Nikki Malazarte (She/They/Siya)

MSW, LCSW
Accepting Clients

I became a therapist to foster self-growth, guide those navigating their experiences, & identities with a sprinkle of humor & compassion.

Clinical Social Worker in , IL

Services
  • Individual

About My Clients

I enjoy working with individuals navigating their anxiety, feelings of walking between two “cultural” worlds, complex grief and loss, depression, family dynamics, forced displacement, gender identity, intergenerational trauma, all life stage transitions, spirituality and relationship with a breast cancer diagnosis. With a trauma-focused and intersectional lens, I primarily work with adolescents, young adults and elderly people from AAPI, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant and refugee communities.

My Background and Approach

I integrate trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), internal family systems (IFS) parts work, mindfulness and narrative, relational, strength-based approaches to help you gently move through feeling “stuck" and gradually release built up trauma over time. In partnering with me to build a mutually safe, respectful and trusting therapeutic relationship, I strive to collaboratively create a supportive, empowering and culturally humble space with you. Here, you can freely express all your emotions, experiences and even laugh at the mundane, knowing that I am with you through both bumpy and smooth rides. I genuinely believe that you are the captain of your own ship and I’m here to guide you when a windy storm is ahead. Together, we'll nurture tools and resources to help you reconstruct a healthier connection with yourself and others, so you can continue sailing smoothly through your life changes.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

My experiences with mental health stigma in the Philippines as a teen and getting diagnosed with breast cancer as a young adult in the United States were the catalyst for me to walk upon the path of a therapist. I believe that life paths may shift like the wind, but in every passing moment, true strength lies not in the route taken, but in the purposeful steps we take and the people uplifting us along the way. As a Filipina/x, Ilongga, and genderqueer person living with breast cancer, I have personally witnessed the transformative impact of supportive therapist’s who played a crucial role in my nonlinear path towards healing and acceptance. With that said, I became a therapist to walk alongside those not only reclaiming their power within but also rewriting their narratives, where resilience transforms hard times to personal triumph.

Techniques I Use

Specialties
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Relational Therapy Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Other Techniques
  • Attachment Theory
  • Culturally Sensitive Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Existential Therapy
  • Family Systems
  • Feminist Therapy
  • Gestalt Therapy
  • Harm Reduction Therapy
  • Humanistic Therapy
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Solution Focused Brief Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy: Body-Based Healing for Emotional Trauma
  • Person-Centered (Rogerian)
  • Internal Family Systems

Issues I Treat

Specialties
Grief or Loss Historical/ Intergenerational Trauma Racial Identity
Other Issues
  • ADHD Therapists
  • Aging Concerns
  • Anxiety
  • Attachment
  • Cancer
  • Depression
  • Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence
  • Gender Identity Therapy
  • Grief or Loss
  • Immigration/Acculturation
  • Infertility
  • LGBTQ-Friendly Therapists
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Spirituality
  • Women's Issues

Client Focus

Age
Adults, Elders (65+)
Participants
Individuals
Languages
English, Tagalog

Qualifications

License
MSW, LCSW, State of Illinois · #149031800
Education
Master in Social Work specializing in leadership and development in social services and sub-specializing in migration studies, Loyola University Chicago, 2020
Years in practice
6 years
Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Aetna
  • Medicare
  • Optum
  • Allied Benefit Systems
  • Oxford Health Plan
  • United Healthcare
  • AmBetter
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
  • Aetna PPO
  • Aetna Student Health
  • Surest (formerly Bind)
  • United Healthcare Shared Services
  • UnitedHealthcare Student Resources
I offer online counseling in the following states:
I have experience with the following
  • Agnosticism
  • Atheism
  • Christianity
  • Islam
  • Jehovah's Witnesses
  • Judaism
  • Wicca/Paganism
  • Interfaith
  • Multifaith

Hours & Availability

New clients welcome
Currently accepting new clients
Telehealth
Available

At A Glance

  • Experience: 6 years of practice
  • Languages: English, Tagalog
  • Rate: $175/session
  • Sliding scale: Available on request

Reach out to Nikki