Hey there, I’m Nicole, and I’m really glad you stopped by.
The path to becoming a therapist has been a deeply personal one for me—shaped by my own experiences and a lifelong passion for understanding the human experience.
My journey has taught me that healing isn’t just about addressing symptoms, but about connecting to the root of who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going.
I’m here to offer a safe, empathetic space to help you explore your own story, overcome challenges, and discover the wisdom within you.
I welcome you to read more about my life experience and career journey below.
The Early Years
From a young age, I viewed the world through a deeply empathic lens. Long before I knew what a “highly sensitive person” was, I often felt the emotions of others as if they were my own. I found comfort and expression through the arts—painting, acting, dancing, and singing helped me make sense of the world around me.
I was raised by strong, loving women—my mother, grandmother, and aunt. I perceived home as a safe place to be my creative self, strongly embracing the soft feminine energy and daily Italian home cooking.
Unfortunately, at the age of 15, life shifted dramatically. I experienced significant loss, including the passing of my grandmother, and changes in my family structure that led me to navigate life more independently.
During that time, I was grateful for the support of close family friends, who provided stability when everything else felt uncertain. Still, I lacked therapeutic support—a space to truly process, and safely feel. That absence stayed with me, quietly shaping the desire to one day hold that space for others.
As I entered college, I carried both resilience and a longing for deeper meaning. At 19, I met my father for the first time—a moment that brought emotional complexity and reflection. Soon after, he was in a serious car accident, which ultimately became the catalyst for me to shift paths and pursue social work. I wanted to become the kind of support I once needed—someone who could walk alongside others through pain and healing.
Entering the Social Work Program at the University of Central Florida was one of the best decisions of my life. I had struggled in non-reflective, surface-level environments and longed for a community where I could be truly seen, heard, and understood. There, I was met with openness, care, and the opportunity to explore myself in ways I had never experienced before.
I learned to view the world from a systemic perspective and gained the tools and framework necessary to create meaningful societal change. It was also during this time that I recognized my natural ability to connect with others, which I realized would best serve my community in the clinical and therapeutic space.
The Turning Point

After earning my Master’s in Social Work, I began my career working with children, teens, and families in community-based settings. These early experiences reinforced my holistic, person-in-environment perspective. I saw the impact of trauma and addiction firsthand, which led me to pursue work in addiction treatment—a space I felt deeply connected to.
I quickly recognized the deep-seated trauma carried by many of my clients, which inspired me to pursue advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This training was transformative—not only for my clients, but for my entire approach. It shifted my focus toward root-cause healing and offered a powerful framework for helping individuals move beyond coping and toward true transformation
My Path as a Therapist
The Start of Roots in Wisdom Counseling
When the world shut down in 2020, I continued supporting clients remotely—offering care to individuals in addiction treatment and through agency work. That time brought clarity: I wanted to offer care that was deeply personalized and grounded in purpose. From that vision, Roots in Wisdom Counseling was born.
Over the years, I’ve come to believe that our pain—like our joy—holds wisdom. I view life through a lens of reflection and meaning, trusting that even our hardest experiences can lead us toward growth. I continue to do my own inner work, because I believe connection and attunement happens best when we walk the path ourselves.
The name Roots in Wisdom came from this belief: that each of us carries insight from our life experiences, and through support, we can reconnect with that wisdom. I feel honored to learn from my clients as they transform their own narratives, just as I hope to support and empower them in return.
Beyond Therapy
I am a Florida native and have really become accustomed to spending my off time on the beach, paddleboarding or golfing, relaxing at a local coffee shop, or trying a new restaurant from Miami to Palm Beach.
I have always valued my life outside of my career, often embracing every opportunity to snuggle up on the couch with my two doggos, Molly and Finn, and explore a new crafty hobby every few months. I am lover of nature and all animals. Yes— I’m the lady feeding the neighborhood cats.
I am a true earth sign and, potentially connected to my Spanish/Italian roots, I prefer to approach life with a go-with-the-flow mentality. I truly value my close family and friendships and embrace the small and big moments that life has to offer.
Ready to get Started?
If you’re ready to explore your story, heal old wounds, and reconnect with your inner wisdom, I’d be honored to support you.
Connect to my story? Finding the right therapist is key to your therapeutic success.










What we can work through together…
PTSD & C-PTSD
Life Transitions
Anxiety
Phobias
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Executive dysfunction
Grief and loss
Depression
Childhood Trauma
Religious Trauma
Narcissistic Abuse
RecoveryRelationship Issues
Break ups/Divorce
Co-dependency
People Pleasing
Insecure Attachment Styles
Identity Exploration
Women’s Issues
Pregnancy, Pre/Post Natal
Therapeutic Approaches
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Attachment-based
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Emotional Freedom Technique
Family Systems
Gestalt
Inner Child/ Parts Work
Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
Psychodynamic
Relational
Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
Somatic
Education + License
Bachelor’s in Social Work, University of Central Florida
Master’s in Social Work, University of Central Florida
Certificate in Early Childhood Development
EMDR Training, EMDR Consulting with Roy Kiessling
Basic Accelerated Resolution Therapy Training, Rosenwieg Center for Rapid Recovery
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, SW 17246, Florida
NPI: 1992252878
I’d love to hear from you!
Are you ready to take the next steps towards change? If you feel a bit nervous, that is totally normal! I am here to help guide you in the right direction and answer any questions you may have.
Finding the right therapist for your healing journey is key. I offer a free 15-minute consultation over the phone or on video session to see if we are a good fit for each other.
Please let me know in your message why you are seeking therapy at this time and what your preferred method of contact is for me to reach out to you!