Meet Nicole

I'm the therapist for you if:

• You're hoping to learn new strategies for managing your trauma symptoms
• You would like to better understand how trauma, or substance use, impacts your sexual experiences and the intimacy you feel with others
• You're ready to change the relationship you have with pornography, sex, or substances
• You're seeking support because of someone else's sexual behaviours (including pornography viewing) or substance use
• You’re looking for a therapist who cares deeply about your progress and will hold you accountable as you work towards your goals

Session Types: Individual Therapy, Relationship Therapy, Sex Therapy, Clinical Supervision

Availability: Virtual & In-Person

Specialties: 2SLGBTQIA+, Addiction, Anxiety, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Pornography Viewing, Sexual Behaviours (Undesired or Problematic), Sex and Intimacy, Substance Use, Trauma and trauma symptoms

Approaches: Attachment Based Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Mindfulness, Polyvagal, Somatic Experiencing (SE), Sex Therapy, Systems Therapy, Trauma Informed Therapy, 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy

Favorite Resources:

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk (Book)
• The Myth of Sex Addiction by David Ley (Book)
• Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski (Book)

Nicole's Bio

Education: Nicole is a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW). She earned her Undergraduate Social Work degree from the University of Waterloo and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. During her graduate degree, Nicole specialized in Health & Mental Health and completed a collaborative program in Addiction Studies. Nicole also completed the Intensive Sex Therapy Training Program at the University of Guelph. She is currently enrolled in the Somatic Experiencing International Certificate Program and the Problem Sexual Behaviour Certificate Program.

Therapeutic Style: Nicole is a 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming therapist who works from a non-judgmental, strengths-based, trauma-informed, client-centered perspective. Nicole prioritizes the autonomy of her clients and is flexible and adaptive to their needs. She uses an integrative approach, that is, a variety of theories and interventions that fit the client’s needs. 

Specialties and Approaches: Nicole has three main areas of focus and training, which include: trauma, sex and intimacy, as well as substance use and addiction. Nicole uses Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Polyvagal, and Somatic Experiencing (SE) to help her clients learn about the neurobiology of trauma, how it is stored in the body, and how to regulate their nervous systems. For those who have experienced trauma or have been using substances for prolonged periods, Nicole can help you to regain intimacy and navigate sexual encounters. Pornography viewing and other sexual encounters (in person or online) can also be explored, to determine whether these behaviours are problematic and how to make changes to them. With Nicole you may understand your own, or your loved one’s, substance use as a coping mechanism to manage underlying root causes (e.g., pain, trauma, mental health, poverty, and loss). Nicole also offers treatment guidance for withdrawal management and community outpatient or long-term residential treatment. 

Clinical Supervision: Nicole holds a graduate certificate in Positive Psychology and Health & Wellness Coaching through the College of Executive Coaching and offers Clinical Supervision to Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO) and Registered Social Workers (OCSWSSW). 

Many Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and extended health care plans will cover services rendered by a Registered Social Worker.