NPA July, 2024 Member Spotlight

Nicole Schmidt, PhD — Full Member

Nicole Schmidt, PhD

I have been a member of NPA since 2018, shortly after my family and I moved back to Nebraska. I have appreciated the connections gained through NPA membership, and the opportunity to serve on the NPA Ethics Committee

I grew up in a rural community in Iowa and completed my bachelor’s degree at Creighton University. I received both my master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. In my training and employment over the years, I have enjoyed work across many different treatment settings, including community mental health, university counseling, outpatient mental health, and two different VA hospitals. One of the most impactful settings I encountered was during predoctoral internship at the Colmery-O’Neil VA Hospital in Topeka, KS, where I had the opportunity to work on an inpatient unit dedicated to PTSD treatment. I transitioned to private practice in 2020 and enjoy working with adult clients who are having difficulty recovering from trauma, or whose anxiety and depression are impacting their relationships.

What has been your most impactful professional memory?
My most impactful professional memories include the clients I have met along the way who made such great strides in treatment and go on to live wonderful lives. We all have clients whose stories resonate deeply with us; witnessing their “aha!” moments and starting to feel better and enjoy life more fully makes this job even more meaningful and rewarding

What do you find most challenging about your current work?
Though private practice has been wonderful for improving work/life balance, I would say the biggest challenge for me has been carving out more time to intentionally connect and collaborate with other professionals. In a larger setting, there is easier access to many coworkers and professionals across disciplines at meetings, lunch breaks, etc., but it can take more effort to find other connections in solo practice. I am grateful for the Ethics Committee and the NPA Listserv as avenues to connect with other psychologists, and have also enjoyed joining a consultation group that meets regularly.

What’s the most helpful piece of advice you’ve received?
My advisor in graduate school lost his battle to cancer shortly after our cohort’s graduation, and he made a lasting impact on my personal and professional development. He taught me a lot about the importance of showing up as your authentic self. Despite his extensive experience and accolades, he showed vulnerability in his humor and willingness to share from his own experiences. He arrived to every dissertation meeting in faded blue jeans and New Balance sneakers and before diving into any statistical models, he would ask about my family back in Iowa or what book I was currently reading. I believe these personal interactions, as well as witnessing his relatable therapeutic style with clients during training, demonstrated the importance of balancing a sense of professionalism with also allowing our clients to see our humanity.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working? Any fun hobbies/interests?
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two sons, trying new restaurants, and participating in book club. I love to travel, but it’s hard to do with two young kids!

What is your favorite place you’ve traveled to, or what’s on your travel bucket list?
My favorite destination so far has been Australia many years ago as a student, where I was able to stay with a host family and tour many cities across the country. Hawaii is also on my bucket list!

Download Member Spotlight PDF: Nicole Schmidt

Past NPA Member Spotlights

Jun 2024 - Megan Lawhon
May 2024 - Rick McNeese
Mar. 2024 - Gina May
Feb. 2024 - Jody Trejo
Jan. 2024 - Pamela May-Weeks
June, 2016 - Dennis McNeilly
May, 2016 - Pamela Richardson
April, 2016 - Jerry VanWinkle
February, 2016 - Dave Hansen
January, 2016 - Debra Hope
December, 2015 - Mary Fran Flood
November, 2015 – Shannon Black
October, 2015 – John "Jay" Curran
September, 2015 – Nancy Bradford
July, 2015 – Alayna Schreier
June, 2015 – Joe Swoboda
May, 2015 – Mikel Merritt
January, 2015 — Lyndia Madison
December, 2014 — Mark Hald
October, 2014 — Sarah Schaffer
August, 2014 — Brenda Rohren
July, 2014 — Heath Hodges
June, 2014 — April Davis

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