Nikki Hammonds, LCSW, PLLC

Many people seek therapy at a point when they feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or unsure how much longer they can keep pushing through. This is especially true when emotional or behavioral symptoms don’t have a clear explanation—or when they’ve felt dismissed, minimized, or told that what they’re experiencing is “just stress.”

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I provide therapy for adults and caregivers who are navigating anxiety, chronic stress, burnout, life transitions, and complex emotional experiences. My work is grounded in evidence-based practice, informed by years of clinical experience, and guided by a thoughtful, whole-person perspective.

I’m Nikki Hammonds, LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and families through a wide range of mental health challenges. My background spans clinical care, population health, and healthcare consulting, which allows me to understand not only what clients are experiencing—but also how systems, stressors, and expectations shape those experiences.

In addition to my clinical training, I am a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional and a Certified Case Manager, which means I pay close attention to how prolonged stress, biology, life circumstances, and unrecognized contributing factors can influence emotional well-being. This perspective informs how I listen, assess, and collaborate with clients, while remaining firmly rooted in ethical, licensed psychotherapy practice. 

My work is also informed by my personal Christian faith, which shapes my values around compassion, dignity, and respect for each person’s lived experience. Faith is never assumed or imposed, and is integrated into therapy only when it is meaningful and desired by the client.

Therapy services are appropriate for individuals seeking clinical mental health care within a licensed and regulated framework. I work with adults and caregivers who may be experiencing:

• Anxiety, persistent worry, and OCD
• Chronic stress and emotional overwhelm
• Caregiver burnout and compassion fatigue
• Depression or low mood
• Trauma or prolonged stress exposure
• Major life transitions or role changes
• Difficulty coping with complex or ongoing stressors
   

Therapy may involve exploring current challenges, understanding patterns that contribute to distress, developing coping strategies, and building skills that support long-term emotional resilience.

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and individualized. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all care, and I take time to understand what each client feels is most important to address.

In our work together, we may focus on:

• Clarifying what’s contributing to distress
• Developing practical, sustainable coping strategies
• Strengthening emotional regulation and resilience
• Exploring the impact of prolonged stress and life demands
• Building insight while maintaining forward momentum
   

I value collaboration and transparency, and I strive to create a space where clients feel heard, respected, and supported—especially if they have felt overlooked or misunderstood in prior care experiences. 

My clinical work has included supporting individuals and families across a wide range of complex contexts, including military-connected populations, college-students, autism spectrum conditions, severe and persistent mental illness, and high-acuity caregiving situations. I also have experience working alongside families navigating neuroimmune conditions such as PANS and PANDAS, as well as the emotional and systemic challenges that often accompany prolonged diagnostic uncertainty. I have received training in multiple specialized modalities to include Trauma-Informed approaches, EMDR, ACT, CBT, CPT, ERP, CISD, and more. 

This background informs my ability to assess stress, trauma, and emotional burden within broader life and systems contexts, while remaining grounded in ethical, evidence-based psychotherapy.

If you’re considering therapy, the first step is often simply having a conversation to determine whether this feels like a good fit. I offer free 15-minute telephone consultations and I invite you to reach out to learn more about my services and discuss your needs.