Nicole Barnes

MA, LCMHCA

Nicole Barnes is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate who provides individual therapy to teens (ages 13+) and adults. She works with clients navigating anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, life transitions, substance use, and relational challenges.

Nicole obtained a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University in June 2025 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Wingate University in 2021. She believes therapy should feel safe, grounding, and empowering, and she views her role as a therapist as being a steady, supportive presence—someone who helps create enough safety and trust for meaningful healing to take place.

Her approach is collaborative and client-centered. She practices from an eclectic framework, but most heavily draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), while also integrating mindfulness, values-based work, and motivational interviewing techniques. Nicole helps clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, develop healthier coping strategies, and move toward choices that feel aligned with their values.

Rather than offering direct advice, Nicole works alongside clients as a collaborative guide—offering reflection, insight, and gentle challenge while honoring each client’s autonomy, pace, and readiness for change. She aims to provide both compassion and structure, creating a warm, nonjudgmental space while also offering practical tools and direction to support growth.