Nicole Kubera

LSW

She | Her | Hers

Relationships | Emerging Adults | Anxiety & Depression | Trauma | Internal Family Systems

My Background

I completed my Undergraduate Degree at the University of Michigan, receiving a BA in Psychology with a minor in Gender and Health studies. Afterwards, I made the move to Chicago to attend graduate school and pursue becoming a therapist. Since then, I have received my Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. While there are many paths one may take to become a therapist, I chose social work due to my shared values of social justice and human relationships with the field. Prior to private practice my clinical experience included working in community mental health with individuals dealing with substance use disorders and in an outpatient hospital setting with survivors of intentional trauma.

I take a relational approach to therapy, prioritizing cultivating an open, safe, supportive, and trusting relationship for our work together. I am level one trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, with over 90 hours of training completed through the IFS institute, this model informs a lot of my work with clients. IFS is an internal attachment model in which one builds relationships with the different parts of themselves, heals the parts that hold past wounds, and creates harmony within their internal system. My approach to therapy can be very eclectic and collaborative as I believe there is no one size fits all approach and that you are the expert on yourself. My therapeutic approach is also influenced by Trauma Informed, Client Centered, Humanistic, Narrative, and Psychodynamic therapies. In addition to IFS there are so many wonderful therapeutic modalities, and as I always say a lot of acronyms, that I pull from such as DBT, RO-DBT, EFT, and REBT. For couples work specifically, I have completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and utilize Gottman Method Couples Therapy in my work. I also pull from Emotionally Focused Therapy and other attachment informed approaches when working with relational concerns.

I value working with a variety of identities and clinical concerns. Some of my clinical interests include individuals dealing with Trauma, Women’s Issues, Anxiety & Depression, ADHD, Substance Use Concerns, Relational Concerns and Life Transitions. I am passionate about working with clients to identify their strengths and increase their insight, while empowering them to utilize both to make positive and meaningful changes. I believe relationships are powerful, and I enjoy working with my clients to understand how past relationships impact the present moment both in terms of how they impact them as an individual and their current relationships. I often bring skills into sessions to support clients in decreasing relational distress such as communication skills, boundaries, and conflict resolution skills. I also enjoy working with individuals who identify as high-achieving, perfectionists, whose emotions are often directed inward.

Outside of work you will most likely find me reading one of the many books from my never ending and always growing to be read list. You will also probably find me watching something that brings me joy, which is anything from reality television to documentaries where I love learning about others’ interests and the world around us. I am an aspiring pet owner and will be sure to update this bio when my dream becomes a reality!