Alvin Nicholas, Ph.D.

I am deeply passionate about exploring the inner experience of individuals to gain a deeper understanding of their personal challenges, beliefs and personalities. A metaphor I like to use that captures my approach to this work is “weeds growing from grass.” To really remove weeds, we need to pull them up from the roots. In other words, gaining insight into all areas of a person’s experience (social, emotional, past and present) and developing awareness and appreciation for how this contributes to current psychological distress, creates the potential for a greater sense of balance and healthy growth.​​

​​As a post-doctoral fellow, I’ve accumulated several years of clinical therapy experience. My clinical training has largely been in psychodynamic psychotherapy with additional training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). My strengths have been collaborating with clients to gain a deeper understanding of how they became who they are and who they wish to become. Building trust with those I work with and exploring conscious and unconscious processes that interfere with social and/or emotional development are the driving components of my work.

I have a PhD in Clinical Psychology from The University of Detroit Mercy with specializions in depressive personality disorders, complex dissociative identity, obsessive compulsive personalities, and masochistic personality patterns.