Anxiety and depression therapists and psychiatrists in Frankfort, IL

• I provide a warm, collaborative, and culturally responsive space for clients navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, and major life transitions. I understand that your mental health is shaped by more than symptoms alone—your culture, identity, relationships, experiences, and environment all matter. I’ll take the time to understand your unique story and strengths while helping you build practical tools, greater resilience, and meaningful change that aligns with your values and goals.

I specialize in counseling individuals with addictions, eating disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma. My goal as a therapist is to help patients live the life they imagine, so please feel free to come in and let me know what you're struggling with, and we will work collaboratively to figure out the best way to move toward healing. I know life can get really challenging at times, symptoms flare up, you feel lost. I'm here to listen to you and work together to help you cope and rebuild the life you want to live.

At the heart of my practice is a genuine desire to help people grow. I believe every person has the ability to create a life that feels meaningful, connected, and aligned with their values. My role is to walk alongside clients as they navigate challenges, build new skills, and discover what’s possible for them. My style is warm, direct, and growth‐oriented.

With more than 30 years of experience, I've helped individuals navigate anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and life's many transitions with compassion, understanding, and practical support.

I know reaching out for help isn't always easy. My goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where you feel heard, supported, and empowered to move toward greater confidence, healing, and peace of mind.

My style is eclectic and strength based. I see human nature as intrinsically good. Sigmund Freud said we are bio-social animals. I believe a great deal in listening to one’s self talk. The more positive our dialogue with ourselves is, the more positive our dialogues with others and our lives are. I’m also experienced in CBT, DBT, MI, Solution Focused, ACT, Gestalt, Interpersonal, and person-centered counseling.

My training includes lots of wonderful supervision and workshops, a three-year certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Chicago, and two one month intensives with Virginia Satir, the founder of family therapy. Virginia taught that exploring the self is like mining gold. We all have gold inside of us. That is our basic goodness. A lot of emotional suffering is the result of being detoured from that basic goodness.

I have a doctorate degree in nursing from Maryville University St Louis, Missouri. I have clinical experience in mental health services of over ten years. I excel in psychiatric evaluation and medication management,enhancing patient well-being through expert care and cultural competent practices.

If you’ve been carrying stress, trauma, or emotional weight that’s starting to show up in your thoughts, relationships, or daily life, it can be hard to know where to start. I work with adolescents, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship stress, and the impact of past experiences. You might notice yourself overthinking, feeling easily overwhelmed, shutting down emotionally, or reacting in ways that don’t quite make sense to you. Many of my clients come in feeling stuck but ready to better understand themselves and move forward in a different way.

In our sessions, you don't need to wear a mask or pose as your best self because I want to help the part of you that's struggling and not really understood. Let me help you slow down and take a look at where you actually are instead and I'll start. Let my office be somewhere you don’t have to pretend or wear the “it’s fine” mask. Too often we say the phrase "I should...". But how often does that actually get you where you want to go? So why not try something different where we stop ourselves from "should-ing" on our lives.

My name is Nicole Washington, and while my full name is Catherine Nicole Washington, I’ve always gone by my middle name. (A fun fact: I didn’t even realize Catherine was my first name until kindergarten—I thought my mom was Catherine and my name was “Cole” because that’s what everyone called me!)

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. I earned my Master’s degree in Counseling from Capella University, driven by a lifelong desire to help others—one that was deeply shaped by my own personal journey with mental health challenges. I believe healing is possible, not just because I’ve studied it, but because I’ve lived it.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including partial hospitalization programs, and I have experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults. My background also includes work with domestic violence survivors, DCFS-involved families, group therapy, and individuals navigating complex life transitions. Oh and I’m also a the spouse of a Veteran. Which gives me a unique perspective of the challenges that military family’s may encounter. These diverse experiences allow me to meet clients where they are—with compassion, understanding, and respect.

Your hands are full right now: the anxiety that hums under everything, the stress of juggling relationships, career, and the self-care that keeps slipping to the bottom of your list. Maybe a transition has left you questioning who you are, or you're grieving the loss of someone you love, a relationship, or a future you'd imagined. Wherever you are, you don't have to carry it alone. I work with individuals through these moments, with a particular focus on women's mental health and wellness.

Hello, and welcome. I believe that healing does not happen in isolation.

Each of us is shaped by our families, communities, culture, socioeconomic experiences, and the systems we move through every day. My work is grounded in understanding the full context of who you are — not just your symptoms.

I began my career in community-based settings, which deeply shaped my belief that people are incredibly resilient when given the right support and tools. I am trained at the Family Institute, where I developed a strong foundation in understanding how generational patterns, family systems, and cultural narratives influence our decision-making, relationships, and emotional well-being.

I have been a counselor for over 5 years, with over 16 years in the helping field. I completed my Bachelors & Master at LCU in 2020. I completed my clinical licensure in 2022. I have practiced in multiple settings and love meeting people where they’re at.

I primarily work from a EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy). I completed EFCT training in the Summer of 2025.