People seek therapy for a myriad of reasons, including stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, marital issues, grief, and more. Nicole (Niki) Brummett, MA, LMHC, owner of Inner Compass Therapy, says a good rule of thumb when determining if someone should seek therapy is if the presenting issues impair their daily functioning. Brummett recently opened the practice in Geist.
“About 15 years ago I opened a practice with a few other partners,” Brummett says. “Some things changed in terms of what I was doing, and I realized I needed to get back to doing what I loved and was passionate about, and that’s providing therapy. I opened my practice, focusing solely on my patients.”
Brummett primarily serves patients ranging from tweens to adults to couples seeking therapy for a variety of reasons. She says her areas of expertise are anxiety, depression, mood disorders, phobias, relationship issues and trauma-related diagnoses. She has been licensed as a mental health counselor since 2005.
“Trauma can include variations of abuse, PTSD and recovery,” Brummett says. “That can include everyday people, veterans and all types of first responders. I love to work in this field because you can see results. I love seeing my patients feel as though a weight has been lifted off their shoulders. They almost become a different person.”
She says she is trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, a form of therapy designed to alleviate the stress associated with traumatic memories or distressing life experiences. Brummett also works with couples utilizing the Gottman Method. The goals are to disarm conflicting verbal communication, and increase intimacy, respect and affection. Brummett also implements other evidenced-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy and Internal Family Systems.
“My patients would say I immediately make them feel comfortable,” Brummett says. “I think it’s because I am a wife and a mother, and I live in this area. I can relate to all the pressures of daily life and all that comes with it.”
Brummett says she offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to potential patients to determine if they are a good match. This initial step is designed to make patients feel comfortable and confident in the decision to seek therapy. Patients can then expect an initial appointment lasting 60 minutes, detailing reasons for seeking therapy, goals and expectations, personal history and background, and the therapist’s approach. The therapist will also discuss confidentiality and boundaries.
“Many times patients will ask me how long they should be in therapy,” Brummett says. “It comes down to the patient and their goals. Sometimes it’s short term, and they can accomplish their goals rather quickly. Other times it can take months and be longer-term. I like to take a patient-centered approach and work with the patient to determine the best treatment path.”
