Nycole “nykki” Villa, MS, AMFT
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #151370
Supervised by: Ivonne Saracay Smith, LMFT# 119395
Anxiety
PTSD
Depression
Client Focus: Children (11+), Adolescents, Adults, Trauma Survivors, Families
Specialties: Anxiety, PTSD, depression, trauma, grief, perinatal mental health, marital issues, addiction
Treatment Methods: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Dream Analysis
"I became a therapist because I believe every person deserves a safe place to untangle what feels heavy and reconnect with who they truly are. My hope is that through our work together, you feel seen, supported, and empowered to make the changes that matter most to you. 'You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.'"
- Nycole “nykki” Villa
Nycole "Nykki" Villa is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who creates a safe, judgment-free space where clients can untangle what feels heavy and reconnect with who they truly are.
With particular expertise in anxiety, PTSD, and depression, she brings over 25 years of experience in child welfare to her therapeutic practice, offering a depth of understanding that comes from witnessing resilience across diverse life circumstances. Nykki works effectively with children, adolescents, and adults ages 11-70, helping them navigate the complexities of trauma, grief, perinatal challenges, relationship difficulties, and addiction. Her approach is grounded in the belief that every person deserves a place where they feel heard, understood, and validated without judgment.
Her therapeutic approach integrates multiple evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic techniques. Nykki also incorporates dream analysis into her work, recognizing that the unconscious mind holds valuable insights into healing and self-understanding. This comprehensive framework allows her to equip clients with practical tools and coping mechanisms while also exploring deeper patterns that may be influencing their current struggles. She excels at normalizing the heaviness of depression, the overwhelm of anxiety, and the fragmentation of trauma, gently guiding clients toward resilience, meaning, and self-trust with a balanced stance that helps them feel validated without feeling stuck.
With a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University, Nykki brings both academic excellence and extensive real-world experience to her therapeutic practice. Her over 25 years of working in child welfare have equipped her with a specialized understanding of trauma's impact across the lifespan, complex family dynamics, and the systemic challenges that affect mental health and well-being. This background informs her compassionate, strengths-based approach to therapy, where she recognizes both the weight of life's challenges and the inherent capacity for healing and growth within each person.
Outside the therapy room, Nykki's faith is central to her life, and she finds renewal through reading her Bible and active participation in her church community. She enjoys swimming as a form of both physical activity and meditative practice, finding peace in the water. Nykki values quality time with her family and embraces opportunities to travel and explore new places, creating meaningful memories and expanding her perspective. These personal practices of faith, movement, connection, and exploration reflect the holistic approach to well-being she encourages in her therapeutic work.
Nykki brings over 25 years of experience in child welfare to her therapeutic practice, providing unique insights into trauma, resilience, and the systemic factors that impact mental health across diverse populations and life circumstances.
She creates a therapeutic environment where clients feel heard, understood, and validated in their experiences without judgment, establishing the foundation of safety necessary for genuine healing and transformation.
Nykki excels at normalizing difficult experiences like depression, anxiety, and trauma while simultaneously guiding clients toward resilience and self-trust, helping them feel validated without becoming stuck in their struggles.