Deborah Nichols LPC, LPCC, NCC

You want be a joyful mom…

and yet there are parts of this that completely suck. 

There are days when you can barely take care of yourself, let alone all the other people in your life that are counting on you. The things that used to be so easy like getting ready in the morning, and taking care of the most basic things feel like chores.

 It gets so tiring to keep it up and you wear the badge of “busy” so well.

You see the moms on instagram, looking so put together. They make all of their own healthy, natural food. They wear cute clothes and look like they shower every day ( who can do that??!!). On some level, you know it’s not real, but you can’t help but feel like you are just not nailing this mom thing the way you thought you would or even close to how you wanted to.

You question yourself, you wonder what your partner is thinking about you, you wonder what the other moms, your friends and family and thinking about you and you are convinced that they think you are a loser and worse- a shitty mom.

You start to question whether this is more than just the normal ups and downs of being a new mom… do you have an anxiety disorder? or a mental health condition that requires more help? Those around you are noticing that you just aren’t yourself.

I get it.

As a mom to two teenaged boys, I can safely say that every stage comes with new challenges, and new anxieties. But the anxiety doesn’t have to take over… you can be the #momboss you’ve always wanted to be and learn how to invite your anxiety to be your informant as opposed to your captain.

Working with me, sessions will be filled with warmth but also challenge. I don’t just sit, listen, and nod. I actively listen, I get it, and I engage. We may laugh. We may get really uncomfortable and go places you never have been or didn’t even think you wanted to go. But you will surprise yourself. Transformation will be happening and I will be your sidekick, nudging you to step just a little outside your comfort zone, but meeting you every step of the way.

Will I fix you?

No.

You are not broken. You are spinning, you are exhausted, and you need someone to really see you. The YOU that still exists underneath and within all the mom stuff.

Your anxiety is telling you something. Your body is telling you something. Something has to change. We’ll figure out what that is and together we will move you towards being the mom you have always known you could be just didn’t know where to start or how to get there.

Being a therapist and a mom doesn’t mean that I get to forego life’s trials and tribulations…

I’ve been there and my journey is far from over. Parenting for me has been the highest highs, the lowest lows and everything in between.

The systems that we operate within are SO broken. My mothering has led me to have to navigate the complex systems of special education and specialty medical care. As a result, I spent several years as a professional advocate assisting families in navigating the world of dyslexia evaluation, IEP’s, 504’s and all the processes that can be so overwhelming as a parent.

When I am not seeing clients, I love engaging in retail therapy ( hello shoppers!), riding my Peloton ( thank you COVID ) , learning to play tennis with my husband ( someday maybe I’ll win a match!), and loving on my sweet and sometimes hyper Boston Terrier Abbie ❤️.

I look forward to meeting you!

My teenagers ❤️

My girl…🐶