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Being traumatized means continuing to organize your life as if the trauma were still going on-unchanged and immutable-as every new encounter or event is contaminated by the past.
Bessel Van der Kolk
MEET YOUR THERAPIST
Nicole Diercks, LPC, CSAC, C-AAIS, CCTP-II
How exactly do people become stuck in their trauma, and how can they recover?
When people begin to experience trauma or other life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to feel as if it is unravelling. Nicole's great passion is bringing healing and empowerment to people who have been through stressful events, who have struggled with addiction, or who are looking for alternative ways to think. Nicole works to create a whole-brain and body approach to healing for each individual client. Nicole helps her clients to find healthy perceptions of themselves and strengthen their relationships so they can know themselves as peaceful, complete, whole and safe again. Therapy can provide you with different perspectives on how to get out of this rut and learn skills to thrive.
Despite advances in trauma research and claims of “gold standard” treatments, one method doesn’t work for everybody. Trauma treatment requires addressing many different systems that can be affected in different ways in different people. Understanding how to adapt and apply interventions for individuals experiencing traumatic stress is why Nicole has been trained in a range of modalities including but not limited to: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), CBT-I (Insomnia), Seeking Safety, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Reality Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) and multiple evidence-based Addiction treatment modalities.
Nicole's educational background includes a M.S. in Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis on Addition from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Nicole completed her Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor license just after graduation. Nicole completed a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Nicole graduated with a certificate in Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level 2 from the Institution of Certified Professionals, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from TFCBT.org, and Cognitive Processing Therapy from Strong Star Behavioral Providers.
Nicole is licensed in District of Columbia, Virginia, and Wisconsin. In addition to being licensed Nicole also offers and is registered to be a Clinical Supervisor for LPC, LMFT and CSAC.
In addition to the therapeutic options listed above Nicole has become certified in National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), Certified Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS) and is a Licensed Trained Provider (LTP) Instructor for First Aid/CPR/AED.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my health insurance cover therapy? Do you accept insurance?
I am what insurance considers an “out-of-network” (OON) provider. Depending on your health insurance plan, you may be entitled to reimbursement through OON benefits. To find out about coverage through your plan, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask:
- Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental health services provided via in-person and telehealth?
- What is my yearly deductible? Has it been met?
- What is the maximum reimbursement amount for the year?
- How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance plan reimburse an out-of-network provider for CPT codes 90791, 90837, 90846 and 90834?
I have included insurances that I currently accept:
- Aetna
- Oscar Heath
- United Healthcare
- Oxford
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virgnia
- Athem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Massachusetts
What are some of the benefits of seeing an out-of-network therapist?
While insurance can save money, not everyone wants to use it for mental health services. Some reasons why folks prefer to see an out-of-network provider are:
- Privacy from their health insurance company.
- Having a high deductible plan.
- Not being limited to a certain number of sessions per year.
- Getting highly personalized treatment not dictated by the insurance company.
Please be aware that insurance companies require a diagnosis for billing purposes when using out-of-network benefits. This diagnosis becomes part of your medical record.
Diagnosing:
Now, before I go any further, don’t get me wrong…diagnosis is often a critical aspect of treatment and can pave the way to proper treatment, care, and understanding. However, insurance companies often require a diagnosis in the first session to ensure coverage. I believe a diagnosis process should be a comprehensive, collaborative conversation between you and your therapist. Empowering Inner Strength values, YOU as the ultimate expert of your experience.
Medical Model:
A medical version of mental health can mean a strong focus on symptom reduction, pathologizing the human experience and can potentially open the door for stigma & discrimination.
For example, grief/loss is a significant, and unfortunately necessary, part of being human. It should be encouraged to connect to community, reach out for help, and receive support in a time of mourning. Unfortunately, we’re in a system that requires a diagnosis for coverage for this very normal human experience.
C-PTSD:
A significant amount of the work that Empowering Inner Strength focuses on is in the world of Complex PTSD. C-PTSD treatment often incorporates mind-body approaches, & holistic care. As of recently, C-PTSD was finally recognized by the World Health Organization and is included in the ICD-11 diagnosis disorder list. However, the diagnostic manual utilized in the United States has not yet recognized this diagnosis.
Person-Centered:
One of the top priorities is to create a space for YOU. Being a therapist doesn’t mean that I have all or any of the answers, and you won’t hear me provide advice or solutions because we all have that person in our lives that will not hold back on giving their solutions to our problems. Our sessions are flexible to your needs. Not taking insurance provides us the flexibility to cater sessions to your needs, not what insurance says they’ll cover.
Honestly, I could go on for days with many other reasons, but for the sake of your time - I’ll leave it at that.
How long will therapy last?
The length of treatment depends on multiple factors including presenting issues, severity of symptoms, frequency of sessions, readiness for change, and engagement in the process. Because most individuals who seek services from me have a history of developmental and generational trauma, a minimum of one year should be expected.
"I can't feel a thing." "I feel worse."
While I do my best at the onset of treatment to establish safety and stabilization, the progression of healing unprocessed discomfort often brings to the forefront feelings, beliefs, and memories that may have previously been denied, minimized, or disowned. Sensations of an experience stored in the memory networks can produce feelings of pain. They can also be responsible for us not feeling anything-even those feeling we'd like to have. This means you are doing great work and have been able to find what is behind/hidden behind some of the pain or experiences that are bothersome to you.
Two important factors maintain symptoms:
AVOIDANCE and UNHELPFUL THOUGHTS/BELIEFS
AVOIDANCE has two ways of showing itself:
(1) Cognitive avoidance -Thoughts, feelings, and memories of the trauma
(2) Behavioral avoidance -Situations, places, people, and objects that cause distress because they are similar
(a) In the short run, avoidance feels better, but in the long run, it results in increased distress and symptoms
UNHELPFUL THOUGHTS and BELIEFS:
(1) Thoughts about safety, e.g., "The world is unpredictably dangerous"; "I can’t trust anybody"
(2) Thoughts about competence, e.g., "I’m incapable"; "I’m weak"
(a) Cause excessive negative emotion and exacerbate PTSD symptoms
(b) Treatment will address these unhelpful thoughts in processing
"I feel disconnected to my family."
All of us can in one way or another overcome our personal, familiar and even social histories. We can move beyond these painful issues and embrace life fully without old memories dragging us down. During the treatment process it is not uncommon to feel discomfort but know that together we will develop the best plan of action as a team.
Are you Certified as a Trauma Professional?
Yes, please go to https://strongstartraining.org/network/; https://www.evergreencertifications.com/membership/providers; https://tfcbt.org/therapists/. I am certified in all three modalities for adults and/or children.
Does the practice offer in-person sessions?
No, Empowering Inner Strength, LLC is a virtual therapy practice only at this time.
Are you on the Supervisory list?
Yes, Please go to Approved Supervisor Registry (virginia.gov) and you can search by my name.
How do your Services and Payments work?
Please note that all services will be paid in full before paid service can be rendered. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
What is your cancellation policy for missing a therapy session?
I require you to reschedule or cancel your therapy appointment at least 48 hours before your appointment time. This is necessary because a time commitment is made and held exclusively for you. This also allows me to offer the slot to someone else who needs it. There is no penalty or fee for sessions canceled more than 48 hours in advance however, frequent rescheduling is an indication that something about therapy isn’t working and will be addressed.
No-shows and cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance will automatically charge the session's total fee to the card on file. You forfeit your telehealth appointment if you fail to show up after 15 minutes and will be considered a no-show. Emergency issues are always considered.
Good Faith Estimate
Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges. You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises
Contact Me
Looking forward to our journey together.
Transform your mindset and elevate your well-being with my professional trauma counseling services. Find support and guidance from one of the experienced experts in the field of trauma, grief and loss.
Hours
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