Professional Psychotherapy Services
About
I believe that my training, professional experience, and life experience have helped form the way I understand the origins of emotional challenges and how we cope with them.
In terms of how I can assist, I work collaboratively with you to support change and help you to overcome emotional and psychological barriers. Your history and present life experience is the map we can use to understand the basis for your emotional struggles. In a sense, I like to gain a clear understanding of your unique story and then provide support, guidance, and effective tools for your healing process.
In aiding others to recover from any significant life challenge, I value the process and the opportunity to help.
Please click on the categories below for more information.
My practice includes the care and treatment of individuals and couples. I have three decades of experience and/or training in the following areas of treatment: depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, intimacy issues, hair loss/thinning due to Alopecia or hormone changes, substance abuse, sexual abuse/trauma, sexual orientation issues, eating disorders, and infertility. My use of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy, combined with an art therapy/expressive arts approach, encourages the development of one's unique course to change. Additionally, I believe limitations to creating fulfilling connections to self and others are driven by attachment wounds (occurring within the family system). Part of the work I do involves exploring these early wounds and then finding ways to embrace life without the weight of their impact.
In addition to my psychotherapy practice, I enjoy teaching eating disorder recovery to psychology graduate students and offering support and/or training to mental and physical healthcare providers. I have 25 years of experience working in the Bay Area as a consultant with clinicians, and with students in their masters and doctorate programs.
Please note that while I do not accept health insurance, I provide end-of-the-month billing statements. You can submit these to your insurance company and may later receive out-of-network reimbursement.
I accept payment via Venmo, Zelle, or cash. My fee for virtual sessions remains the same as in-person sessions. My fee is $220 for individual sessions and $250 for couples sessions. My fee for consultation and/or teaching varies upon the scope of the project. Please contact me to discuss details.
I collect payment on or before your session date, or after you receive an invoice/super bill at the end of the month.
Resume
Education
2000-2003 San Francisco State University: MS, Clinical Psychology
1993-1997 San Francisco State University: BA, Clinical Psychology
Professional Experience
2004-Present Private Practice
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). Treatment for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma, sexual orientation issues, and infertility. Specialization in the treatment of eating disorders.
June-Dec 2015 Community Institute for Psychotherapy (CIP): Temporary Volunteer: Director of Eating Disorders Training Program
Trained and supervised graduate-level interns enrolled in the eating disorders training program at CIP, which provides psychotherapy for people dealing with a variety of clinical issues. Counseling is provided by intern therapists who are supervised by licensed therapists.
2003-2007 Henry Ohlhoff Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorders Program (IOP): Psychotherapist
Provided individual, family, and couples therapy to women, men, and teens. Facilitated groups: Multi-Family, Art & Expressive therapy, Supervised Meal group, Process groups, Relapse Prevention, Chemical Dependency, and 12 Step.
2000-2001 Women's Recovery Association (Residential and Intensive Outpatient): Mental Health Clinician
Facilitated a process group for dual-diagnosed women (chemical dependencies and eating disorders). Many women had histories of severe trauma.
1999-2000 Baker Places/West Side Lodge: Mental Health Clinician
Facilitated individual and group counseling for clients dealing with substance abuse, chronic mental illness, mood management, trauma, extreme violence towards others (forensic population), HIV-related illnesses, and sexual and gender orientation/identification issues. Implemented adjunct treatment programs for clients diagnosed with eating disorders. Utilized expressive art modalities to facilitate change.
1997-2001 Baker Places/West Side Lodge
Mental Health Clinician at acute diversion unit. Facilitated individual and group counseling for clients dealing with substance abuse, chronic mental illness, mood management, trauma, extreme violence towards others (forensic population), eating disorders, HIV-related illnesses, and sexual and gender orientation/identification issues.
1994-1997 Baker Places
Mental Health Clinician at a residential treatment center for dual/triple diagnosed populations. Facilitated individual and group counseling for clients dealing with substance abuse, chronic mental illness, mood management, trauma, extreme violence towards others (forensic population), eating disorders, HIV-related illnesses, and sexual and gender orientation/identification issues.
Internship Experience: Undergraduate and Graduate
1994-1995 Undergraduate Clinical Psychology Internship: Baker Places
Mental Health Clinician at a residential treatment center for dual/triple diagnosed populations. Facilitated individual and group counseling for clients dealing with substance abuse, chronic mental illness, mood management, trauma, extreme violence towards others (forensic population), eating disorders, HIV-related illnesses, and sexual and gender orientation/identification issues.
2000-2001 Graduate Clinical Psychology Internship: Daly City Youth Health Center
Psychotherapist Intern
Provided outpatient psychotherapy for teens.
The population included diagnoses of eating disorders, chemical dependency, sexual and gender orientation issues, trauma, and mental illness. Also treated gang-affiliated teens.
Jefferson High School/Daly City Youth Health Center, Clinician
Facilitated a clinical process group for teen girls in recovery from eating disorders at Jefferson High School.
2001-2003 Graduate Clinical Psychology Internship: San Francisco Art Institute
Psychotherapist Intern
Provided on-site psychotherapy for SFAI students. Students were in treatment for substance abuse, trauma, eating disorders, low self-esteem, fear of success/failure related to producing art, artistic blocks/barriers, intimacy issues, OCD, couples therapy, and sexual orientation issues.
Lectures/Training Programs on the Etiology and Treatment of Eating Disorders
2014 APTED: Association of Professionals Treating Eating Disorders; San Francisco, CA
2014 Eating Recovery Center of California; Sacramento, CA
2014 Monarch Cove Treatment Center's Preferred Provider Conference: Love, Relationships and Attachment in the Treatment of Eating Disorders; Pacific Grove, CA
2013 Casa Serena, eating disorder IOP, CEU training; Concord, CA
2006 KTVU Channel 2 News: Television broadcast. Panel interview of clinicians specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. Panel interview with UC women's studies professors: History of Body Image in America; San Francisco, CA
2003-2008 Graduate Programs: UC Berkeley; Golden Gate University; San Francisco State University; St. Mary's College of California
Eating Disorder Presentations/Q&A at Middle Schools and High Schools
2003-2007 Lowell High School; Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory; James Lick Middle School; University High School, Mercy High School College Prep
Field Contributions
2011 Erasing ED, a documentary film on the recovery aspects of eating disorders.
Featured nationally on PBS from 2012-2018.
Awarded independent film festival honors:
-Indie Fest Award, 2012; -Los Angeles Film Festival Award of Excellence, 2012.
2012 Erasing ED Treatment Manual, first edition, a companion to the film.
Training manual for mental and physical healthcare providers and graduate psychology students.
Copyright © 2023, Nicole Laby, MFT. All Rights Reserved.
Nature photos by N. Laby
Photo of Nicole by Kelly Johnson
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