- Stress and anxiety
- Family of origin issues
- LGBT concerns
About Nicole
Nicole McSuhm is an LCSW - a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with five years of experience. She works with adults who are facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and LGBT-related concerns. Nicole also addresses family and family of origin issues when those early patterns keep showing up in current life.
Nicole frames therapy around clients' goals and strengths. She uses an empowerment model focused on what the client wants to learn. Sessions are collaborative - she helps people notice patterns, build skills, and experiment with new ways of relating and coping.
Her background includes work in domestic violence, trauma, and healthy relationships. That experience informs how she talks about boundaries, safety, and recovery. She has supported people dealing with panic, post-traumatic stress, and the emotional impacts of chronic illness and pain.
Nicole also helps with codependency, communication problems, divorce and separation, and isolation or loneliness. She pays attention to sexuality and women's issues when those topics affect daily life and relationships. The aim is practical: identify recurring family patterns, try different responses, and sharpen helpful skills.
Clients who meet with Nicole can expect straightforward conversation about what’s getting in the way now. She notices how past family roles and messages still show up. Together she and the client set the next steps and work on concrete changes that make everyday life easier.
How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions
Evidence-based therapeutic techniques typically focus on identifying thoughts and behaviors that keep a problem going and testing out new responses. For example, cognitive-behavioral ideas help people notice unhelpful thinking patterns and practice different ways of thinking and acting to reduce anxiety and depression. Skills-based approaches can teach breathing, grounding, and communication techniques that support panic management and relationship conversations.Trauma-informed ways of working pay attention to how past experiences shape current reactions and relationships. That can mean pacing conversations, building safety and coping skills, and naming how family of origin messages affect everyday choices. Choosing the right mix of methods is part of the work; the therapist and client decide together which techniques fit the client's needs and goals.
Confirm current session formats before booking so you know what is offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can work for brief updates, while video sessions let the therapist and client use visual cues during conversations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, LGBT concerns, and family-related issues including family of origin patterns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses an empowerment and strengths-based model that focuses on clients' goals and building skills through collaborative conversation.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
She has five years of clinical experience and a background working with domestic violence, trauma, and healthy relationship topics.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an LCSW credential and is licensed in Illinois.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with scheduling a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.