Our Therapy Practice

We work in an integrative and flexible manner, incorporating psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy to enhance treatment effectiveness given the uniqueness of all individuals.

Our psychodynamic approach is rooted in interpersonal therapy and attachment theory. The interpersonal model encourages both the therapist and patient to be engaged and active participants in the therapeutic experience. The process is a joint relationship of equality and relational mutuality. This allows for the safe exploration, understanding, and ultimately, freedom from difficult relational patterns. Benefits of psychodynamic therapy can include: improvement in interpersonal relationships, increased ability to find satisfaction with work, better understanding of yourself, increased sense of calm and confidence, clarity of long-term goals, improved frustration tolerance, and a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful form of cognitive behavioral therapy. It is an empirically based treatment that teaches acceptance and mindfulness strategies, with commitment to behavior change to increase psychological flexibility. The goal of ACT is to learn to cope with and accept inevitably painful moments while creating a rich and meaningful life. ACT helps us feel less “stuck” when we are unable to change challenging life circumstances, while also empowering us to move forward in ways that leave us feeling less distressed, calmer, and eventually happier in our everyday lives. ACT has been proven to be effective treatment for individuals struggling with depression, chronic pain, and multiple types of anxiety disorders, including PTSD, social phobia, and panic disorder.

When our primary partnership is distressed or even unsatisfying, the whole world can feel “off”and a little less safe. We are trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT). EFT is an attachment based therapy that helps couples identify and change their unhelpful interaction patterns that result in conflict, distress, poor communication, and emotional disconnection. EFT is widely researched and validated to help couples forgive past hurts, soothe one another, and restore a secure and lasting bond.

We welcome the opportunity to consult with fellow professionals and early-career mental health clinicians about practice building, clinical, and career questions.

While Dr. Nichols no longer provides formalized psychological evaluations, he has an extensive background in diagnostic assessment and differential diagnosis. We welcome questions/consultation from colleagues and prospective patients seeking clarification or guidance to help identity potential treatment options.