Nicole Connolly

Being a therapist is a combination of two areas that I love—learning about the mind and helping people. After seeing mental illness affect those in my life, I chose to be someone who applied their knowledge while working directly with those who are suffering.

When I was working at a mental health agency during the start of the pandemic, I saw how difficult that time was for those with OCD. I wanted to help improve quality of life for people and make a meaningful difference.

I am trained in EMDR. I also have treated anxiety, depression, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and trauma. These conditions tend to be comorbid (or occur alongside) OCD, so having focused on them helps me spot them in my current work with members.

Exposure and Response Prevention involves facing your fears, which is inherently uncomfortable. But instead of being dangerous, it's like growing pains. You can expect discomfort, but after pushing through it and putting in the “exercise” out of session, the fear will start to decrease.

It’s OK to let me know! Privacy is a big value of mine, so I don't push members to share what they don't want to. At the same time, I want to help you feel safe with me so we can work on the discomfort together. The professional connection—the trust you have in your therapist—is the biggest factor in how effective therapy is, and I want to build that trust with you.