Niki holds a bachelor of science from The University of Maryland at College Park and her master of science at the University of Baltimore. She also received a post-masters degree from The Johns Hopkins University in Clinical Community Counseling where she completed the state of Maryland’s academic requirements for licensure. She has completed a post-graduate certificate program in Trauma Treatment for Children and Adolescents from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in December of 2010. Niki is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Maryland and a play therapist. She is working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S) by attending monthly classes at the Play Institute at Chesapeake Beach Professional Seminars and is expecting to hold these credentials by October of 2011. Niki is planning on traveling to Haiti in June of 2011 with Chesapeake Beach Professional Seminars to provide play therapy to children who have experienced devastating loss and trauma from the earthquake. Additionally, Niki is working hard to obtain her Doctor of Psychology from the accredited CalSouthern University by 2014.
Over the past few years, Niki has been working as a full-time Child and Adolescent School-Based Psychotherapist in a community mental health center. She has had experience working with adults in a community mental health clinic, and in an intense outpatient unit as an Addictions Group Therapist. Niki is a Certified Positive Parent Educator and has run numerous groups including parenting groups, anxiety groups, social skills groups, psychiatric rehabilitation groups, and anger management groups. Additionally, Niki has experience working in Baltimore County Schools and supporting families navigate the school system.
Niki is available to see all populations but specializes in servicing young children to transitional youth and young adults. She finds it important for her clients to understand how the mind/body/spirit connection can empower them and enhance their quality of life. Niki uses an integrative approach to counseling which is uniquely tailored to each client.
Niki is a lifelong musical theatre student and tennis player. She enjoys incorporating art, physical activity, sand and music into her therapy and has found it to be very helpful with children, teens, and adults. She has had experience working with the complete mental health spectrum including but not limited to: depression, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders (especially post traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety, and school phobia), bipolar disorder, substance abuse, adjustment disorders, grief work, attention deficit disorders, pervasive developmental disorder, health and wellness counseling, parent-child relationship issues, career and college counseling, peer and sibling conflict, behavioral issues, anger management, and eating disorders.
