Anxiety hums in the background, no matter what you accomplish.
Therapist — Newport Beach · Fullerton · Online throughout CA
Underneath the noise, there’s a version of you waiting to be known.
You’ve done the work of trying to understand yourself. You’ve talked it through, read about it, made the changes that seemed right. And the same feelings keep finding their way back, or the self-doubt does. It’s not a failure of effort; some things are hard to reach on your own. I work with people who are curious about their inner life and still carrying something they can’t quite name.
I provide individual and couples therapy in Newport Beach and Fullerton, and online throughout California.
Schedule a free consultation →
Anxiety Identity Relationships Attachment Life Transitions Self-Expression Grief & Loss Shame
What the work moves toward
Depth
Clarity
Connection
Freedom
Doing fine by most measures.
Still, something feels off.
You’re managing. You’re showing up. From the outside, things probably look fine, maybe even good. But underneath, something’s been off for a while. The same patterns keep showing up, no matter how many times you talk it through with yourself. You want something more. Many of the people I work with come to therapy when their best attempts to change on their own aren’t working.
Sound familiar?
Relationships, romantic or otherwise, keep hitting the same wall.
Career success feels hollow, and you’re questioning what actually matters.
It’s difficult to connect in the way you’re craving, or to express yourself, your needs, or what you really want.
Past experiences still shape you in ways you can’t quite see clearly.
You feel a disconnection from yourself that’s hard to understand.
Depth-oriented work assumes that the thing driving you is generally not the thing you would name if asked.
The approach
We won’t just talk about the problem. We’ll get curious about what it’s saying.
The work we do together is depth-oriented, which means we’re not just looking at what’s happening on the surface. We slow down and look at why. Where do these feelings and patterns come from? What do your reactions actually mean? What are you living out that you didn’t consciously choose? The goal is to help you notice the patterns that may be holding you back, understand how they affect your relationships and choices, and free you to inhabit your life in a way that feels truer to who you are and the life you want.
How I work →
About
Hi, I’m Nikole.
AMFT 150080 · Supervised by Dr. Michele Willingham, PSY 15849
I believe getting to know yourself, really know yourself, is one of the most worthwhile things you’ll ever do. By connecting more deeply with your story, your emotions, and the people around you, you can begin to live with a greater sense of authenticity, agency, and meaning.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and engaged. I value spending the time it takes to get to know you, and to help you get to know yourself. Together, we’ll make connections, find out what flourishing looks like for you, and build a deeper relationship to yourself and what truly matters.
About Nikole →Services
Where We’ll Focus
For adults and teens seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotional lives, in person in Newport Beach and Fullerton, or online throughout California.
Who I work with
TeensYoung AdultsGrad StudentsAdultsCreativesProfessionalsMinistry LeadersCouples
What we work on
AnxietyIdentityAttachmentTraumaShameGrief & LossLife TransitionsRelationshipsReligious IssuesDepressionSelf-expression
Also offering premarital counseling. New here? Start with the FAQs.