GET TO KNOW your therapist

Nicole Greal, LCSW

“…just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.” – Toni Morrison

Insurances I Accept:

BCBS PPO

Ages I work with:

Languages I speak:

English

Who Am I?

Hi, my name is Nicole! I am a cisgender, white woman and I use she/her pronouns. I am a licensed clinical social worker serving adolescent and adult clients across the lifespan. As a trauma-informed therapist, I believe it is a privilege to be invited by a client to be a part of their mental wellness journey.

I love working with:

People seeking to recover from trauma or abuse, PTSD and C-PTSD
LGBTQIA+ clients, identity exploration
People experiencing depression and/or anxiety
Managing stressors, increasing regulation tools, strengthening the mind-body connection
Increasing self-esteem, self-compassion, and self-trust
Court-mandated treatment
Anyone who is seeking to better understand themselves and live a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling

Some of my favorite approaches include:

I utilize a humanistic, anti-oppressive approach to therapy and aim to bring clients into awareness of their own strengths and self-expertise. I use a wide variety of approaches and frameworks, favorites include: TF-CBT, ACT, DBT, motivational interviewing, phase-oriented trauma treatment, and somatic regulation skills.

HOW I HELP

I recognize that building trust with a therapist takes time and requires that I show up in an authentic way myself. Taking the time for us to get to know each other and develop shared expectations for therapy allows me to tailor a creative and unique approach to my work with each client. I aim to make sure clients leave with tools to use or with something to reflect on between sessions. I typically utilize a phase-oriented trauma treatment approach, which means we start off with more psychoeducation (teaching about theories, the nervous system, cognitive distortions) and then determine what coping skills work best according to individual needs. I find that this supports clients in taking care of themselves during and outside of sessions and promotes a trauma-conscious way of healing.

Beliefs section:

I center empowerment and collaboration in this work and believe that everyone can benefit from therapy in some regard. I hold trauma-informed care at the center of my work always. My work supporting clients, as well as supervision and teaching, are rooted in social justice values and in recognizing the power of community.

What it’s like in a session with me/ What a typical session is like

I am not a “blank slate” therapist! My goal is for clients to feel comfortable in sessions and to get something out of it that works for them; being authentic myself is an important part of that. While I recognize the value of professionalism and structure, I balance that alongside a warm and engaged approach. I will react (within reason) to the experiences of clients; we will laugh together as well as process some of the tougher moments of life. I maintain a safe, non-judgmental space for clients and readily explain my approaches or reasons for questioning. While I don’t “tell people what to do”, I am comfortable being direct as desired and will identify patterns that don’t serve you. Not every session is highly structured or about “doing the heavy lifting”, however I do keep an awareness of the goals we are working towards and check-in along the way about how therapy progress feels in action.

More about me

In my free time, I enjoy making art, cooking, spending time outdoors, connecting with my friends and family, and going on adventures with my dog. I love all animals but I have a special place in my heart for rescue pets. I am not originally from Illinois but Chicago became my second home. I especially love going to concerts, a beach day, or trying new food around the city.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Schedule your first appointment. For follow up appointments (existing clients), please contact your therapist at 773-774-4444.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion