Nikki Nelson, Ed.S., Registered Mental Health Intern.

Education:

Graduated from the University of Florida with a Master’s and Specialist degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

At a Glance:

Therapy is about sitting with and exploring the experience of being human. The thing about that is that being human is messy, weird, and uncomfortable a lot of the time. That can leave us feeling like we are too much, not enough, or like there’s something wrong with us. I am here to help people who want to stop feeling like there is something wrong with them and start living in ways that feel more free.

 I specialize in using an existential and narrative framework to assist people who are dealing with the fallout of childhood abuse or neglect, abusive relationships, insecure attachment, self-harm, recurrent suicidal ideation, and substance use. I also provide dreamwork sessions to assist with unusual dreams and recurring or distressing nightmares.

 I strongly believe in the power of finding your voice, learning to trust your own inner ways of knowing, strengthening connections within your community, and creating space to show up in ways that feel authentic and meaningful. The healing work of therapy can reveal the possibilities of a life that feels worth living, and I look forward to joining you in this process.

Why did you become a therapist? 

I like to joke that I always knew I’d end up devoting a big part of my life to therapy, I just didn’t know whether that would be as the client or the therapist. The truth is I’ve spent a lot of time receiving therapy, and I’ve had the great privilege of experiencing the kind of change and healing that I used to believe was impossible. To get to this point, I first experienced a lot of therapy that wasn’t right for me – therapy that was cold, clinical, invalidating, and pathologizing. At some point I realized that I really wanted to offer the kind of care and connection that proved to be so valuable to me, so I made it happen. Being a therapist is my job, but it is so much more than that too.  

What can a client expect to experience in session with you? 

When we meet, we will talk about the kind of things that have been helpful and not so helpful for you in the past. I like to take a collaborative approach to therapy, so there is certainly room for creating a shared experience that works for both of us.  What I can promise is that I will always show up as myself, as a real person invested in building trust, safety, and connection. What I suspect is that we will laugh, cry, and get angry. What I can offer is the knowledge that I will provide support and encouragement when it’s needed, I will offer perspectives that challenge existing ways of thinking and being, help you to build new awareness (or figure out what to do with the awareness you already have), and I will call you out when you need to be called out.  I am also always open to ongoing feedback in order to help make your experience in therapy as meaningful as possible.

If you could be the therapist to one celebrity, who would it be? 

You know, this is the question that stumped me. I’m the person that will see a picture of a notoriously recognizable celebrity and will go, “Huh, they look kind of familiar,” which is exactly what I’d expect to happen if a celebrity came in and sat on my couch. I’d be like, “Do you go to the same Publix as me or something?” and then I’d get to really bask in my embarrassment. So uh, I’m gonna go ahead and pass on this one to spare me my shame.

How do you spend your free time? 

That depends on when you ask me. I tend to obsess over certain hobbies for periods of time before abandoning them for a while. Last year it was rollerblading (until I broke my elbow). Right now I’m really into embroidery. I like to spend time in nature whenever I can. I also like to light a whole bunch of candles, eat sour gummies, and watch the worst reality TV that I can find. My free time is kind of a mixed bag.

What's your favorite quirk about yourself? 

I will always be the person sitting on the floor petting an animal at any social gathering. Bonus points if I can get the animal’s human to say, “Wow, they’re never that friendly with people.”

What does social justice mean to you? 

I see social justice as a matter of life and death. Maybe I shouldn’t say I see it that way. It is that way. The sociopolitical landscape that we live in – that generation after generation has endured – was intended to maintain the power and privilege of certain groups while perpetuating the marginalization and oppression of others. I view steps toward social justice as being able and willing to name, resist, and deconstruct the oppressive narratives and systems that perpetuate inequity. Someone that I very much respect once said that therapy itself is an act of resistance. That is what I’m here to do.

How do you believe change happens?

I think change is interesting because sometimes it feels like it sneaks up on you so gradually that it’s almost necessary to have someone else point out the small changes over time, and other times it can feel like it happens all at once.  I believe that change is driven by insight and awareness, which therapy can help to cultivate. However, I believe that this insight and awareness must be used intentionally to make choices that align with the kind of life you want to be living.