Nicole Woolf, LCSW #110339
I am a University of Southern California School of Social Work alumna and have worked in public schools, Department of Mental Health contracted community settings, as well as in private practice. I have worked with 5-year-olds and up and with a range of symptoms like hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, insomnia, sleep issues, inattentiveness, anxiety, defiance, insecurity, inability to manage, identify or cope with emotions, and feeling unsafe.
I utilize a psychodynamic approach to therapy that includes, but is not limited to, CBT, DBT, and Mindfulness. I attempt to help reduce your stress, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms by providing a safe space to process your experiences and gain invaluable insight into yourself. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #110339).
I also have a master’s degree from San Francisco in Education with a concentration in Equity and Social Justice. My thesis focused on superheroes and villains in comic books and how they can teach individuals about people with disabilities. DC, I also studied the structure of languages (aka Linguistics) as my BA from UC Berkeley but do not speak any of the languages I studied (go figure).
Some of the Types of Individuals I Work With
Adults with insomnia and sleep issues
Insomnia has been your companion for a seemingly long time. It feels like every night is a battle between your thoughts, anxiety, worries, fixations, and your want to sleep. You stay in bed, awake and alert, checking the clock and becoming more frustrated with the time that passes. The harder you try to sleep, the harder it is to obtain.
When you finally fall asleep, it’s never restful. You wake up multiple times during the night, finding it hard to get back to sleep. You find yourself running on a few hours of sleep the next day.
Insomnia’s toll on you may look like:
Constant fatigue
Poor concentration/inability to think
Getting overwhelmed easily
Feeling irritable and low
Avoiding being around people
Scheduling or avoiding your social life around your sleep
It’s gotten to the point where you’ve tried herbal teas, meditation, strict sleep schedules, and even medication but after some temporary relief, they just don’t work as well.
Adults who have experienced Childhood Trauma
Does this resonate with you when you think about your childhood:
Ever since you were a child, the world has felt like a dangerous place.
Growing up was unpredictable and frightening.
The source of your fear was usually your parents/caregivers.
You had to be on guard constantly to protect yourself.
You became excellent at reading and managing other people’s moods and behaviors.
Trusting others seemed impossible because you’ve been let down repeatedly.
You felt alone, misunderstood, and isolated.
As an adult do you feel:
Exhausted all the time because you’re running on empty.
Disconnected from others and unable to relate to experiences of safety and rest.
Triggered by small things.
Relationships are hard to maintain due to trust issues.
Always on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Pretending everything is okay on the outside when on the inside you're battling fear and exhaustion.
You want to learn how to cope, find peace, understand your emotions and believe that healing is possible. You can feel safe and understood.
What Is body/mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Body/mindfulness infuses the idea of how biology influences mental health and vise versa. Our bodies can hold onto trauma and can rewire the way we think about daily life and our interactions with each other. We may find ourselves reacting in ways that may not make sense for the situation, leading us to feel misunderstood, isolated, and lonely. We can counteract our behavior by learning to listen to ourselves, stay present in the moment, and calm. Mindfulness can mean observing yourself (your thoughts, heartbeat, breathing) and your surroundings in a way that will bring you calm.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy helps identify conflicting ideas and beliefs that may improve with acceptance and change. This approach helps us with our overwhelming emotions, difficulties managing stress, and figuring out our relationships.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy targets behaviors and ways we think that are not helpful. We learn how to recognize thoughts and reevaluate them, understand our behaviors and what motivates them, learn problem-solving skills and build confidence with this intervention.
My Style of Therapy
Image someone who breaks away from the traditional mold of “smile and nod” therapy. One that strives to feel more like a real person rather than a distant professional. Someone who is conversational, personable, approachable, goal-oriented, and above all, empathetic. I strive to create a space where you feel comfortable and safe to open to. Our interactions feel like genuine human connection rather than clinical assessments. Our conversations are easy and natural rather than strict Questions and Answers.
I want you to reach out without hesitation, that I am here to support you without judgement. Seeking help can be overwhelming and scary and I am here to make the process feel less so. You need someone who can offer compassion and validation without feeling belittled or analyzed. It’s important for you to feel seen and heard as a person, not just a client.
Although I am trained in a few different interventions, I tailor my approach to fit your needs. I also infuse our sessions with humor, storytelling, and being present and attentive. At the same time, I help you set and achieve realistic goals, so you don’t feel confused about what you’re accomplishing in therapy. I’ve found this appropriate more engaging and impactful than just straight clinical, impersonal work.
Ultimately, I am here to help you navigate your struggles with insomnia and/or past traumas with warmth, understanding and genuine desire to see you heal and thrive.
What is Body/Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Cognitive Processing Therapy?
Body/Mindfulness infuses the idea of how biology influences mental health and vice versa. Our bodies can hold onto trauma and rewire the way we think about daily life and our interactions with each other. We may find ourselves reacting in ways that may not make sense for the situation, leading us to feel misunderstood, isolated, and lonely. We can counteract our behavior by learning to listen to ourselves, stay present in the moment, and remain calm. Mindfulness can mean observing yourself (your thoughts, heartbeat, breathing) and your surroundings in a way that will bring you calm.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy targets behaviors and ways we think that are not helpful. We learn how to recognize thoughts and reevaluate them, understand our behaviors and what motivates them, learn problem-solving skills, and build confidence with this intervention.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia is the gold standard intervention in addressing insomnia. It addresses the underlying causes of insomnia, aiming to produce long term improvements in sleep without the need for sleep aids like medication and supplements.
Cognitive Processing Therapy is a trauma intervention that targets the thoughts we have that are keeping us from recovering. We learn to rewrite the narrative we have used to explain what we experienced from a trauma lens to a more balanced perspective. This intervention uses primarily thoughts as a way to reclaim our sense of power, control, safety, trust, esteem and intimacy.
Individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes/$150 per session and couples sessions are 50 minutes/$170 per session.
Please do not hesitate to contact me for a free 20-minute consultation. I look forward to connecting with you.
Phone: (213) 375-5366
Email: nicolewoolf@outlook.com