Dr. Nicole Merkouris (she/her) is a Chicago native who received her doctorate in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow with The Juniper Center.
Nicole has trained in a variety of treatment settings (i.e., residential and outpatient treatment facilities, state hospitals, and juvenile correctional facilities) for the last 4.5 years. Nicole has worked with both adult and adolescent clients in a collaborative nature to help them achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She has worked with clients on a variety of issues, including complex trauma, severe mental illness, depression, anxiety, grief, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and behavioral issues.
Nicole is passionate about meeting clients where they are at in their unique journey, and helping clients reach their goals and live more meaningful and fulfilling lives. She strives to provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space for clients to explore their emotions, thoughts, and beliefs, process their experiences, develop and strengthen greater awareness and insight, and learn coping skills and effective strategies for making positive and long-lasting changes.
While primarily practicing from a psychodynamic orientation, Nicole utilizes an evidence-based and eclectic approach to help tailor therapy to best fit the needs of each individual client. She has knowledge and practice with the following approaches: individual and group counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, and Client-Centered Therapy.
“In my early professional years I was asking the question: How can I treat, or cure, or change this person? Now I would phrase the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his own personal growth?” – Carl Rogers
