Nichole  Ondersma

My work with my clients is sacred.

My work with clients is sacred.  It is my aim to honor each person and to offer a compassionate container for all that arises in our work together.  In partnership with each client, I help facilitate a discussion around past celebrations and challenges as well as future goals without any judgment, shame, blame, or sense of right or wrong. 

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Psychotherapy & Compassionate Coaching 

Below is a list of some of the problems and concerns that individuals bring to therapy and/or coaching.  This is by no means a comprehensive list. Rather this gives you an idea of some of the issues I address.  

Attachment and how it plays out in relationships - by early childhood our attachment style is set.  This guides us and shapes how we show up in relationships; with friends, with colleagues and with intimate partners.  Are your relationships not working for you? We can examine this together.  

Behavior change support - whether it’s managing money better or learning to trust your intuition, we can examine where you are with regard to the behavior you want to change and help you move forward toward your growth edge.

Parenting challenges - “If we value our children, we must cherish their parents.” - John Bowlby 

Are you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated in response to your child’s / children’s behavior? Are you needing some relief?  We can work together to deepen your connection with yourself and with your child / children, in order to bring more fun and ease in the parenting realm.  

Conflict with: family of origin / chosen family / intimate partner / general interpersonal conflict

While conflict is normal, it’s very challenging.  Let’s join together to utilize the “language of the heart” – nonviolent communication / compassionate communication – to deconstruct the issues at hand and to increase self connection and connection with others.  

Anxiety and depression - 1 in 5 Americans experience a challenge related to mental health each year.  If you are noticing any shifts in your mood and/or sleeping/eating patterns it’s important to get support right away.  

Grief and loss - Grief and loss is a natural part of a long life, and is made easier with support along the way. I can easily support you through the challenges of the grief and loss process.  

Stress management - Life is stressful nowadays and stress management is more important than ever.  Let’s talk more about how you can achieve the life balance you deserve.  

Life transitions - New job? Job loss? Recent move? New baby?  While some of these situations are chosen and positive in nature, they fall into the category of change or transition, which can be stressful.  If your recent life transition has triggered concerning symptoms or patterns we can examine how to get you back on track.

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Bodywork for Wellness and Life Balance 

We humans habituate to everything in life, both the good and the bad.  Unfortunately, with our current fast-paced modern ways of living, many of us are habituated to being in a state of stress, to having entrenched tension patterns in our muscles, and to being anxious and sleep deprived.  Many people don’t sense how stressed they currently are until they experience many negative symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, racing thoughts, explosive anger, aches and pains, etc.  Given the well known body / mind connection, working with a person’s body has a positive impact on their mental state, which is why bodywork is a very effective intervention to achieve life balance and a sense of well-being.  

I work with people on their goals to decrease muscular tension patterns in their bodies and to ease anxious thought patterns in their minds.  Integrated Bodywork is a very healing neuromuscular intervention that helps drop a person's nervous system into a parasympathetic state (aka safety).  Once in a state of safety, a person can easily utilize both a calm mind and sharp gut instincts to manage any challenges that occur in their life.  Further, while in a parasympathetic state, a person is more effective at managing life stressors given the benefit of more bandwidth and energy rather than operating from a place of depletion and overwhelm.  Most importantly for growth purposes, being in a state of safety allows one to process emotions more quickly and efficiently (e.g. being able to cry when sad versus just feeling sad and not moving through the feelings effectively and releasing).  Receiving regular bodywork is a wonderful way to reduce stress, to maintain a sense of wellness and balance in life, and to maintain emotional health.