Dr. Nicole Montes (She/Her)

Approach Description: I approach therapy primarily from an empathic relational orientation using a feminist, diversity-informed lens. My style is warm and non-judgmental. I honor the idea that the client is the expert of their own life and I value being collaborative, transparent and authentic with clients. I aim to shift the power dynamic in therapy by empowering clients to make decisions about their treatment and construct the narrative about their lives. I aim to convey that no matter where clients go in a therapy session, I’m willing to go there with them, and work to deeply understand them. This process of deep understanding, I find activates clients’ innate tendencies towards insight and personal growth. I don’t offer advice or quick fixes, instead I see it as an honor to sit with clients in their vulnerability and help them make meaning out of suffering. From a place of gentle curiosity, I point out themes or patterns I notice in clients’ lives so that they might have a deeper understanding of themselves, their experiences, and their relationships. I work from a feminist, diversity-informed lens which means I am not neutral in situations of injustice, and openly recognize the role systems of oppression play in the lives of all clients but particularly those that hold marginalized identities. I value the intersecting identities that make up clients’ lives, and find that my style of therapy often allows clients to make sense of parts of their identity or experience that previously felt off limits and ultimately develop a more cohesive sense of self. As a multiethnic (Hispanic & White) white-passing psychologist, I also understands the complexity of what it's like to hold identities that may not be clearly visible. As a supplement to depth-orientated work, I also offer mindfulness-based interventions. These include specific breathing techniques to guided meditations to help clients feel more grounded and connected to the present moment, as I have over a decade of experience as a yoga and meditation teacher.