Nicholas "Nick" Mendoza-Bachicha, LPC Associate

he/him/his

You are not alone. Things can always be different. This might be where you are, but it’s not who you have to be. I know these sometimes profound but often cliché lines can be hard to trust at times, especially when we are in our darkest hours – But having seen their transformative power in my own life, call me anything but a salesman when I say that their vibrations continue to echo deep within my bones. So if you find yourself lost, trapped, or feel your flame slowly going out, then you have come to the right place. Let me also say that if you are searching for the right match for a counselor, then I will congratulate you for coming this far! It’s strange to think, but many folks struggle to even stand where you stand now, so count that as an initial victory right out of the gate! This said the process of therapy is not always easy or comfortable, so it will be important that you find someone who will be the best fit for your journey. 

When working with me, I aim to create a warm and safe environment where you can explore the interdependent layers between yourself, others, and the world. While we all possess unique qualities and identities that will undoubtedly make their presence known in session, I believe respect, understanding, and encouragement are fundamental factors needed in the soil of self-actualization. Thus, while the type of work we do together will depend on your personal needs and goals, the foundation of our work will be built upon genuine connection, empathy, and trust. For some, this might mean delving deep into the soul and working on personality reconstruction, while others might need more pragmatic or shorter-term solution-focused sessions to get back on track. In this therapeutic partnership, we each have a role to play, but ultimately, you are the expert on your own life. My job is to help foster awareness, to remove obstacles, and to aid in the development of your skills and strengths. As we find a balance in this delicate dance, the overarching goal is autonomy – for you to gain insight into the patterns that are influencing your life and to help you take control so that you can live the life you want to live. 

As for my approach when working with individuals, I carry on the Adlerian torch, an integrative orientation that advocates for the holistic understanding of health and development. While differentiation and boundary setting might be necessary parts of the human condition, I believe that no matter the issue, when it comes to balancing the tasks of life, we as beings are at our best when we can belong and contribute to a community. If we wanted to throw in a few extra jazz notes of jargon to better explain, I would say I have a strength-based humanistic style that is interpersonal, person-centered, and psychodynamic-informed, as well as utilizes certain CBT and trauma-informed interventions. Respecting the connection between mind, body, and environment, I can also at times draw from experiential activities as well as grounding techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and meditation. 

To shift gears here, I also have experience both working with couples and providing integration therapy services (for those undergoing outside ketamine treatment). In working with couples, increasing safety, trust, and open communication is foundational in providing a structure for both partners to feel they are understood, and respected, and that they have a shared vision they can contribute to. In providing ketamine integration psychotherapy, while there is not a silver bullet to call upon, sessions can be as concretely pragmatic or metaphorically poetic as you feel comfortable with, and we will use your experiences as the backdrop for exploration, growth, and development. 

As for me and my personal ventures, I believe all of life is a process, and that we must find our own balance between absorption and expression; between what we take in and what we push back into the world. As a more tangible example of this, I love podcasts and lectures, reading non-fiction books (or listening to them), as well as writing songs, poetry, and essays. I also maintain a daily practice of meditation and coffee drinking, as well as love walking trails with my corgi cattle dog Reggie – they call them “cowboy corgis”. 

If our paths are destined to meet, then I look forward to hearing your story, and to sharing this part of your journey.