Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Rockford, IL covered by Cigna

Trying to find a therapist can be overwhelming. You may be wondering will this person get me? Will they understand what I'm going through? I'm here to help you find relief and make this process easy. Depressed, Anxious, Hoping for a Stronger Relationship? Let's get unstuck! I'll work with you to identify and remove the obstacles you have been facing. Through our discussions you'll increase self awareness and learn to act with more intention in your daily life.

I've spent 14 years helping people navigate their mental health. I believe you deserve a provider who truly knows you — not just your chart. I offer both in-person and telehealth appointments, so you can choose what works best for your schedule and your life. My work centers on psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and I take the time to fully understand what's going on before any treatment decisions are made. I'm direct, accessible, and committed to being a steady, consistent presence in your care.

Clients often describe me as reliable, professional, and flexible in meeting their needs. My diverse experience allows me to connect with people from all walks of life. I pride myself on being a great listener with strong comprehension skills, offering a nonjudgmental space where you can feel safe to share and process.

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.

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.

am a compassionate mental health professional dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. My experience includes working with children, adolescents, and families facing anxiety, behavioral concerns, trauma, and life transitions. I use a strengths-based, client-centered approach to help individuals develop healthy coping skills, build confidence, and make meaningful progress toward their personal goals.

I am here because I deeply care about getting to know you and sharing in your experiences, struggles, hardships and successes. I believe that everyone has the capacity to implement positive changes in their life with a little support. Therapy is a space for everyone to feel welcomed, supported and cared for. My goal is to create an environment that is non-judgmental, feels safe, and allows you to explore your life story, process your experiences, emotions, and better manage life's stressors. You are the expert of your life and I am here to help steer you in the direction in which you want to go. We can absolutely find hope together.

I specialize in working with young adults and adults (18+) in navigating mood and anxiety concerns, life changes and transitions, effective communication, and managing urges. I value meeting you where you are at with your concerns and establishing a collaborative relationship that'll help guide each step of the way.

I attended undergraduate at Millersville University in Pennsylvania and received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I then went on to receive my Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology: Counseling from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. I have experience working in residential, partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) programs, as well as seeing individual clients within a private practice.

I have an integrative approach to therapy. I believe that everyone needs something different, therapy is not a "one size fits all," and I value meeting you where you're at. First and foremost, I am client-centered, meaning I really believe you are the expert of your life and experiences, and I respect those experiences and will learn from them to support you in your goals. I am also strengths based, it is important to identify your strengths and build upon them as you are doing the work of therapy. I have a strong background in teaching Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills and strategies to assist with mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance, as well as help practice acceptance, create space, engage in our values and commit to actions that align with those values. I value family, connection, humor, genuineness, growth and transparency. I feel truly grateful to have a career that I love and am passionate about. I have been told that I have a calming energy, and I hope that I can bring a sense of calmness or stillness into your life. We all get wrapped up in the busyness and the expectations, myself included. Let's make a space for you.