- Anxiety and stress
- Addictions and recovery
- Mindfulness and ACT
About Nicholas
Nicholas Smith is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 13 years of experience. He works with concerns such as anxiety, stress, depression, addictions, ADHD, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and social anxiety and phobia. His practice is practical and direct, aimed at people who feel stuck, unmotivated, or ready for a life change.
Sessions focus on how thoughts and habits affect feelings and behavior. He helps people notice patterns, identify where some thoughts start, and try new ways of responding. This often includes learning skills to manage strong emotions and to act toward personal values and goals.
Nicholas draws on several evidence-informed methods, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Existential ideas, and mindfulness practices. He blends these approaches to match what a person wants to work on, rather than using a single fixed method.
His background includes work at a student counseling center, an inpatient psychiatric unit, a drug and alcohol treatment center, and private practice. Those settings shaped an approach that mixes practical coping tools with space to examine meaning and motivation.
People who come to him for help can expect straight talk about what gets in the way, hands-on skills to manage distress, and collaborative planning for change. Prospective clients are asked to review session options and scheduling details before booking a first meeting.
How Nicholas uses different approaches in online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts without getting stuck in them and focuses on choosing actions that match personal values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down situations, thoughts, and behaviors so people can test and change unhelpful thinking patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal effectiveness.Choosing the right approach is something to work out together. Nicholas will talk with clients about goals and what feels most useful, then try methods that fit those aims. That collaborative process means methods can shift as progress or needs change.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Therapists may adapt exercises and homework for remote work so skills practice fits into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
Nicholas helps with anxiety, stress, depression, addictions, ADHD, relationship and intimacy-related issues, grief, sleep problems, and social anxiety and phobia.
What is his general approach in sessions?
He uses practical skill teaching and thought work to change unhelpful patterns, drawing from CBT, ACT, DBT, existential ideas, and mindfulness methods.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 13 years of experience working in student counseling, an inpatient psychiatric unit, addiction treatment, and private practice.
What credential does he hold and where is he based?
He is an Illinois LCPC and practices in Illinois.
In what language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.