What are the opening hours?

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

Nicole DeRobertis, LCSW, LLC

Home
United States
Portland, ME
Nicole DeRobertis, LCSW, LLC

Mindful anxiety therapy for clients 18+.

04/03/2026

My newest blog, “Self-Compassion and Anxiety: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Self-Criticism,” is now available on my website. 🖤

In this post, I share six steps that can help shift patterns of self-criticism and begin building a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

Read the full blog on my website and subscribe to receive future blogs delivered right to your inbox at www.nderobertislcsw.com.

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/blog/self-criticism

03/31/2026

Practicing mindful media management (being selective in what media we consume) can help create more space for calm and clarity. 📱

A few ways to support yourself might include:

✨ Noticing how certain content makes you feel.
✨ Setting boundaries around news or social media consumption.
✨ Creating intentional breaks from screens during the day.
✨ Choosing content that feels informative without being overwhelming.

Even small adjustments to the media we consume can help support a more regulated and balanced mind. 🖤

03/28/2026

Time spent outside can be calming for your mental health. ☀ Benefits of being outdoors include:

✨ Lower cortisol levels, which reduce the physical intensity of anxious symptoms.

✨ Slower heart rate and breathing, which signal safety to your nervous system and help it shift out of fight-or-flight mode.

✨ Being in the present moment, which eases racing or future-focused thoughts.

✨ A sense of perspective, which reminds your mind and body that you are safe in this moment.

If you’re able, spend a few moments outside today. 🌤

03/26/2026

Reframing your self-talk involves gently shifting from criticism toward self-compassion.

Instead of thinking:
“I’m failing at this.”
You might try:
“This feels hard right now, and I’m doing what I can.”

Instead of thinking:
“I should be better at this.”
You might try:
“I’m still learning.”

Self-compassion helps calm the nervous system in ways criticism cannot. Speaking to yourself with patience and understanding creates space for growth, especially during challenging moments.

Small shifts in how you speak can lead to impactful shifts in how you feel. 🖤

03/23/2026

Procrastination is rarely about laziness. More often, it is connected to anxiety.

When a task feels overwhelming, high-pressure, or tied to fear of failure, the nervous system may move into protection mode. Avoiding the task can bring temporary relief—and that relief can unintentionally reinforce the pattern.

Later, when the task still needs to be completed, the pressure may return, and the cycle may continue.

If you recognize yourself in this pattern, taking one small step can be helpful. Consider:

⏰ Setting a timer for ten minutes
✍ Breaking the task into something more manageable
🧠 Focusing only on getting started rather than finishing

Approaching procrastination with courage and compassion, rather than criticism, can help interrupt the anxiety–avoidance cycle.

03/20/2026

Privacy is an important part of helping people feel comfortable sharing personal information and in developing a therapeutic relationship.

Confidentiality is a respected part of my code of ethics, and there are laws in place to help protect your privacy and emotional needs.

If you need help finding the balance in your life, you can learn more about my services and privacy policies at www.nderobertislcsw.com. 🖤

03/17/2026

Decision fatigue is something many busy professionals experience.

When you’re faced with multiple choices throughout the day—both large and small—your mental energy can begin to feel depleted. For those managing anxiety, this exhaustion can feel even more pronounced.

One way to support yourself is by creating small routines that reduce the number of decisions you need to make in the moment. 🖤

Consider setting aside dedicated time to think through upcoming decisions. During that time:

✨ Write down the decisions that need to be made
✨ Reflect on which options feel most aligned with your values
✨ Make any pressing decisions

Knowing you’ve created space to revisit remaining decisions later can help ease the pressure to solve everything at once.

Reducing mental load in small ways can create more room for clarity and calm throughout your day. 🧠

03/14/2026

If you’ve ever felt anxious before a date, you’re not alone. 🖤

Dating anxiety is a common form of anxiety that can lead to racing thoughts before a date, replaying conversations or interactions after a date, or overthinking about whether the person is the “right” person for you.

Dating anxiety can stem from a fear of rejection, which may result in avoiding or canceling plans to avoid disappointment, even if you liked the person and enjoyed yourself while going out.

For help navigating your dating anxiety, learn more about these five steps at www.nderobertislcsw.com/blog.

03/12/2026

Affirmations for busy professionals:

✨ I can take this one step at a time.
✨ Rest is productive.
✨ I don’t have to do everything today.
✨ It’s okay to ask for help.

Save this post for when work feels overwhelming, and you need a moment to recenter.

03/09/2026

Maybe you’ve noticed an inner voice that tells you you’re not doing enough, or not doing it well enough.

Maybe you find yourself comparing your progress to others and feeling like you’re falling behind.

Maybe you feel stuck—wanting change, but unsure how to take the next step.

These experiences are more common than we realize.✨

Therapy can offer a safe space to slow down, reflect, and begin to understand the patterns that may be contributing to your anxiety.

I am licensed to work with clients in Maine and Connecticut and specialize in supporting busy, professional adults as they learn to manage anxiety and build more supportive relationships with themselves.

If you’re considering therapy, learn more at www.nderobertislcsw.com. 🖤

03/06/2026

Anxiety can pull us into future-focused thinking, often causing worry, fear, or panic.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by thoughts or pressures of the future, consider trying the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method to re-focus. Identify:

✨ 5 things you can see
✨ 4 things you can feel
✨ 3 things you can hear
✨ 2 things you can smell
✨ 1 thing you can taste

If possible, step outside for additional calming benefits from fresh air. ❄🌤

03/03/2026

People-pleasing can often be rooted in anxiety.

The desire to please others can stem from a fear of disappointing them. When we fear disappointing others, we may be prone to putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves to perform and meet unrealistic expectations.

If you experience anxiety from people-pleasing, one small practice may help:
⏸ Pause before you say “yes.”

You’re always allowed to consider your needs before responding to someone else’s.🖤

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

Website

http://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nicole DeRobertis, LCSW, LLC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Nicole DeRobertis, LCSW, LLC:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Practice
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Portland?