Meet Nicolette (Nikki) Mullins

We recently connected with Nicolette (Nikki) Mullins and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicolette (Nikki), thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something that I had to face early on in my career. In my life, I have been used to being viewed as the underdog-someone who was not expected to take the lead and dropped jaws whenever I did. Rather than feeling proud of my accomplishments, I oftentimes felt they were clouded with irony.

Therapy training was no exception, but over time I have learned how to become confident in myself. I’d say one of the most important factors in this process has been time and experience. Each positive outcome I get to witness builds my confidence portfolio.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

As an LMFT, my educational training has focused on the correlation between healthy attachments and mental health. I work in private practice with individuals and families, who want to recover from old patterns so they can experience deeper forms of love and intimacy. I also have a waitlist for an ongoing codependency support group.

In therapy, I use attachment theory, mindfulness, and EMDR treatment. Many people do not know how to decide which type of therapy is best for them. I like to tell people that many different types of therapy can have the same effectiveness- the relationship with your therapist can make the difference.

I think that what is so special about my job is that I get the opportunity to view the world through so many different lenses. I am learning something new every day at my job about humanity, culture, lifestyle and many more. In return, my client gets to be understood.

In addition to my private practice, I have a certification in nonprofit management and provide therapeutic care for victims of crime, as well as people in the adult entertainment industry. I also utilize my social media platforms to spread helpful information about therapy and other mental health resources.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I decided to pursue psychotherapy as a career early in my life. Some areas of the job came easier to me than others.

One quality that is important as a therapist is curiosity. I am comfortable with my ability to go deep within a conversation and my boldness to share my observations out loud. The knowledge of the law and ethics of therapy is also an area that is so important. I value my ability to make quick, ethical decisions. Perhaps the third quality that has been impactful is my memory making skills. I’m not sure if this is a required for being a therapist, but it sure does help me!

If I were to give advice on how to grow these qualities, I would probably just say: have courage. Have courage to be wrong and have courage to be right.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

It’s so easy to become overwhelmed in our modern world. From moment to moment, we seem to be faced with a new historical event. When I become overwhelmed, I like to practice grounding techniques. For me, grounding techniques can consist of whatever helps recenter me to the my present. This could be engaging with the 5 senses (what do I hear, smell, taste, see, feel around me…) or completing a mindfulness exercise that focuses on present body awareness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sondertherapy.net
• Instagram: sondertherapy_LA

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