Nicole Rea, MA, LCSW

(they/them or she/her)

In-person therapy at Ravenswood location;
virtual therapy anywhere in Illinois

  • How I’d describe myself: warm, creative, compassionate, and fun

  • I have a 120 lb Bernese Mountain Dog puppy named Dr. Carl Rogers

  • I love roller skating in Chicago summers and cuddling up inside watching horror movies and reading spooky novels year round

  • For my own mental health, I could never live far from a body of water

  • I’m a former ‘90s “Gifted Kid”

  • I learned as an adult that I also have ADHD and it helped to make sense of a LOT of my life experiences growing up

  • I’m a queer mom with a beautiful 13 y/o nonbinary artist child being raised in a blended family/co-parent community

  • “I started with Nicole in high school and had the stress of college decisions, homework, and friends. Now, I am out of college and still see Nicole regularly. I have seen myself grow and change into a person who has less anxiety, more self-esteem, and a better relationship with myself, friends, and family. I have a toolbox complete with resources to help me during more challenging times, and I am proud to say that I successfully use them and have noticed a significant change in my mental health.”

    —S.B.

  • “I wasn't sure what to expect when I started therapy with Nicole in 2019, but she made me feel comfortable almost immediately. I am so glad that I started when I did! She was instrumental in helping me navigate the pandemic as a healthcare worker. In addition, she helped support me during a high-risk pregnancy, becoming a mom, and going through cancer treatment. I've learned so much about myself and have built a bunch of new coping skills for stressful times. I really like the way that Nicole is able to adapt our sessions to what I need - sometimes we discuss acute issues, and other times we delve deeper into underlying trauma. She is a wonderful therapist!”

    —L.S.

  • “I feel so comfortable, seen, and supported in my sessions with Nicole. Her services have been so helpful, and I feel like I have grown and learned so much about myself in just the past couple of months.”

    —C.C.

  • “My husband and I came to Nicole at a crisis point, unsure if our marriage could survive. She met us with radical acceptance, kindness and support, and helped us to reflect on how we got to where we were as a couple and as individuals. She helped us learn new tools to communicate and take care of ourselves, and helped us to identify patterns from our individual histories that had contributed to our problems as a couple and learn to develop healthier patterns, which we credit for not only saving our marriage, but making it stronger.”

    —P.C.

“If we are holding back from any part of our experience, if our heart shuts out any part of who we are and what we feel, we are fueling the fears and feelings of separation that sustain the trance of unworthiness. Radical Acceptance directly dismantles the very foundations of this trance.”

—Tara Brach

Hi! I’m Nicole, and I’m glad you’re here.

Starting the journey of self-discovery can be … a lot. The road to authenticity is winding and with some steep climbs, and it’s crucial to feel understood and valued along the way.

I’m here to walk alongside you, offering validation and support as you explore parts of yourself that may have been hidden or marginalized.

(Genuinely) Seen and Supported

In our sessions, we'll build a strong bond grounded in radical validation and support, making sure you always feel seen, recognized, and valued.

I work with you as a team, highlighting your strengths and enhancing your ability to take charge, be responsible, and grow in self-awareness.

With a special emphasis on the impacts of oppression, I help clients of diverse identities understand themselves better and learn to tackle new challenges with confidence.

Qualifications

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

  • Recent ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) 

  • Somatic Experiencing (SE) practitioner in-training

  • Highly Sensitive Persons (HSP) trained and certified

  • Trained and certified in Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and Trauma Focused CBT (TF-CBT)

  • 40-hr. Sexual Assault Training certified by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) and Resilience (formerly Rape Victim Advocates) 

  • Master’s degrees in Social Work and the Humanities with a focus on Gender and Sexuality Studies/Transgender Identity, both from the University of Chicago

  • Extensive experience working with codependency, substance abuse, trauma, relationships (both monogamous and non-monogamous), and issues faced specifically by LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, spanning Northwestern University's Student Health Center, Resilience, and Howard Brown Health Center

  • Extensive crisis counseling experience in a variety of emergency rooms across the Chicago area

Work With Nicole:

Specialties & Clinical Interests

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Anxiety & Depression

  • Codependency & Attachment-Centered Work

  • Co-Parenting Counseling

  • Fat Liberation

  • Grief and Loss

  • Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs)

  • Life Transitions

  • Mindfulness Skills

  • Neurodivergence and Executive Functioning Differences (including ADHD & Autism)

  • Parenting & Work/Life Balance Issues

  • Polyamory/Non-Monogamy

  • Relationship Issues

  • Self Esteem

  • Sexual orientation, gender identity, and kink identity development and exploration

  • Stress Management & Vicarious Trauma Recovery for those in helping professions (i.e., therapists, healthcare professionals, teachers, etc.)

  • Supervision & Consultation for therapists and counselors

  • Transgender Identity

  • Trauma & PTSD

Specialty Populations

  • Individuals (Children, Adolescents and Adults)

  • Relationships (of all kinds)

  • Neurodivergent folk & Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs)

  • Parents who are separating or divorced and are interested in co-parenting counseling

  • Therapists and counselors seeking professional supervision and/or consultation

Preferred Modalities

  • Antiracist & Intersectional Feminist Perspective

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

  • Feminist Relational Theory

  • Harm Reduction

  • Imago Relationship Therapy

  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

  • Kink-, Sex- and Body-Positive Approach

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • LGBQ+ and TGNC Affirmative Practice

  • Mindfulness-Based Therapy

  • Person-Centered, Insight Oriented, and Strengths-Based Approach

  • Relational Psychotherapy

  • Somatic Experiencing (SE)

  • Trauma-Informed Practice

I’m excited to help guide you on your journey to becoming your most joyful & authentic self.

Reach out today!