand my direction and made the decision to move to Pittsburgh in 2010. I attended the University of Pittsburgh in 2011 and graduated with my Master’s degree in Social Work in 2013, with a concentration in Direct Practice. I have maintained a clinical license since 2015, with my focus on treating trauma, anxiety, and emotional regulation. In 2023, I started a 10 month program with Integrative Psychiatric Institute (IPI) to further my knowledge and experience of Psychedelic Assisted Psycho-Therapy.

“Trauma means carrying something that was forced upon us. Healing means finally releasing that which never belonged to us.”

— Frank Anderson, MD