Team Spotlight: Nicole Tourigny, LMSW-cc
We are excited to give you all the opportunity to better get to know one of our great clinicians, Nicole Tourigny, LMSW-cc. Nicole has been such a welcome addition to our team. She is most passionate about working with teen girls and mothers. Let’s get to know Nicole!
Hi Nicole! How long have you worked in the mental health field?
“I’ve worked in the field for more than 10 years in different capacities. I started in the non-profit sector, then worked for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, and in Maine with Crisis Response before going back to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Social Work to provide individual therapy services (which brought me to Virago)!”
What made you want to become a therapist?
“I was always drawn to the ‘helping professions’, but found myself especially drawn to using my skills as an empathetic listener and supporter so I headed back to grad school later in life to further my clinical skills for this role. I am so grateful I did, as this is certainly the career role I am most passionate about! I truly love this work.”
What area of women’s mental health are you most passionate about?
“I love working with mothers and have plans to pursue further training and certification in perinatal mental health this Fall. I additionally really enjoy work with teen girls and women moving through life transitions. I’m passionate about bringing movement to sessions as well, and therefore I provide walk and talk sessions, allowing clients an additional approach that can be beneficial for many reasons- comfort, regulation, wellness goals, etc.”
What is your favorite part of being a therapist?
“I love connecting with women and others to support, empower, and create a safe space where they can express and explore what feels important to promote growth, resiliency, and positive change.”
What advice you would you give someone who is just getting started in therapy?
“Finding the right ‘fit’ in a therapist is so crucial to the process! There are many approaches and styles and it is so important to find someone that you connect with to most benefit from therapy.”
What would you be voted “most likely to_____”?
“Most Likely to get lost. I have no sense of direction!”
And finally, what is your personal top self care skill?“
“Running, comedy/humor, and listening to good music”
You recently got your professional headshots done, the pictures are beautiful! What was that like?
It was so fun to have a professional photo shoot. My prior profile picture was far from professional, as it was taken by my 11 year-old! Haha.
Thank you Nicole, it’s been so nice to hear from you and I know our readers will enjoy getting to know you better.
