Nicole Warren

Hello, my name is Nicole Warren and I am both a Registered Art Therapist and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor! I am licensed as an LCPC in Illinois and working toward licensure in several other states. I incorporate solution-focused, CBT, and person centered clinical interventions into both art therapy and talk therapy interventions to help you build hope and confidence about making the changes in your life that you desire.

My motivation for choosing to work with adults who are neurodiverse comes from my opposition to the cookie cutter viewpoints of success and identity that some people in society have which can be especially oppressive viewpoints for individuals who are neurodivergent. These cookie cutter viewpoints assume that individuals who are neurotypical and neurodivergent "should" all have the exact same goals, values, and motivations in life. However, in actuality everyone's version of success and identity can be different and still be right for them. Even within the groups of neurotypical thinkers and neurodivergent thinkers there are differences. I am excited to help individuals explore their own unique paths and to access productive and positive changes along their paths.

One of my top priorities during sessions is allowing clients to be themselves while making improvements. Clients need to have a therapeutic space where they feel accepted and comfortable to be honest so that the therapist can better help them. Another of my top priorities as a clinician is recognizing and relying on the strengths that are already there in clients (or on the strengths that could be there given the adequate support and resources). In sessions we will work toward changes by identifying strengths and concrete goals. I will continually support you to figure out and implement the next best moves to get closer to your desired goals/life improvements. Improving self-esteem, managing symptoms/stress more effectively, working through present challenges/ transitions or past trauma, and/or working on other specific goals are all things that could be worked on in session. I may give homework at times to encourage deeper reflection of concepts we addressed in sessions. I know from personal and professional experiences that improvements are longer-lasting and more impactful when strengths and not weaknesses are the driving force. Weaknesses are not ignored, but are respectfully acknowledged. It is important to me as a clinician that my clients feel respected by me. It is also important that they feel self-respect while they are doing the hard work of making improvements to their lives.