Nikki Hammonds, LCSW, CIMHP
Licensed Clinical Social Worker | North Carolina
Nikki Hammonds, LCSW, CIMHP
Licensed Clinical Social Worker | North Carolina
Integrative Psychotherapy Services
Welcome
Many people come to therapy feeling depleted—emotionally, physically, and mentally—often after years of managing stress that few others fully understand.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a mother of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). I specialize in supporting adults and caregivers who are navigating anxiety, chronic stress, caregiver burnout, and the emotional impact of complex neurodevelopmental or neuroimmune conditions.
My approach blends evidence-based therapy with lived experience and a deep appreciation for the realities of advocacy, uncertainty, and resilience that come with raising a child whose needs don’t fit neatly into traditional systems.
About Me
I’m Nikki Hammonds, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and families facing complex emotional, behavioral, and health-related challenges. My professional background spans clinical mental health care, population health, and healthcare consulting—giving me a broad understanding of how personal distress is often shaped not only by internal symptoms, but by systems, stressors, and expectations that are difficult to navigate alone.
In addition to my clinical training, I am a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional and Certified Care Manager. This means I take a thoughtful, whole-person approach—paying close attention to how chronic stress, biology, life circumstances, and often-overlooked contributing factors can influence emotional well-being. This perspective informs how I listen, assess, and collaborate with clients, while remaining firmly grounded in ethical, evidence-based psychotherapy.
My practice is guided by my Christian faith, which informs my values around compassion, dignity, purpose, and respect for each person’s lived experience. I strive to reflect these values in how I show up for clients and in how I operate my practice. Clients are never expected to share my faith or incorporate it into therapy. Some seek out a clinician who understands faith as part of their worldview; others simply come because they want thoughtful, high-quality care in a supportive and nonjudgmental space. All are welcome.
How I Work
My approach is warm, collaborative, and client-centered. I draw from proven psychotherapy modalities while remaining attentive to the broader factors that shape emotional well-being—including prolonged stress, nervous system regulation, health-related concerns, caregiving demands, and the context in which people live and care for others.
Therapy with me is not one-size-fits-all. We work together to understand the full picture of what you’re experiencing and to develop strategies that feel realistic, sustainable, and aligned with your values.
When appropriate, we may explore how stress, health factors, or life circumstances are contributing to symptoms, while staying grounded in ethical, licensed psychotherapy practice.
Who I Work With
I provide individual therapy (one-on-one) to adults age 18 and older throughout North Carolina via secure telehealth.
I commonly work with adults and caregivers who are:
- Parents or caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), PANS/PANDAS, or other complex neurodevelopmental or neuroimmune conditions
- Experiencing anxiety, chronic stress, or caregiver burnout
- Managing high levels of responsibility, advocacy, or care coordination
- Feeling emotionally depleted, overwhelmed, or chronically “on edge”
- Adjusting to health-related stressors, prolonged uncertainty, or major life transitions
You don’t need to be in crisis to begin therapy—many clients come simply because they’re tired of carrying so much alone.
Areas of Experience and Context
My clinical work has included supporting individuals and families across a wide range of complex contexts, including military-connected populations, autism spectrum conditions, severe and persistent mental illness, and high-acuity caregiving roles.
I also bring both professional and lived experience navigating neuroimmune and neurodevelopmental conditions such as PANS/PANDAS and AUTISM, along with the emotional, relational, and systemic challenges that often accompany prolonged diagnostic uncertainty, fragmented care, and chronic stress. This perspective allows me to understand not only the symptoms clients experience, but the broader pressures that shape their day-to-day lives.
I am trained in multiple evidence-based and trauma-informed modalities, including EMDR, ACT, CBT, CPT, ERP, CISD, and related approaches. This background informs my ability to thoughtfully assess stress, trauma, and emotional burden within broader life, health, and systems contexts.
What to Expect
Therapy is a private, supportive space where you can finally slow things down and talk openly about what you’re carrying.
In our work together, you can expect space to:
- Make sense of what you’re feeling, especially when things have been building for a long time
- Learn ways to calm your body and mind when stress feels overwhelming
- Set healthier boundaries and feel less depleted by the demands around you
- Talk honestly about the impact of caregiving, uncertainty, or ongoing health concerns
- Move toward changes that feel realistic and sustainable for your life
We’ll go at a pace that feels manageable and respectful of where you are. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, supported, and less alone as you navigate what’s in front of you.
Getting Started
Reaching out for support can feel like a big step—especially if you’re used to being the one holding everything together. If you’re considering therapy, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation as a low-pressure way for us to connect. This gives you a chance to share what’s been weighing on you, ask questions, and see if working together feels like a good fit. There’s no obligation to move forward after the call.
If we decide to continue, therapy sessions offer a steady, supportive space to talk through challenges such as anxiety, low mood, trauma, caregiver stress, or difficult life transitions. My role is to help you feel heard, supported, and better equipped to cope with what you’re facing—at a pace that feels realistic for your life.
All therapy sessions are provided via secure telehealth to adults located in North Carolina.
If you’re looking for support outside of therapy—such as care navigation, consulting, education, trainings, or clinical supervision—please visit my consulting website at www.UnconventionalClinician.com for more information.
Contact Information
Let's work together!
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
