My Approach to Therapy - Lelah Nichol, LCSW

Therapy rooted in Internal Family Systems, attachment theory, strength-based practices, and systems thinking—offering holistic, personalized care in San Rafael CA

Relational, Strength-Based, and Rooted in Self-Understanding

There’s no one-size-fits-all path to healing. My approach is flexible, relational, and focused on helping you reconnect with your strengths.

You don’t need a diagnosis to deserve support—you just need space to explore, heal, and grow.
You are not broken. You’ve been surviving—and now it’s time to start thriving.
The way you talk to yourself matters. Therapy can help you rewrite that voice.
Change happens when we feel safe enough to show up as we really are.
Your past might explain your patterns, but it doesn’t have to dictate your future.

An Integrative Approach to Whole - Person Healing

As a clinical social worker, I bring a grounded, compassionate, and nonjudgmental lens to therapy. My work is eclectic by design—because people are complex, and healing isn’t linear.

I integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment-informed therapy, strength-based tools, and cognitive approaches to help you gain insight, develop emotional resilience, and make lasting change.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, identity shifts, parenting, or past wounds, we’ll work collaboratively to understand what’s coming up—and move toward a way of being that feels more true to who you are.

Core Modalities I Draw From

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

A gentle, non-pathologizing approach that helps you understand and work with the different “parts” of yourself—like the inner critic, the anxious part, or the protector. IFS helps you build a deeper relationship with yourself and lead with more clarity and self-compassion.

Attachment-Informed Therapy

This lens helps us explore how your early relationships shaped how you relate to others, process emotions, and view yourself today. By understanding those patterns, you can begin to build more secure, satisfying connections—with others and with yourself.

Strength-Based & Practical Tools

You are not just a collection of struggles. You bring wisdom, creativity, and resilience into the room. Together, we’ll highlight what’s working, build on your strengths, and explore real-life tools for navigating stress, communication, boundaries, and decision-making.

Family Systems & Social Context

You don’t exist in a vacuum. We’ll consider your family, culture, relationships, and social systems—because therapy should honor both your inner world and the world around you.

Compassionate, Collaborative, and Centered on You

You are the expert on your experience. My job is to walk alongside you—to ask thoughtful questions, offer insight, and create a space where all parts of you feel welcome.

I don’t believe in “fixing” people. I believe in helping you understand yourself more clearly, so you can live with more intention, connection, and ease.

Therapy with me isn’t clinical or cold—it’s relational, flexible, and tailored to you. We’ll move at your pace, in a way that feels supportive and respectful of your journey.

Let’s Work Together in a Way That Honors Your Whole Self

You deserve a therapy space that meets you where you are — and helps you grow from there.

Client Testimonial

Working with Lelah has made a huge difference in my life. She is so easy to open up to, and has helped me feel more empowered in my parenting and relationships. I’m so grateful for her support and knowledge, and always look forward to our sessions

- Brianne

I am so grateful for Lelah’s help throughout the years I’ve seen her. She is kind, intelligent, and always knows how to help me connect with my feelings while not letting them take over my mind. I’ve loved learning about IFS, and Lelah’s expertise in this area helped me see that all parts of myself have a purpose. My anxiety symptoms have significantly reduced since starting therapy with Lelah, and I am able to live my life more authentically and fully.