Nicole Guttermuth

Hello. I’m Nicole Guttermuth, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor with over 17 years of experience helping adolescents and adults navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, and self-worth struggles. I specialize in working with survivors of childhood abuse/neglect, domestic violence, parenting, and women's issues - specifically perfectionism and the “not good enough” narrative with which so many of us struggle.

Psychiatrist and author Irvin Yalom writes "only the wounded healer can truly heal." I believe strongly that the struggles and heartaches I've endured over the course of my life shaped me into caring person and professional into which I continue to grow. As a woman who worked full-time as an RN until age 79, my mom was an amazing example of someone who knew her purpose in life was to help others in need. The desire to serve and care for people is the purpose she passed down to me.

I have two amazing daughters who survived my single parenting. Learning will always be something I love along with exploring artistic creativity. I'm also a quirky word-nerd who's always enjoyed books and writing. I run for both my mental and physical health, and I'm no Ansel Adams, but I love taking pictures of anything I find intersting.

I'm also incredibly fortunate that I have family living in Missoula, Montana and various parts of Colorado. I LOVE any opportunity to visit them out west where the natural beauty is awe inspiring. Being born and raised in Miami Beach created a connection with the healing powers of the ocean waves and sandy shores of the beach. Living in Easley, however, seems to offer the best access to mountains, waterfalls, metropolitan areas, small quaint downtowns, and beaches that aren't too far away.

Therapy isn't a one-size-fits-all service, so I tailor my style to fit the wants and needs of each individual with whom I work. My approach is warm, welcoming, compassionate, and nonjudgmental. I strive to create an environment where clients feel safe, seen and heard - to be unapologetically authentic knowing that you have my unconditional support every step of the way. I've always been client-centered and learned the importance of being trauma-informed early on in my career. Therapeutic theories and techniques I employ are a mix of CBT, solution-focused therapy, psychoanalytic insight, supportive therapy, and positive psychology to help clients better understand themselves, heal from painful experiences, and build healthier coping skills. I don't view people as broken or in need of fixing; life can be harsh and people can be cruel. Our experiences shape us, but they don't have to define us or the future. I want to empower you by helping you recognize your worth, strength, resilience, and your ability to grow into the best version of yourself.

Most clients are anxious leading up to and at the start of an initial therapy session. My primary focus in our first session is beginning to build a strong therapeutic relationship. I’ll ask questions to gather information that will help me to understand a bit more about your family history, life experiences, strengths, challenges, and what you want to accomplish during our time together. Trust is built over time, so there's never going to be pressure or expectations to share information you're not ready to share. If I've done my job correctly, you will leave our initial session feeling safe, heard, comfortable and optimistic about taking the first step on your journey to healing and wholeness.