Nicola Demonte

My name is Nicola and I am a compassionate, curious, and creative therapist with a good sense of humor, and I care deeply about my clients. With over 25 years of experience in mental health, I have made a positive impact on clients, their families, and the students I have taught. I am attuned to my clients’ needs, centering their goals to build a strong, collaborative therapeutic relationship. My expertise spans a wide range of mental health concerns, and I bring both skill and empathy to every session. I joined the Saint Xavier University Psychology Department as a full-time faculty member in August 2015. I earned my BS in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago in 1995, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University in 1998, and a Master of Liberal Arts in the History of Art and Architecture from Harvard University in 2004. In 1998, I received a Carnegie Mellon Grant to conduct research and teach at Loyola University’s Rome Center in Italy. In 2002, I served as a teaching assistant at Harvard College. Prior to joining Saint Xavier, I taught courses at the University of Minnesota, Hamline University, and the College of DuPage. I have taught courses such as abnormal psychology, behavior management, adulthood and aging, and art therapy. I am dedicated to research, teaching, and advising students, helping them publish works that contribute to the field of psychology. My current research focuses on connections between autobiographical memory and mindfulness, applications of creative interventions in medical and psychiatric settings, and the role of creativity in psychological assessment to support healing. I have worked with a wide range of clients, including those living with Alzheimer’s disease, brain injuries, eating disorders, depression, developmental disorders, and veterans with PTSD. I have served on the Medical Resource Council for Gilda’s Club Board of Directors and am a member of the Royal Society for Public Health. In addition to my clinical work, I enjoy teaching and have led mindfulness classes for individuals with dementia, as well as training caregivers supporting loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. My approach integrates multiple evidence-based and creative modalities, tailored to each individual’s unique strengths, challenges, and aspirations. Training Solution-Focused Therapy Humanistic Psychology Narrative Therapy Creative Art Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Animal-Assisted Therapy Family Therapy Areas of Specialty Career Counseling Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Autism, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, Schizophrenia Health, Mindfulness, and Psychotherapy Art, Creativity, Music, and Theater Education MA, Liberal Arts in the History of Art and Architecture — Harvard University MA, Clinical Psychology — Roosevelt University BS, Psychology — Loyola University Chicago