Pleasanton Counselor at Therapy2Thrive®

Nicole Manning, AMFT# 147110 

Supervised by Leslie Baker, MFT, NCC, RPT-S

Nicole Manning received a Master of Science degree in Psychology (2022) and a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (2024). She completed both respective degrees with honors. Nicole is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who has worked with a diverse population which includes children, adolescents, individual adults, co-parents, groups, and families. Prior to obtaining her post graduate degrees she received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and is also bilingual. She has lived in South America and Granada, Spain. Nicole was also a collegiate athlete and understands the stress and pressures that can be felt at the collegiate level.

Nicole has worked over 25 years as a first responder in law enforcement for a major metropolitan city in California. She has worked as an officer and sergeant in both patrol and administrative assignments.

As she neared retirement, she found a new passion and developed a new purpose to help others who are struggling with depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and/or suicidal ideations due to an individual’s personal and or professional traumas.
Nicole has a passion of working with first responders due to her first-hand knowledge of working in the profession. Nicole’s goals in working with first responders are to continue to try and erase the stigma of asking for help from upper management while tailoring interventions for stress management and assisting in the trauma recovery process.

Nicole tailors age-appropriate and individualized treatment plans, goals and interventions for her clients which include but are not limited to anxiety, anger management, creating and maintaining boundaries in all aspects of our lives. Learning to live in the present as we overcome traumas from our past, finding (or strengthening) a life’s purpose, and placing a priority on self-care may be goals one seeks. Nicole uses evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Prescriptive Play Therapy (PPT), and Eco-Systematic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) with her clients.

The overall goal no matter the age or intervention of the client is to learn how to overcome the traumas so that the client can become healthier and more resilient. Once a client and clinician work together the goals can be achieved, which will allow the client to become a better version of themselves. Once we learn how to better ourselves, we become better in our everyday lives for our family, friends, and loved ones.

• First Responders who struggle with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and/or suicidal ideations
• Adolescents in or out of the school settings
• Working with Spanish speaking clients
• Brain-spotting
• In person or Telehealth sessions
• Parent Coaching and Parenting Skills