Nora Mickowski, LCSW
About Me
I'm a neurodivergent, disabled TCK with a dark sense of humor, and I often swear in session. I’m deeply empathetic but brutally honest, and I won't push you to quit drugs or other “unhealthy” behaviors (unless you ask me to!).
Before becoming a therapist, I was a teacher, a fencing instructor, a sailor, a SCUBA diver, and a world traveler. I was raised on Star Trek and Star Wars (yes, both), Tolkien, and Greek mythology, and my personal fandoms include (among others): Firefly, Zelda, and Steven Universe. When I’m not tinkering with brains, I enjoy D&D, cooperative board games, indie video games, and cake (cake is truth). I have two cats, one human, and an alarming number of houseplants.
I was trained as a Social Worker, and I’ve been in the mental health field since 2009. I’ve worked in hospital settings, in residential treatment, with supportive housing programs, and on the streets as a community mental health provider. Basically, I’ve seen a lot, so I’m not easily fazed. I’m gender-affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, fat-affirming, ace/aro-affirming, poly-affirming, kink-affirming… Are you noticing a trend?
About my ADHD-friendly Practice
Many of my clients have ADHD, Autism, and/or chronic illnesses or disabilities, which can make it difficult to attend sessions consistently and/or on time. Because of this, I offer flexible rescheduling, keeping several slots open each week for last-minute changes, and waiving late-cancel fees if you can reschedule within 6 days. I’m also flexible on start times; some of my ADHD clients are late to every single session. I consider it a symptom, not an insult! I can wait.
Perhaps most importantly, I don’t discharge clients for poor attendance. Many of my clients with ADHD or chronic illnesses have been discharged by multiple previous therapists just for being late or inconsistent, even when they were making progress! Needing to find and “break-in” a new therapist every time you miss a few sessions is at best discouraging and at worst traumatic or devastating. It also makes it very difficult to make consistent progress in therapy, and leads many to simply give up on therapy. Instead, I charge half your session fee for cancellations within 48 hours, but I waive that fee in emergencies or if you can reschedule within 6 days (so I very rarely need to charge it). That’s it; no guilt, no lecture, no questions!
About my CLIENTS
Most of the folx I work with are neurodivergent, queer, gender non-conforming, or all of the above, and I especially enjoy working with other HSPs, spoonies, zebras, and gamers, as well as burners, artists/creatives, and anyone who doesn’t fit society’s standard mold. I also have a special interest in helping those who have been neglected or harmed by the medical-industrial complex, those living with invisible or dynamic illnesses or disabilities, and those who are still searching for a diagnosis. I’ve been there.
I currently hold licenses in both Texas (license no. 67310) and Illinois (license no. 149.018728), so I can see clients who are physically located in either of those two states. I’m currently telehealth-only in order to provide maximum schedule flexibility for my clients, though I do hope to open a physical office again eventually (in/near Austin, TX) once I’m able to find an appropriate/accessible space.
Still not sure if I’m the right therapist for you? Or maybe (like me) you tend to do a fair amount of research before making big decisions. Either way, here are some more details…
Areas of focus:
People living with chronic illnesses or disabilities, including invisible, less visible, or rare ones - diagnosis not required; spoonies and zebras welcome! In case you’re looking for a provider with “lived experience” in this area: I myself live with hEDS, POTS, and chronic pain.
Neurodivergent folx - e.g. ADHDers, AuDHDers, Autistic folks, HSPs (AKA “high sensory perception” / “highly sensitive person“)
Survivors of Trauma or PTSD
2e adults (gifted/talented folks who also have neurodivergence or learning differences)
LGBTQIA+ folx (including transgender; non-binary; and gender nonconforming folx; asexuals, demisexuals, graysexuals; pansexuals; aromantics; polyamorous folks; and those who don’t yet have the words to describe their experience.)
You may NOT be a great fit if YOU…
just want to vent, not learn or try anything new.
are highly resistant to therapy, and need to be “talked into” it.
are only here to change someone else’s behavior, not your own. (Spoiler alert: that’s not how therapy works! There, I saved you a bunch of money and disappointment.)
despise humor, sarcasm, and/or profanity, and believe these have no place in therapy.
want to focus on losing weight (I cannot ethically support intentional weight loss as a goal, though I can support health-oriented goals around nutrition, exercise, or improving one’s relationship with food.)
Top tHERAPEUTIC MODALITIES:
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a type of CBT)
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
CBTi (CBT for Insomnia)
CPT for PTSD (Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) - [Wherein we spend ~12 weeks and many worksheets logically picking apart the warped beliefs your trauma left in your brain, gory details optional.]
WET for PTSD (Written exposure therapy for PTSD) - [Wherein you write about your trauma for ~5 sessions, and I’m basically your editor, but you never have to talk about it to my face.]
I am also trained in a specialized coaching technique called the Values-Based Integration Process (also known as “Unmasking Coaching”) developed by Heather Morgan, (who trained me) and referenced in the popular book Unmasking Autism by Devon Price.
