Nicole Mendizabal

Practice Philosophy: I believe pursuing personal growth is one of the most life-changing decisions we’ll ever make. Through this pursuit, we greatly enrich our lives and the lives of everyone we have relationships with, such as our partner(s), family, friends, colleagues, etc. Life is full of challenges, and I’m honored to help my clients navigate whatever stressors they may be facing to become the people that they want to be. I am committed to helping my clients strengthen their relationships with others and with themselves. My goal is that through our work together, my clients will grow and gain a better understanding of themselves and feel empowered to become the best version of themselves and live their lives authentically. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I utilize a systemic and relational lens. I’m integrative in my approach, blending different modalities including mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, narrative therapy, along with others. My approach in my work with clients is collaborative and individually tailored to each individual and couple to meet their unique needs and goals.

Specialties: Individual Therapy I believe that therapy is a great place to work on becoming the people that we want to be. I provide a safe and nonjudgmental space for you to learn more about yourself and work toward living a life that you find meaningful. It is so easy to live our lives on autopilot without taking the time to make sure that the life we are living is bringing us happiness and fulfillment. Sometimes, this may lead us into examining the past to see how it is impacting the present or looking at unconscious family patterns or cultural beliefs whose influence we may be unaware of. Therapy can be a journey of self-discovery where we can become aware of things that are no longer serving us and thus, allows us to make wiser and more conscientious choices in the future.

I provide individual therapy for individuals, presenting with symptoms related to: • ADHD • Anxiety • Depression • Occupational related stress • Relational Issues • Boundaries • Women’s Issues • Self-esteem • Body Image • Disordered eating • Life transitions • Parenting issues Couple’s Therapy: I work with couples to help bring them closer together, whether it be from issues arising due to ineffective communication, differing expectations, adjusting to changes, or just needing assistance in reconnecting with each other. Couples are made up of individuals with their own unique experiences and stories and sometimes need assistance navigating challenges that may arise due to coming from different places. I work with couples in various stages and seasons of their relationships ranging from premarital therapy to couples who have been together for decades. I welcome all couples, no matter whether your relationship is new, or you are considering separating.

Sometimes couples can unknowingly behave in ways that are damaging to their relationship. Although, I have seen that with some guidance, couples can become aware of, and change these harmful behaviors and patterns to get back to where they were or create an even better relationship. I believe that happiness in our relationships is imperative to our overall happiness, and thus essential to our overall wellbeing.

In my work with couples, I utilize evidence-based approaches such as Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method to help couples improve their communication and deepen their understanding of each other’s experience. I provide couple’s therapy for adults presenting with issues related to: • Premarital Counseling • Communication issues

• Expectations • Reconnecting • Adjusting to changes • Sexual Issues

Professional Background: I was born and raised in Miami and have lived in Miami most of my life but moved up north for a short period of time. I’ve always been curious in nature and adventurous in spirit with a desire to explore different places and have different experiences. This curiosity encouraged me to move to Boston, MA where I spent a couple of years studying at the Harvard Extension School. I am Cuban-American and speak English and Spanish. I have always been fascinated by people and relationships and have wanted to be a therapist ever since I took my first Psychology class in high school. Due to my naturally curious personality and love for learning, I considered other career paths, but would ultimately always come back to my decision to become a therapist, and I’m so glad I did. Through my own experience, I’ve been able to see how life changing therapy can be. I’m always in awe of my client’s resilience and feel honored to be able to witness their growth and to be a part of their journey. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida International University and was invited to join Psi Chi (an International Honor Society in Psychology) during my time there. I then earned my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University where I was inducted as a member of the Delta Kappa Omicron Chapter of the International Marriage and Family Therapy Honor Society (DKO), and served on the board as the Historian. I have always loved animals and have found their presence therapeutic. As a result of my love for animals and desire to learn more about how these two worlds could blend, I pursued a concentration in Equine Assisted Therapy. I hope to be able to incorporate different therapeutic interventions including Animal Assisted Therapy and Ecotherapy (treatments and techniques using nature to improve mental and physical health) into my practice in the future. Prior to beginning my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University, I worked as a behavioral analyst working with individuals with behavioral concerns. This experience helped show me that there is more to behavioral concerns and fueled my desire to gain a deeper understanding, which ultimately solidified my decision to pursue the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. When I’m not working as a therapist, I enjoy spending time cuddling with my dog, watching a good show, reading, spending time with my friends and family, traveling, and spending time in nature and the outdoors.