Nicole Phelan, LCSW

Nicole Phelan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Maine. She draws on nine years of experience and a background that includes service in the Army Reserve and a 2003-2004 tour in Iraq. Nicole aims to create a respectful, compassionate space where people can take steps toward a more fulfilling life.

Her style is warm, direct, and interactive. She talks with clients about everyday coping skills and practical changes. Nicole often encourages activities outdoors to boost self-esteem and to help process hard experiences. She supports people who have faced trauma, abuse, mood challenges, or parenting and family stress.

Nicole uses approaches that include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She blends these methods to match each person’s needs and goals rather than applying one fixed plan. Sessions focus on concrete tools and understandable steps clients can try between visits.

She has worked with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, eating-related issues, and anger among other concerns. Additional focus areas include adoption and foster care matters, attachment difficulties, codependency, and coping after natural or human-caused disasters. Nicole also assists people dealing with guilt, shame, and relationship strain.

Work with Nicole centers on collaboration and small, achievable changes. People who prefer a straightforward clinician who also values empathy may find her approach helpful. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.

Approaches that guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking small meaningful actions. It helps when people feel stuck by teaching ways to accept difficult thoughts and move toward what matters. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and aims to build safer ways of connecting and relating. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down unhelpful thoughts and behaviors into manageable parts and offers concrete skills to change patterns that cause distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person's goals and preferences. That might mean trying a few techniques and adjusting plans as progress is made.

The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, shorten travel time, and allow follow-up conversations without rearranging a full day. It also permits checking in from a quieter space, using phone calls for a brief update, or scheduling longer video meetings for deeper work depending on what the therapist offers. If you want to explore online sessions, ask about available formats when you schedule.