Nicole Williams, LCSW

Welcome! I am so glad you're here. My website is under construction - please excuse the current formatting. In the meantime, please read some general info about my practice below. Scroll to the bottom for answers to FAQ. + What is Your Stuck Point? Receiving a diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD in adulthood can be both affirming and challenging. This knowledge can help make sense of your past. It can also lead to confusion about how to move forward in the future. You may have recently realized that neurodivergent-related struggles have negatively affected your relationships, your work, your physical health, or your ability to take care of things at home or get along with other people. You may have found that executive functions such as concentrating, remembering, organizing, and starting and finishing tasks are harder when you don't feel well. You may have frequent issues come up in work or your relationships or with your health or self-care due to things like: taking things very literally, rejection sensitivity dysphoria, difficulty attuning to your own emotional state, difficulty engaging in reciprocal communication, inattention and/or hyperfocus, having a strong sense of justice, low frustration tolerance, pedantic speech, and not meeting social or work expectations for processing speed in conversations when you receive information. You may be exploring therapy to get some evidence-based strategies on how to better support yourself from an unrelated third party, with whom you can collaborate on developing a path forward and out of your stuck point. For many, learning about one's own neurodivergence can involve a grieving period, in which one is coming to terms with some of the life issues or limitations that neurodivergence contributed to. My work involves both holding space for you as you experience that grief process, while simultaneously helping you to come up with some neurodivergent-specific tools that can help to improve your interactions in your relationships, your work performance, and your ability to care of your self, your home, and your overall health. Some of my clients have already worked through that grief for the most part and are ready to hit the ground running, so to speak, with getting some perspective, insight, and tools for moving forward in a neurodivergent-affirming way. Some of my clients are newly diagnosed as adults, some of my clients were diagnosed in childhood but never had the opportunity or resources to prioritize exploring their neurodivergence until now. Wherever you are in your journey, if you are neurodivergent or highly suspect that you may be, please continue reading about my practice to find out if I may be a good fit to support you in identifying what your specific ND needs are, and how to advocate for yourself in a way that will hopefully be mutually valuable for you and your community. + Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, and finding a therapist who’s the right fit is not always easy. To help make this process a little smoother and less stressful, here are a few things to simplify and speed up the early steps for prospective clients including who I work best with (and when I might not be the right fit), how to schedule a free 15-minute consultation, what to have ready for your consultation, resolving any potential breaks in the chain of communication with me between the consultation request and the intake appointment, and frequently asked questions. + Who I Work Best With (and When I Might Not Be the Right Fit): I want to be transparent about the kinds of clients I work best with, to help you assess whether I might be a good fit for your needs. During a consultation call, I’ll be considering whether the focus of your concerns aligns with my current practice. At this time, my practice primarily supports neurodivergent (auDHD) individuals navigating the overlap between sensory sensitivity and/or executive dysfunction and experiences like overwhelm, low energy, exhaustion, depression, or burnout. I focus on working within the context of neurodivergence, and I specialize in supporting people who are in a lower-energy or “shut-down” state of burnout. Because of this focus, I tend to be a better fit for folks experiencing fatigue, disconnection, or emotional numbness, rather than high-anxiety or high-arousal states such as frequent panic attacks. If high anxiety or panic is your primary concern, I may not be the best fit, and I would likely refer you to a clinician with expertise in that area. Similarly, if your primary goal is to process trauma intensively or to receive executive function coaching, I may not be the right provider for you at this time. I encourage you to explore resources such as Psychology Today therapist directory (psychologytoday.com) or the Neurodivergent Therapist Directory (NDtherapist.com) to find a provider who more closely aligns with those needs. If you’re unsure, you’re still welcome to reach out, and we can explore together whether working together might be a good fit. I work only with adults, only online, individuals only (no couples or families), and I see patients on Mondays-Wednesdays for full sessions, and Thursday mornings by appointment only. + Schedule a Free 15-Minute Consultation: I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation, and you can request a time directly through my website—no need to email or call first. When you book your consultation, just provide the best phone number to reach you. At the scheduled time, I’ll call you for an audio-only conversation (no video). This gives us a chance to briefly connect, talk about what you're looking for, and see if it feels like a good fit to move forward. If we decide to work together, ongoing sessions will be held using both video and audio. + Making the Process Smoother - What to Have Ready for Your Consultation: To help things move more smoothly if we decide to work together, here are a few things you can prepare ahead of time: Insurance Information: Please have your insurance details available during our consultation. If we decide to move forward, I’ll email you a secure link where you can enter your insurance info and run an eligibility check to see if your plan qualifies for in-network coverage. It can take between 0-3 days to get a response back on insurance eligibility, so the sooner you enter this info, the sooner we can get started on scheduling your intake appointment. Payment Card: If we choose to move forward, I’ll also send a link where you can securely enter your payment card information and enroll in auto-pay. This helps make sure your copay is processed automatically after each session, so you don’t have to worry about it. Patient Portal Access: Once your insurance has been verified, you’ll receive an email invitation to my client portal, SimplePractice. There, you’ll be able to review and electronically sign the intake paperwork at your convenience. After all intake paperwork is complete, then we can schedule your intake appointment! Please don’t worry if you’re not sure about any of this—I’ll walk you through the process and am happy to answer any questions you might have along the way via email or message in SimplePractice. + Resolving Breaks in the Chain of Communication With Me: Sometimes, there may be occasional gaps in the communication process—often due to technical issues. For example, I may not receive the automated email confirming your insurance eligibility check, or I might miss a notification that you've completed your intake forms in SimplePractice and are ready to schedule your first appointment. If you’re ever waiting for a next step—such as: A link to run your insurance eligibility check A link to enroll in auto-pay An invitation to the patient portal (SimplePractice) A link to schedule your first intake appointment Please feel free to send me a quick message via email or SimplePractice if the links aren’t appearing in your email inbox or spam folder. I’ll make sure you receive what you need as soon as possible. If you reach out during an evening or weekend, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can—usually by the next business day. + Frequently Asked Questions: Q: What license and qualifications do you have to practice as a clinical therapist? Are you provisionally licensed or fully licensed? A: I am a fully and independently licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), meaning that I have a Master's in Social Work as well as at least 3300 hours of supervised therapy experience, I am registered with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, and I am required to maintain at least 40 hours of continuing education training per every 2-year license renewal period. I have been practicing as a clinical therapist since 2020 where I started as a Licensed Social Worker working towards clinical licensure under the supervision of fully licensed clinicians, and in 2022 I earned my own full clinical licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Q: What special trainings do you have to work with neurodivergent individuals? A: I have completed the following trainings from the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM): 1) How to Identify and Treat ADHD in Adults with Thomas Brown, PhD. Dr. Brown is responsible for creating some of the most widely used, comprehensive, and up-to-date assessments for ADHD in adults. Dr. Brown is a clinical professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine and specializes in the assessment and treatment of high-IQ children, adolescents and adults with ADHD and related problems. He previously served as Associate Director of the Yale Clinic for Attention & Related Disorders from its inception, and has taught continuing medical education courses on ADHD for the APA for over 18 years. Dr. Thomas has published 30 articles and 7 books on ADHD 2) Neurodiversity-Affirming Care for Autistic Clients with Tasha Oswald, PhD. Dr. Oswald is a psychologist and the founder of the Neurodiversity Training Center and the Neurodiversity Wellness Center in California; a pioneering mental health practice focused on supporting neurodivergent adults. She spent five years at the UC David MIND Institute studying autism and was awarded the NIH-funded Autism Research Training Program (ARTP) postdoctoral fellowship. Q: Do you provide full ADHD or autism assessments? A: I do not offer full diagnostic assessments. However, I can provide a list of providers in Colorado who specialize in comprehensive ADHD and/or autism evaluations. Q: Can you fill out paperwork for me to take off work (e.g., FMLA or SSDI) for mental health reasons? A: I do not complete FMLA or SSDI paperwork. Your primary care provider is typically the best person to support you with this kind of documentation. Q: Do you prescribe medications? A: No, I am not licensed to prescribe medications. If you're considering medication, I recommend consulting with a psychiatrist or primary care provider. Q: Can we continue therapy while I’m traveling outside of Colorado? A: Unfortunately, no. I’m only licensed to practice in Colorado, so I can only provide therapy if you are physically located in Colorado during each session—even if you're an established client. Q: Do you offer a sliding scale or reduced pricing for military veterans? A: I’m not able to offer sliding scale fees or reduced rates for veterans at this time. I understand this may be disappointing, and I can refer you to resources that may offer lower-cost options. Q: What is your approach to psychiatric medications? A: I believe medication is a deeply personal decision. Whether you choose to explore it or not, my role is to support you without pressure either way. I will respect your autonomy and work with whatever path feels right for you. Q: What insurances do you accept? A: I accept Cigna, Aetna, Optum/United Healthcare, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Unfortunately, I am not currently accepting Medicaid/Colorado Access. If you have Medicaid or Colorado Access, please visit the Medicaid portal online or call 800-511-5010 to get support with finding a Medicaid provider. Q: I'm using insurance—how much will I pay for services? A: If we decide we’re a good fit during the consultation call, I’ll send you a link to securely submit your insurance information and check eligibility for in-network rates. If you're eligible, the results will include your estimated copay. You can also contact your insurance provider directly and ask about coverage for these service codes: 90791 – Initial psychiatric diagnostic assessment (intake session) 90837 – Individual psychotherapy (regular follow-up sessions) Q: Do you use evidenced-based or science-based therapy strategies? A: Yes! I use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Solution-focused [brief] Therapy (SFT/SFBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and I draw Exposure and Response/Ritual Prevention Therapy (ERP). Q: In addition to sensory sensitivity and executive dysfunction, what are some other clinical focuses of your practice? A: I have a lot experience and interest in supporting folks with navigating religious trauma, codependency, compassion fatigue, and family conflict. I also appreciate supporting clients who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in addition to ADHD and/or autism. Q: Are you comfortable taking on clients who are also mental health counselors? A: Yes. Absolutely. As mental health clinicians, it is so important that we take care of our own mental health. There can be a lot of pressure as therapists to have it all together, but the truth is that we are perfectly imperfect human beings too. I am okay disclosing that I am a therapist who goes to therapy myself. When we as therapists take better care of ourselves, we can take better care of the people we serve. Even though I know you are a therapist, I will still give you a space to receive support and care, to be challenged when it is necessary and in your best interest, and to give you a space where you can take off your therapist hat (so to speak) for a while and just be the human that you are.