About

Hello! My name is Nicole, but everyone calls me Nikki! My pronouns are She/They/Siya. My experiences with mental health stigma in the Philippines as a teen and getting diagnosed with breast cancer as a young adult in the United States were the catalyst for me to walk upon the path of a therapist. I believe that life paths may shift like the wind, but in every passing moment, true strength lies not in the route taken, but in the purposeful steps we take and the people uplifting us along the way. As a Filipina/x, Ilongga, and genderqueer person living with breast cancer, I have personally witnessed the transformative impact of supportive therapist’s who played a crucial role in my nonlinear path towards healing and acceptance. With that said, I became a therapist to plant seeds of self-discovery as well as to guide those navigating their complex experiences and identities with a sprinkle of humor and compassion. I also became a therapist to walk alongside those not only reclaiming their power within but also rewriting their narratives, where resilience transforms hard times to personal triumph.

I enjoy working with individuals navigating their anxiety, feelings of walking between two “cultural” worlds, complex grief and loss, depression, family dynamics, forced displacement, gender identity, intergenerational trauma, all life stage transitions, spirituality and relationship with a breast cancer diagnosis. With a trauma-focused and intersectional lens, I primarily work with adolescents, young adults and elderly people from AAPI, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant and refugee communities. I particularly focus on 1.5 and 2nd generation Filipino/a/x and South Asian American Immigrants, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with breast cancer, and older adults with chronic comorbidities. With my nuanced experiences, I am also invested in supporting individuals struggling with intimate partner violence (IPV) and vicarious trauma that is impacting one’s physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Our lived experiences interweave trauma responses to certain situations and shape relationships with ourselves, our family and our community. Trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), strength-based and mindfulness-based art interventions are central to my practice in addressing feelings of “being stuck”, unhealthy behavioral patterns and trauma built up over time. In partnering with me to build a mutually safe, respectful and trusting therapeutic relationship, I strive to collaboratively create a supportive, empowering and culturally humble space with you. Here, you can freely express all your emotions, experiences and even laugh at the mundane, knowing that I am with you through both bumpy and smooth rides. I genuinely believe that you are the captain of your own ship and I’m here to guide you when a windy storm is ahead. Together, we'll nurture tools and resources to help you reconstruct a healthier connection with yourself and others, so you can continue sailing smoothly through your life changes.