Nicole DeRobertis, LCSW, LLC

Nicole DeRobertis, LCSW, LLC Mindful anxiety therapy for clients 18+.

Mindfulness begins with awareness. Each moment you bring your attention back to what is happening right now, you help yo...
11/13/2025

Mindfulness begins with awareness. Each moment you bring your attention back to what is happening right now, you help your brain regulate focus and emotion.

If you are not sure where to start, begin with a few simple grounding moments:

🌿 Notice your breath as it moves in and out.
đŸ§˜â€â™€ïž Feel the support beneath you.
👂 Listen closely to the sounds around you.
💙 Name one thing that feels safe or steady.

These small pauses teach your body that it can slow down and be present. Mindfulness is not about perfection, it is about returning to yourself with gentleness.đŸȘžđŸŒ±

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

Grief doesn’t move in straight lines. It changes shape, some days it feels heavy, other days it’s quieter but still ther...
11/11/2025

Grief doesn’t move in straight lines. It changes shape, some days it feels heavy, other days it’s quieter but still there. That is part of how the nervous system processes loss.

Taking care of yourself through grief means slowing down and tending to your body as much as your emotions. Rest, nourishment, time outdoors, and small moments of connection all help create stability when things feel unpredictable.

If you’re finding it difficult to hold everything on your own, I’m here to help you find steadier ground while honoring what you’ve lost.đŸ€

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/contact

If anxiety hits the moment you wake up, there’s a physiological reason for it. Cortisol levels naturally peak early in t...
11/08/2025

If anxiety hits the moment you wake up, there’s a physiological reason for it. Cortisol levels naturally peak early in the day, which can make mornings feel tense for sensitive nervous systems.

Try starting your day with gentle transitions to signal safety to your body:

☀Open the blinds slowly and let in natural light.

💧Drink a full glass of water before checking your phone.

đŸ«Take a few deep, steady breaths.

đŸš¶â€â™€ïžAdd light movement such as a stretching, walking, or making your coffee mindfully.

đŸŽ¶Play calm music or focus on a soothing sound.

Small changes like these tell your body it doesn’t need to brace for the day ahead.

If mornings have been feeling hard, I can help you find ways to make them more manageable. Reach out to start that conversation today!

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/contact

Therapy isn’t just about what happens in session, it’s about the small choices you make in the days that follow. Each re...
11/06/2025

Therapy isn’t just about what happens in session, it’s about the small choices you make in the days that follow. Each reflection, breath, or moment of connection helps reinforce what your mind and body are learning.

Everyone’s monthly practice calendar is designed differently as it is personal to you.
Think of it as a framework for consistency, not perfection. Healing builds through repetition, awareness, and care for your nervous system.

Ready to bring structure to your growth between sessions? Let’s create a rhythm that supports your goals and keeps the progress going.🧠✹

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

Curiosity is regulation and during the holidays, that skill matters more than ever.Gatherings, expectations, and family ...
11/03/2025

Curiosity is regulation and during the holidays, that skill matters more than ever.

Gatherings, expectations, and family dynamics can stir up old emotions or activate your nervous system in ways that catch you off guard. Instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?” when stress hits, try “What’s happening inside me right now?”

That shift helps your brain move from judgment to understanding. It slows reactivity and reminds your body that discomfort doesn’t mean danger.

When tension rises, pause and name what you feel whether it is warmth, anxiety, exhaustion, or gratitude, without labeling it as good or bad. Awareness creates space for choice.đŸŒč✹

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

What we call “willpower” is often just available capacity. When stress, fatigue, or emotional load rise, your ability to...
10/31/2025

What we call “willpower” is often just available capacity. When stress, fatigue, or emotional load rise, your ability to stay focused and consistent naturally declines. That’s not a flaw, it’s how the brain protects itself from overload.

True consistency comes from stability, not pressure. Rest, nourishment, movement, and emotional regulation rebuild the foundation that willpower depends on.

When progress feels stuck, don’t force harder, rebuild capacity first.

If you’re ready to explore how therapy can help strengthen that foundation, reach out today. Building capacity starts with understanding what your system needs to feel supported.🧠💛

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

When your body shuts down instead of reacting, it isn’t failure, it’s protection. The freeze response is one of the body...
10/31/2025

When your body shuts down instead of reacting, it isn’t failure, it’s protection. The freeze response is one of the body’s most intelligent survival mechanisms. When fighting or fleeing doesn’t feel possible, the nervous system chooses stillness as a way to preserve energy and stay safe.

This response can look like feeling detached, foggy, exhausted, or “stuck.” It’s not a lack of motivation or strength, it’s your body saying, “You’ve reached capacity.” Once safety is restored and that protective energy has somewhere to go, the body naturally begins to move again.

Healing the freeze response starts with gentle awareness. Forcing yourself to push through only reactivates the threat system; noticing sensations, grounding, or moving slowly helps the body thaw at its own pace. Trust the wisdom of your nervous system. it’s always doing its best to protect you.đŸ§ŠđŸŒżđŸ©”

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

When we think of rest, we often picture only sleep but, true restoration has many layers and knowing which one you’re mi...
10/23/2025

When we think of rest, we often picture only sleep but, true restoration has many layers and knowing which one you’re missing can change how well you recover.

Here’s what each type of rest can look like:

🛌Physical: Sleep, stretching, or stepping away from constant movement.

🧠Mental: Taking breaks from decision-making, planning, or overstimulation.

đŸ©”Emotional: Giving yourself permission to stop people-pleasing and set boundaries.

👀Sensory: Pausing screens, noise, and bright lights to calm overstimulated senses.

🎹Creative: Refueling inspiration by being in nature, enjoying art, or simply daydreaming.

đŸ€Social: Time with people who feel nourishing, not draining.

đŸŒ±Spiritual: Practices that give you meaning and connection beyond the day-to-day.

Rest has dimensions. When you identify what you’re truly depleted in, replenishment becomes more effective and you’ll notice your energy and mood shift more sustainably!

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

When anxiety takes over, thoughts can loop endlessly. This spiral convinces your nervous system that every fear is urgen...
10/21/2025

When anxiety takes over, thoughts can loop endlessly. This spiral convinces your nervous system that every fear is urgent, even when many of those thoughts are distortions.

Instead of chasing the spiral, pause and check the story your mind is telling.

A few simple questions can create space between the thought and your reaction:

🌀Is this thought based in fact, or is it an emotional reaction?

🌀Am I considering all of the evidence, or only what supports my fear?

🌀Am I assuming the worst outcome without other possibilities?

🌀Am I viewing this in extremes instead of recognizing nuance?

These questions do not erase the spiral instantly, but they interrupt it enough to help your brain begin to step out of fight or flight. With practice, this small pause becomes a powerful tool for regulation.

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

Your gut and brain are constantly sending signals back and forth through what’s called the gut–brain axis. This means yo...
10/19/2025

Your gut and brain are constantly sending signals back and forth through what’s called the gut–brain axis. This means your digestion and your mental health are more connected than they might seem.

When your gut is well-supported, your brain benefits with steadier mood, better focus, and more balanced energy. When it’s under stress, through poor diet, dehydration, or imbalance, your nervous system can become more reactive, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety, fatigue, and low mood.

Caring for your gut isn’t just about physical health, it’s also about giving your brain the best environment to function well.đŸ„ŠâœšđŸ„Ź

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

Address

57 Exchange Street Suite 403
Portland, ME
04101

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12036440557

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