Nicole Schellinger, LPCC, LPC

Nicole Schellinger is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor with 18 years of experience. She combines practical counseling skills with a direct, compassionate style. Nicole aims to meet people where they are and focuses sessions on each person’s immediate needs and goals.

She describes her approach as warm and inviting while staying goal-oriented. Sessions are driven by what the client wants to work on, and she uses plain language to talk through problems. Nicole draws from several approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, to create a plan that fits each person.

Her background includes 15 years in community behavioral health and more recent experience offering online care. She has worked with people facing addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, attention concerns, grief, and major life changes. Her training includes an undergraduate degree in addictions studies and a master’s in education with a focus on mental health counseling.

In session she blends practical skill-building with listening and encouragement. That can mean learning new ways to shift thoughts, trying small behavioral changes, or practicing acceptance and mindfulness skills. She also uses motivational techniques when people are ready to make changes related to substance use or other habits.

Nicole aims to help people gain clearer direction and workable strategies. She encourages clients to set realistic goals and to practice new skills between sessions. The overall focus is on steady progress and problem-solving that fits daily life.

Practical approaches for online care

Nicole often draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thinking and try small behavior changes that improve day-to-day functioning. CBT can be useful for anxiety, depression, panic, obsessions, and many stress-related problems.

She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which emphasizes noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and clarifying personal values to guide action. ACT can help with chronic worry, avoidance, and living with difficult emotions. Client-centered therapy is part of her work too, meaning she prioritizes listening closely and shaping sessions around each person's goals and pace.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Nicole will discuss options and tailor techniques based on goals, preferences, and how someone responds in early sessions. That teamwork helps choose whether to focus more on skill practice, values-based steps, or reflective listening.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is good for full conversations and working through exercises, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat suits quick check-ins, and messaging works for ongoing support between meetings. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to keep regular contact during progress or setbacks.