Dr. Nicola Fitzgerald

I’m a clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience helping people achieve their goals by meeting them where they are, encouraging them to use evidence-based skills and strategies to move towards their goals, and then celebrating all their wins along the way.

I believe that all “problems” make sense based on each person’s unique combination of family factors, upbringing, societal factors and all their life experiences that resulted in them approaching the world as they do. Using a cognitive behavioural basis as a starting point, treatment is tailored to your needs and may include elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Prolonged Exposure, Behavioural Activation or Interpersonal Therapy as they seem appropriate.

Recognizing how hard it can be to share thoughts and feelings with a stranger that might be hard for you to even acknowledge to yourself, I strive to create a warm and welcoming environment that is collaborative, safe, and nonjudgemental with even the occasional infusion of humour.

Through my years as a clinical facilitator of the Road to Mental Readiness Program (R2MR) for two paramedic services, in addition to the assessment and treatment of countless first responders, I have developed a cultural competence in this area. This allows me to work effectively with first responders either injured in the course of their job and are working to return to work in some capacity or who are looking to maintain their well-being over the long haul of their careers. In addition to trauma, I also work with people who are struggling with anxiety, worry, stress, depression, having the relationships they want, are struggling at work or home or in any other area of life.

Lastly, I am someone who actively walks her talk and when I’m not trying to help people achieve their goals, you’ll likely find me outside training to meet my own goals for an upcoming triathalon or running event.