Focus: Individual and Group Therapy related to substance use disorders and trauma; life goals/skills development and implementation; relationships (couples, family, workplace); anxiety; depression, anger; self-esteem; shame; grief and loss.

Biography: Jim Nicholas, LCPC, CRADC uses an empathic strengths-based approach with each of his clients. In setting goals for therapy, Jim believes in acknowledging a patient’s self-awareness, and strives to meet people where they are emotionally and spiritually. He incorporates both pragmatism and humor into his therapeutic work, utilizing a variety of treatment approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Person-Centered therapy and Narrative therapy.

Prior to joining Midwest Counseling, Jim worked at Hazelden Betty Ford Chicago as their sole on-site mental health therapist. His responsibilities included meeting with patients for individual therapy as well as leading group therapy sessions ; conducting psychoeducational lectures; and co-facilitating the organization’s Family Program, which involved therapeutically working with the parents, spouses, and partners of patients enrolled in treatment services. He has also presented continuing education workshops for other professionals on the intersection of trauma and addiction. Before joining Hazelden, Jim worked as a clinician at Gateway Foundation and Resurrection Behavioral Health.

Jim is a Chicago native who received his Masters of Arts (MA) in Clinical-Community Psychology from DePaul University and holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also a state of Illinois licensed clinical professional counselor and certified reciprocal drug and alcohol counselor.