Nicole Nelson has a BA in Sociology and Cross-Cultural Studies from Whitworth University as well as a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. She earned a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design from the University of Wisconsin in 2023 and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in College Counseling from University of California, Riverside.

Nicole has been a licensed therapist for nearly 20 years, working with youth and families throughout the Bay Area. Her solution-focused orientation and emphasis on practical, tangible skills has supported children and teens with anxiety, trauma, and/or who have needed extra support to build executive functioning skills. Nicole is a neuro-affirming, queer-affirming, and person-centered practitioner who enjoys getting to know and celebrating the uniqueness of each individual. While Pathfinder services do not include therapy, Nicole does leverage her decades of experience to make the process as stress-free as possible for all, including students who are neurodivergent, anxious, or need additional support in determining their next steps after high school.

In addition to college counseling workshops, Nicole has taught hundreds of therapists on topics of attachment, trauma, anxiety support, behavioral skills support, strategies for increasing equity in mental health, management and supervision skills, and best practices in teaching/training. She is also the parent to three teenage girls and the leader of two Girl Scout troops in San Rafael, California.