Amberly Nichols, LCSW, RPT-S

Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor | Neurodiversity-Affirming Practitioner

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist-Play Therapy Supervisor dedicated to helping children, adults, and families navigate life’s challenges with compassion and creativity. I specialize in neurodiversity-affirming play therapy and am a certified AutPlay® provider.

After completing my undergraduate studies at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, I earned my Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University. My clinical work is grounded in evidence-based, affirming approaches that prioritize relationship, regulation, and respect for each client’s lived experience. I am deeply committed to helping children, adults, and families navigate how to meet everyone’s often very different needs, whether those needs are sensory, emotional, behavioral, or communicative. This means honoring the lived experiences, identities, and environments of each individual, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

My work embraces the idea that every person’s brain works differently and that these differences should be understood, respected, and supported rather than pathologized or “corrected.” In practice, this might look like helping a neurodivergent child develop communication tools that work for them, supporting a parent in building strategies that align with their child’s natural rhythm, or working with a family to reduce stress and build connection in a way that honors each member’s needs.

Whether addressing sensory sensitivities, emotional regulation, executive functioning, or social connection, I tailor my approach to be practical, affirming, and collaborative.

Beyond the therapy room, I enjoy spending time with my husband and kids traveling and just hanging out. I also enjoy reading, baking, participating in civic theatre, and lending my voice to scripted podcasts as a voice actor—pursuits that reflect my love for storytelling and human connection. I’ve never met a story (or pastry) I didn’t like!