Dr. Nzinga Cates

Dr. Nzinga Cates, LCMHC, is a forensic psychology professional, licensed clinical mental health counselor, and owner of Cates Counseling and Consulting, PLLC. A proud graduate of

Walden University, she earned her Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology with a concentration in Victimology and brings over 25 years of clinical experience working with adolescents and adults across diverse behavioral health and forensic settings.

Dr. Cates specializes in trauma, high-conflict and narcissistic relational dynamics, personality disorders, and offender treatment. She has extensive experience working with justice-involved youth, including juvenile sexual offenders, and integrates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and trauma-focused interventions. Her work emphasizes accountability, psychological insight, and sustainable behavioral change.

She is particularly known for helping high-functioning professionals navigate the hidden impact of high-conflict or narcissistic relationships, including trauma bonding, coercive control, and emotional dis-regulation. Her approach goes beyond validation, equipping clients with the clarity, strategies, and tools needed to rebuild boundaries, restore self-trust, and make empowered decisions.

In addition to therapy, she offers structured recovery intensives, clinical consultation in complex relational cases, and corporate training on psychological safety, burnout prevention, and resilience.

As both a clinician and a survivor of narcissistic abuse, Dr. Cates integrates clinical rigor with lived insight. She understands how capable, high-performing individuals can become entangled in destabilizing relational patterns—and how to strategically disengage, heal, and rebuild.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Cates is passionate about education and mentorship. She is committed to supporting students and emerging professionals in developing critical thinking, ethical practice, and research-informed approaches in forensic psychology, particularly in victimology, trauma, and complex interpersonal dynamics.

Dr. Cates brings both clinical depth and lived experience as a survivor. She will help you break trauma bonds, toxic dynamics, rebuild self-trust, and set boundaries that hold so you can think clearly, decide confidently, and finally feel like yourself again. This is focused, high-level work for those ready to end the cycle, not manage it.

What to Expect During Your First Session with Dr. Nzinga Cates

Starting therapy can feel both exciting and nerve-wracking. Your first session with Dr. Nzinga Cates is designed to help you feel comfortable, heard, and supported from the very beginning.

During your first appointment, Dr. Cates will spend time getting to know you and understanding what brings you to therapy. This may include discussing:

• Your current concerns, challenges, or goals
• Important life experiences and relationships
• Emotional, mental, and physical health history
• Past therapy experiences, if applicable
• What do you hope to gain from counseling

The first session is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and determine whether the therapeutic relationship feels like a good fit for your needs. Therapy is a collaborative process, and creating a safe, supportive environment is a priority.

Dr. Cates takes a compassionate, nonjudgmental, and personalized approach to care. Sessions are tailored to your unique experiences, whether you are navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship concerns, life transitions, stress, or personal growth.

You do not need to have everything figured out before your first appointment. Many clients come in unsure of where to start, and that is completely okay. The first session is simply the beginning of understanding your story and identifying meaningful next steps together.