- Warm and direct
- Goal focused
- Strength oriented
About Nicole
Nicole Ballas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 27 years of experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, relationship strain, grief, trauma, substance use, and ADHD. Her manner is warm and down-to-earth. She aims to make people feel heard and understood from the first meeting.
Nicole draws on a client-centered approach that focuses on each person’s needs and strengths. She also uses solution-focused methods to set clear, practical goals and track small steps forward. Sessions are collaborative - she listens, reflects, and helps people identify options they can try between meetings.
Her background includes long experience in inpatient psychiatry and leading an inpatient unit for more than 20 years. That work exposed her to a wide range of mental health concerns, especially mood conditions, trauma, and substance use. Nicole combines that clinical experience with a straightforward, compassionate style.
People working with life transitions, caregiver stress, chronic illness, or family-of-origin issues may find her approach practical and goal oriented. She encourages clients to use their own strengths when addressing problems like anger, impulse control, hoarding, or intimacy-related concerns.
Nicole practices in New York and conducts sessions in English. She encourages people to take the first step and complete a short matching questionnaire to begin scheduling and planning treatment.
How her approaches shape online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person’s unique situation. Nicole uses this approach to prioritize what matters most to the client and to let each session follow the issues they bring up. Solution-Focused Therapy is goal oriented and practical; it helps people set small, achievable steps and notice progress over time.Finding the right approach is a joint process. Nicole works with clients to match techniques to their needs, goals, and preferences rather than insisting on one path. She will check in about what is helping and adjust plans so work in sessions fits real life.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm available formats before booking so they match your schedule and needs. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, shorten commute time, and allow quicker check-ins when needed. It also supports steady follow-through on sleep habits, coping plans, and short goal-setting tasks between meetings, helping clients carry momentum from session to session.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
27+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Nicole address?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, trauma, addiction, relationship and grief issues, plus ADHD and related struggles.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is warm, empathetic, and nonjudgmental. She listens deeply and works with clients to set practical goals.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
Nicole has 27 years of professional experience and over 20 years managing an inpatient psychiatry unit, giving her a broad clinical background.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in New York and practices in New York state.
Which languages are offered for therapy?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
International clients are not accepted at this time.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Nicole?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.