Nicole Otto, MS, LPC, TIC

Counseling can seem like a scary and overwhelming experience for some. As a clinician, and as a client of counseling myself, I recognize the importance of the therapeutic relationship in learning, exploring, and developing. A strong connection in which a client feels cared for and accepted is essential as the client and counselor align and move in tandem toward healing.

As a counselor, my job is not to tell you what is “right or wrong” or to tell you what to do. You are the expert on “you.” My job is to bring clinical expertise to the table in order to help explore experiences, work out problems, and consider things in different ways to provide enlightenment, self-efficacy, and growth. In this way, my work is client-centered and treats the client with respect and genuine regard.

My therapeutic practices and techniques are generally rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and also incorporate elements of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy. That being said, I am always a student and a learner, and I continue to educate myself and pull from evidence-based practices to tailor treatment to the individual client. I do not believe in a “one size fits all” approach to counseling.

Counseling can be a truly transformative process. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to walk towards progress and healing with my clients, and I am confident that with the right knowledge, skills, techniques, and guidance, personal change and growth are attainable.