NS Counseling & Wellness Services
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Services offered in English and Spanish.
Servicios ofrecidos en Ingles y Español.
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About NS Counseling & Wellness Services
(a DBA of Nicole Serrano Licensed Marriage Family Therapist Inc.)
Hello, and Welcome.
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At NS Counseling and Wellness Services, you are offered a calming, safe space to express yourself, your thoughts and your feelings without fear of judgment or retaliation. We often come across different circumstances in our lives where we may need a specific type of resource or help from others. Therapy is a resource that is available for self growth, gaining insight, strengthening relationships, working through difficult life events, learning and exercising coping skills, and having a safe place to reflect on your thoughts and feelings. No matter what it is that brings you to this time in your life, know that you are not alone.
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Work through any emotional distress through therapy and/or wellness classes.
Nicole Serrano, LMFT #100075
Nicole is passionate about helping her clients find ways to grow and thrive either through finding meaning in life, working through life stressors, as well as healing relationships. Nicole's treatment orientation includes Gottman Method of Couples Therapy for couples, and an eclectic approach of Person- Centered, Mindfulness- Based, Humanistic, Narrative, and Existential. Nicole is also Certified in EMDR, and provides this treatment specifically to individuals, or individually to those in couples therapy.
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Nicole has consistently continued to receive training on the most up to date treatment modalities, new research, information on law and ethics information in more. Among many other trainings, Nicole has received additional training in:
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- EMDR Certified (what is considered Gold Standard in training by EMDRIA)
- Brainspotting trained
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- Mindfulness and Stress Reduction techniques
- Meditation
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Veterans, Active Military: Moral Injury, Trauma, Post Traumatic Growth, Depression
- Suicide, and Self Injury
- TF-CBT
- Gottman Method of Couples Therapy (Levels 1 & 2)
- Addictions, Substance Abuse and Seeking Safety
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Nicole is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. Nicole attended Hawai’i Pacific University for her undergraduate degree and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Nicole received her graduate education and training at Azusa Pacific University and graduated with a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy.
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Nicole has a passion working with adults as they navigate life's stressors such as emotional distress, relationship issues, family conflict, grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, as well as those suffering from addiction, depression, mood, personality, and psychotic disorders.
Nicole has over 10 years experience working with adults ranging from ages 18-87 who have struggled with severe and chronic mental illness, and their family members who struggle with navigating the difficulty of chronic mental illness, addiction/ recovery or Comorbidity with their loved one. Nicole has worked in a variety of treatment settings including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, community mental health agencies, outpatient treatment centers and private practice. Nicole has worked with children, teens and families in the first few years of her career through an intensive therapy program for at risk youth. Prior to being a psychotherapist, Nicole worked with children and parents for over 15 years through after school programs, and in home Applied Behavioral Analysis treatment.
Nicole Serrano, founder
Sandra Monge, ACSW
Bilingual English/Spanish
*Under supervision of Nicole Serrano, LMFT #100075
Sandra is a clinical social worker who received her MSW from Azusa Pacific University. As a Social Worker with a strong background in working with at-risk marginalized individuals,including those who are unhoused, she brings knowledge of the importance and impact of our macro and micro systems and brings this in to the therapy room to help clients explore the impact and how they want to move forward with things in their lives.
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Sandra has direct practice experience with minors and families in a school and community-based setting. Experienced program coordinator with a
strong commitment in serving the disenfranchised and building community partnerships.
Resourceful with strong case management skills.
Bjorn Gothberg, AMFT
Language: English
*Under supervision of Nicole Serrano, LMFT #100075
Bjorn is an associate marriage and family therapist and is working with teens, adults, couples and families!
Bjorn is also running groups come August once we get settled in our new office!
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Bjorn has a long background in working in community mental health in various roles. Bjorn has worked in a Crisis Team, in Full Service Partnership program, and in a Group Home setting helping teens and adults struggling with severe mental illness or stressors.
Bjorn brings his expertise here to share with our community!
"It is not always easy to take the first steps beginning your therapeutic journey toward creating a life you desire. I am here to help guide you on this journey through my experience and education to help you become the best version of yourself, the version of yourself that you want. I will work with you to help identify stressors in your life, strengths you have, and attainable goals you would like to reach through a collaborative process and person-centered counseling, moving at your pace and no one else’s. Whether you are an individual or couple, I am here through the beginning, middle and end of this therapeutic journey you have decided to embark on. "
Anita Lerma:
Mental health specialist. Certified Sound Healing.
Language: English , Spanish
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Anita is our mental health specialist who is providing groups and 1:1 coaching sessions to clients looking for assistance with grounding, self care, or assistance getting connected to resources.
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Anita is also certified in Sound Healing, certified in Tuning Forks, certified in Aroma Therapy and will also soon complete her certification as a Yoga Instructor and will provide private groups, individual and group classes for Sound Healing, Senior Yoga, Chair Yoga and Yoga for those needing a safe space where they can feel comfortable practicing to begin stretching, and taking care of their body.
Anita has over 10 years of experience working in community mental health. Her experience has focused on helping parents with support when their family or child has struggled with mental health or environmental factors, as well as providing and facilitating groups for children and teens about self care, grounding skills, mindfulness, art expression through painting, creative skills and more!
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Anita is trained in several parenting class techniques : Incredible Years, 123 Magic, and Love and Logic.
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We are excited Anita brings this experience with her to provide to more members of our community of all ages.
Josefina Sierra, LCSW #15702
Language: English , Spanish
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Josefina L. Sierra has been a mental health provider in many capacities, a therapist, a
supervisor, manager, speaker, professor and a human being who has cared for the
wellbeing of others for many years is here to offer her therapeutic services to those in
need. Everyone at some point go through a difficult time due to a life change, a phase,
a challenge or are just in need of mental wellness. Josefina believes that every person
deserves to have a fulfill life with joy and peace and that at times the need for
professional help is needed. Josefina obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work
from Cal Poly Pomona and her masters in social work from the University of SouthernCalifornia (USC) field concentration was in families and children.
Josefina has been
licensed for over 30 years and has extensive experience in the field of mental health in
diverse issues such as family, couple’s and individual’s interpersonal relationships,
mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, postpartum, trauma, losses, lifeadjustments, parenting and women’s issues, generational trauma and more.
Josefina is passionate in working on issues related to acculturation or the lack of it for people of diverse cultures. Josefina has provided presentations in culture and its nuances in serving the Latinx community and in diverse topics to the community, Christian
churches, universities and to many professionals in the field of education and mental
health at the local and national level for the past 30 years. Josefina also has a big
interest in working with professionals who have lost their authenticity, are perfectionist
and find themselves empty and unhappy.
Josefina will love to provide a safe, non-judgmental space to heal and to live a better life
based on your strengths and values. Josefina’s therapeutic approaches include but not limited to: Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy, Strength Based, Solutions Focused, Client Centered, Family Systems,
Cultural, Trauma Focused, Gestalt and Attachment.