Integrated Self Psychology
Shelly Nicol, PsyD
Thank you for stopping by, and considering me as a resource on your healing journey.
I am a licensed psychologist in Oregon and Washington states. I graduated from Pacific University's PsyD program in 2015. I've been practicing full-time since 2016, seeing individual clients and running an occasional group.
My theoretical “home base" is Gestalt therapy. Together, we would explore personal beliefs, their origins, and the ways that we hold back from making contact with our internal and external environment. I believe that we are inherently oriented towards growth and change. I also believe that our whole self is made up of parts, some living harmoniously with each other and others in conflict and contributing to symptoms. I like to explore which parts are not functioning together optimally, and why. Through an increased awareness of this, I believe that we are capable of achieving a more integrated, higher self.
As for my personal life, I was born and raised in Honolulu. I love cats, live music, camping, and the ocean. I would like to be a skillful cook, and to learn to speak Indonesian. Both are moving slowly. ;)
Welcome, I'm glad that you're here.
I offer a holistic approach that integrates Gestalt therapy,
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR),
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy,
and Ego State Therapy.
The rest of my wheelhouse...
Why Therapy with Me?
I believe that symptoms diminish with a strong therapeutic relationship, by welcoming all parts of the self to contribute to healing, and by increasing meaningful contact with the yourself, with others, and with your environment.
Many people seek me out because they are suffering from resurfacing trauma and/or symptoms that have started to impact relationships and day-to-day life.
Your symptoms may feel intrusive in the form of distressing memory recall/flashbacks, nightmares, dissociation, panic symptoms, avoidance/phobias, sleep issues, self injury, numbing with substances, etc.
Gender Affirming Care
My first specialty area in this field was gender affirming care.
I have been serving the transgender and gender nonconforming community since 2011. My doctoral dissertation explored self-efficacy and locus of control among transgender adults at different stages of transitioning.
I spent several years at my former agency, Western Psychological and Counseling Services, training colleagues in how to provide comprehensive, gender affirming mental health care for transgender adults.
A fraction of my practice will always be dedicated to educating and preparing folks for gender affirming surgery. Many of my clients are transgender, although their gender identity often times is not the main focus of therapy.
We will rely on your imagination as a resource for healing.
We will reconnect with younger parts of yourself.
We can bring them out of hard times and into the safety of the present moment,
into connectedness with you.
I also enjoy seeing people who are looking for something
outside of the specialty areas that I listed above.
Other focus areas:
Grief
Relationships
Queer life
Anxiety
Depression
etc.