Bill Nichols, MS, LCSW, LCDC
Education
- 1997 B.S.W. Texas A&M Commerce
- 1999 M.S.S.W. University of Texas at Arlington
Licenses
- 1991 Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
- 2000 Licensed Master Social Worker
- 2005 Licensed Clinical Social Worker
For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to help people and animals. I used to dream of gathering up stray dogs and providing them with a nice home. It wasn’t until I began my journey into the counseling and social work field that I realized I was the stray dog in need of rescuing because of my own life failures and unhealthy living. I came to realize something had to change and that something was me. I then began my own journey that involved 12 step programs, individual, and group therapy. This exciting and painful period was spent finding some resolve to my own past abandonments, abuses, and childhood traumas.
I am so grateful for every incident of adversity I have lived. These experiences have allowed me to better hear, understand, and appreciate what my clients are going through or have gone through. Over the past about 16 years I have used what I have learned to work with clients in acute inpatient hospitals, residential treatment centers, and outpatient counseling offices.
In each of these settings I have had the opportunities to work with adolescents, adults and families. I have extensive experience working with people who struggle with addictions. However, due to the nature of addictions and the damage it leaves, I have had the opportunity to assist clients in other areas such as marital issues, trauma, depression, anxiety, mood swings, and family discord.
To me, there are not many things more holy than being present with human beings as they reveal their souls. I get a chance to walk beside them as they look deep within themselves, identifying what is objectionable and learning to appreciate and love those very parts of themselves.
I know from my own experience the courage it takes to ask for help. I also understand the commitment that has to be made to achieve real change. I invite those who are scared, lonely, ashamed, hurt, enraged or just plain overwhelmed to give themselves permission to learn something new about themselves they have never known by entering into counseling and the process of change.
