Nicole Puertas, LCSW
Crisis Counselor
Areas of Special Interest
Students of color wellbeing; crisis stabilization; identity development; trauma; grief; life transitions; faith transitions; women’s issues; interpersonal/relational issues; family of origin issues; anxiety
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
What to Expect When Working with Me
I believe in creating an authentic and compassionate space with my clients. I am a trauma-informed therapist and believe in viewing therapy as a holistic experience in which our identities interact with our social and cultural environment. I utilize a Feminist Multicultural and Emotion Focused approach to empower my clients as they navigate life’s challenges. I strive to honor lived experiences, inner wisdom and embrace cultural authenticity. I specialize in working with young adults and BIPOC folks looking for support for life transitions, anxiety and perfectionism. My training has focused primarily on identity and racial development, inner child wounds, relationships/attachment and the impacts of trauma.
Education and Training
What I Do at the Counseling Center
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Provide initial consultations, crisis intervention, stabilization, and referrals, as well as brief individual therapy to undergraduate and graduate students at UIC
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Provide psychoeducation and resources to staff and faculty as well as both undergraduate and graduate students at UIC
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Provide clinical supervision to colleagues, interns, externs, and post-doc fellows
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Provide single session appointments to students who may just need a brief check-in
About Me
I am first-gen Peruvian-American and from Salt Lake City, Utah. I’m a social worker with years of community orientated experience. I align fully with the social work values around social justice, service and the importance of human relationships. Outside of work, I’m an avid traveler and love exploring new cities and trying new food. My favorite ways to ground myself are engaging in crafting, going to the movies and running.