About Dr. Ellison
Dr. Nicquelette Ellison is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who provides compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to adults. She believes therapy should be both supportive and practical, offering a safe, collaborative space where clients feel genuinely understood. Dr. Ellison prioritizes building strong therapeutic relationships that inspire growth and help individuals achieve meaningful, lasting change.
Her approach to psychotherapy integrates evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI). She works with adults experiencing trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, body image concerns, and complex medical conditions. With specialized training in complex trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Dr. Ellison uses and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to help clients reduce trauma-related symptoms and restore a sense of safety, balance, and empowerment. She also provides psycho-oncology services, supporting patients and families coping with cancer and other serious medical illnesses.
In addition to therapy, Dr. Ellison has extensive experience in psychological and psychoeducational assessment. She conducts comprehensive testing for children, adolescents, and adults presenting with ADHD, learning and intellectual disabilities, trauma-related conditions, serious mental illness, and mood disorders. She also provides pre-surgical evaluations for patients pursuing bariatric procedures. Dr. Ellison is committed to delivering feedback that is clear, practical, and strengths-based, ensuring individuals and families leave with actionable recommendations to enhance well-being and daily functioning.
Dr. Ellison earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from National Louis University in Chicago, IL, with advanced training in Health Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler, TX, where she trained across integrated primary care, inpatient psychiatry, and oncology services. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Ellison has contributed to research in healthcare utilization patterns among police officers, reflecting her broader interest in the intersection of mental health, physical health, and systemic influences on well-being.
Areas of Expertise:
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More than feeling better—building a life worth engaging in again.
Depression can make it difficult to engage in meaningful activities, maintain motivation, and challenge negative thought patterns. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I help clients identify unhelpful beliefs and thinking habits that contribute to depression while developing more balanced and realistic perspectives. Together, we implement practical, evidence-based strategies such as behavioral activation, problem-solving, and skill-building to increase engagement in valued activities, improve mood, and restore a sense of purpose and fulfillment. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to each client's unique needs and goals.
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Less worry. More living.
Anxiety can feel exhausting, keeping you stuck in cycles of worry, avoidance, self-doubt, and overthinking. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based approaches, I help clients understand the patterns that maintain anxiety and develop practical skills to manage it more effectively. Together, we identify unhelpful thought patterns, gradually face fears instead of avoiding them, and build confidence in your ability to handle uncertainty and life's challenges. The goal isn't to eliminate anxiety completely—it's to help you spend less time worrying and more time fully engaging in the life that matters to you.
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Rest is not a luxury—it's the foundation of wellness.
Sleep difficulties can affect every aspect of life, including mood, concentration, energy, physical health, and overall well-being. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for chronic sleep problems, I help clients identify and change the habits, thoughts, and behaviors that interfere with restful sleep. Together, we develop personalized strategies that may include sleep hygiene education, stimulus control, sleep scheduling, and techniques to reduce nighttime worry and racing thoughts. The goal is to help you build healthy, sustainable sleep patterns so you can wake feeling more rested, focused, and prepared for the day ahead.
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Less overwhelm. More follow-through.
ADHD is about more than attention. It can impact organization, time management, motivation, emotional regulation, follow-through, and daily functioning. Using evidence-based strategies drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and executive functioning coaching, I help clients better understand how ADHD affects their lives and develop practical systems that support success. Together, we focus on building sustainable skills for planning, prioritizing, organization, productivity, and managing distractions while addressing the frustration, self-criticism, and overwhelm that often accompany ADHD. The goal is not to become a different person—it’s to help you use your strengths more effectively and create a life that works for you.
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Life changes are inevitable. Feeling lost in them doesn't have to be.
Major life transitions can disrupt your sense of stability, identity, and direction. Whether you're navigating a divorce, career change, relocation, retirement, becoming a parent, or another significant life event, therapy can provide support during times of uncertainty and change. Using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I help clients adapt to new circumstances, manage stress, clarify their values, and build confidence in moving forward. Together, we focus on developing resilience, finding meaning in life's transitions, and creating a path forward that aligns with the life you want to live.
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You are more than your diagnosis.
Living with a chronic illness or chronic pain condition can affect every aspect of life, including relationships, work, identity, mood, and overall well-being. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I help clients develop a different relationship with pain, discomfort, and difficult emotions so they can spend less energy struggling against what cannot be controlled and more energy investing in what matters most. Together, we build skills in mindfulness, acceptance, psychological flexibility, and values-based action, helping you create a meaningful and fulfilling life even in the presence of ongoing symptoms. The goal is not to ignore or minimize your experience, but to help you reclaim your life from the limitations pain and illness can create.
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There is no timeline for grief, and you don't have to navigate it alone.
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something deeply meaningful. Loss can leave you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, uncertain, or stuck. I provide a compassionate space to process the emotions, memories, and life changes that accompany grief while helping you make sense of your experience at your own pace. Together, we work toward honoring what has been lost, navigating the challenges of healing, and finding ways to move forward while maintaining a meaningful connection to what matters most. The goal is not to "get over" the loss, but to learn how to carry it in a way that allows you to continue living a full and meaningful life.
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Healing happens when the trauma no longer has the final say.
Trauma can leave lasting effects on how you think, feel, relate to others, and experience the world around you. Using Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I help clients understand how traumatic experiences may have shaped beliefs about themselves, others, and their future. Together, we identify and challenge unhelpful patterns of thinking that keep you feeling stuck, reduce avoidance, and process difficult experiences in a safe and structured way. The goal is not to erase what happened, but to help you reclaim your sense of safety, confidence, and control so that the past no longer dictates your present.