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I have witnessed many of clients alleviate long-standing struggles/challenges related to Complex PTSD, unresolved childhood trauma, and related addiction issues by working in this way.

Hello! My name is Lauren Donato. I have been a mental health counselor for 18 years. Since I was a young girl I knew I wanted to help people, especially people who required advocacy. This led me to start my career working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I have worked in group home and clinic settings for over 15 years. My personal experiences also started me on a professional journey providing reproductive counseling for people who are struggling with infertility. I also have a focus on working with people who experienced trauma and those struggling with anxiety and depression. My approach to treatment is client centered. When working with me you should expect to go at your own pace and to have a say in the techniques we use. We will work towards a common goal of you living your best life. I draw upon CBT, DBT, trauma focused, ABA, and mindfulness techniques. I like to think of therapy as the gym for your mind, so you will need to do some work in order to see results. I am happy to provide you with motivation and support during your workout!

Life comes with never ending joys and challenges. As humans we are in need of diverse ways in which we can; grow, cope, express, and understand ourselves and the world around us. The mind - body connection is a vitally important one that we must continue to nourish and develop throughout our lifetime. I believe in a client centered approach allowing you, to set the tone of our sessions. During sessions we will explore Art Therapy, talk therapy techniques, and mindfulness skills in order to delve deeper into the connection you have with yourself, others, and the world.

I am a board certified nurse practitioner with extensive experience in both outpatient and inpatient treatment setting. I specialize in the treatment of Anxiety, Depression, OCD, and PTSD. My goal is to provide a thorough evaluation and help you to decide the best treatment option for you. I am also a NYS Medical Marijuana Program Provider.

Helping Women Reclaim Their Joy & Mental Well-Being Through Every Stage of Womanhood

You don’t have to do this alone.

I help women navigate the emotional, mental, and physical challenges that come with infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, pelvic health, and parenting—so you can embrace the beauty of womanhood with confidence and peace. If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected from yourself, I’m here to help you restore balance and joy through a MindBody approach.

Hi, I’m Nicole—a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, midwife, reproductive specialist, fertility coach, and women’s mental health provider. But beyond my credentials, I’m also a wife to my OG hubs (love of my life!), a blessed mom of three sweet boys, and the founder of NestCalm, a mental health clinic dedicated to helping women thrive.

I don’t just treat these challenges—I’ve lived them. I am an: ✅ Infertility warrior

✅ Miscarriage survivor

✅ Postpartum anxiety overcomer

✅ Pelvic floor dysfunction fighter

✅ Breastfeeding journey navigator

✅ ADHD thriver

I know firsthand that women’s health is mental health, and I’m passionate about giving women the care, support, and strategies they need to truly heal.

📍 Now accepting insurance-based and cash pay clients in New York and Virginia for virtual psychiatric care.

👉 Check my availability and book at www.nestcalm.com.

Growing up, I was the youngest child to two married migrants from the little island of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea. My happy story quickly changed to being the last daughter to a divorced, single mom, raising three children on her own in Brooklyn, NY.

We bounced around a lot. Our home was an open door. Our family was tight. But this also meant I had tons of extended family. The love was real but so were the emotions.

My identity was ever-changing. I was often interested in a bunch of things. It was so hard to figure out what I wanted to be in life. I struggled in college. It took me longer than my friends to graduate. But I found my purpose.

The issues plaguing the Black community today were essentially the reason why I became a Social Worker. What led me to my career as a therapist was the consistent wall I couldn’t get past when looking for a therapist of my own.

My criteria:

Black.

Young.

Female.

Authentic.

Down to Earth.

Tell it like it is attitude.

Basically, I was looking for myself! I never found her until way after I was already deep into my career as a psychotherapist. I often think back to those days where I felt stuck, anxious, overwhelmed, and confused about my next steps in life.

This is why being a therapist is so important to me. More importantly, being a Black therapist. I want to be that person someone is looking for and I pray our spirits connect in a way that we can get down to business and work together to evoke change.

I’m the therapist that moves at your pace. I listen. I ask a whole lot of questions. I push you to seek clarity and to also acknowledge your limitations, behaviors, and thoughts that may not be working for you. We talk about growth. We take things one step at a time. We explore future goals and plans to get there. We work ish out!

And in all that we acknowledge trauma. We overcome anxiety. We rise above depression. We figure out career and life paths. We sleep better. We communicate better. We ultimately feel better and most importantly treat ourselves better.

This is therapy. In a nutshell. Sounds super easy but this ish is hard work.