Neurodiverse Couples

Nicole was in a long-term relationship where neurodiversity was present. Nicole understands and believes that it is vital to identify solid communication strategies between partners, using specific techniques for handling relationship troubles, whether perpetual or solvable. 

These techniques encourage the understanding that emotions are important, there is no absolute reality, only two subjective ones, acceptance is crucial, and a development of fondness and admiration within the relationship. Nicole encourages couples to celebrate the small steps towards a larger goal and helps keep focus on what the couple can do to set themselves up to thrive. 

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Parenting Neurodiverse Children

Nicole has personal experience as a mother of a neurodivergent teen, and appreciates that  

parenting neurodivergent children can be exponentially intense.  Nicole has navigated the educational battles to obtain IEP and 504 plans, and understands the unique family environment needed to help families to support each other.

She teaches parents positive parenting skills that encourage the use of “Why?” to address the child’s behavior, focusing on an understanding of the purpose that behavior serves the child and what they are trying to tell you. Allowing the behavior to inform what needs to be put into place ahead of time to help the child manage the particular challenge, and also ensuring that consequences are related to the behavior/issue as a last resort to addressing behavior. 

Nicole encourages parents to catch their child’s positive behaviors whenever possible and to name specifically what they see so as to encourage the positive behavior to reoccur.

Other Areas of Focus

• Addiction

• Anger Management

• Major Life Transition Support, co-parenting, blended families, separation/divorce

• Parent Coaching

• Sex Therapy​

• Neurodiverse Couples Retreat - Nicole Knowlton specializes in virtual couples retreats offered over Zoom or in-person couples retreats in Southern California.

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Education

• Undergraduate degree in Business,

• Double Master’s degree in Psychology and Alternate Dispute Resolution

• Juris Doctorate degree

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Clients

• Couples

• Families
  

Modalities

• Coaching

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• Gottman Method

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)

• Strength-Based

• Structural Family Therapy
  

More about Nicole

In addition to her couples therapy and coaching, Nicole has a mediation private practice in Irvine, California. She also facilitates Batterer’s Intervention Groups, teaches parenting and anger management groups, and helps clients and families combat addiction.

License

• Registered Associate, AMFT# 122657

• Supervised by Dr. Harry Motro, LMFT #53452

• Employed by New Path Couples Therapy Inc.