Nicole DeRobertis, LCSW, LLC

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

Emotional burnout doesn’t always look like collapse, sometimes it’s quieter than that.It can show up as irritability, me...
11/26/2025

Emotional burnout doesn’t always look like collapse, sometimes it’s quieter than that.
It can show up as irritability, mental fog, or a sense of detachment from things that used to feel meaningful. When your system is overloaded for too long, it starts to conserve energy by numbing out instead of shutting down completely.

Rest helps, but recovery runs deeper. Reconnection, to yourself, to purpose, and to people who feel safe, begins to restore what burnout drains. Setting boundaries and pacing your energy help prevent your nervous system from running on fumes.

When you start noticing burnout creeping in, that awareness itself is a cue to pause and recalibrate. Healing starts when you honor what your body is trying to tell you.🌿⚖️

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

Healing asks you to revisit the parts of yourself that learned to quiet down. Needs that once felt “too much” were never...
11/21/2025

Healing asks you to revisit the parts of yourself that learned to quiet down. Needs that once felt “too much” were never wrong, they were just waiting for safer conditions to be heard.

When you start giving those needs space again, your nervous system begins to relax. Self-trust grows in the moments you choose care over criticism, honesty over silence.

Let this be your reminder that you don’t have to earn the right to need. You just have to recognize that you already do.💕

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

Setting boundaries can feel awkward at first, but they’re one of the most powerful ways to protect your energy and keep ...
11/19/2025

Setting boundaries can feel awkward at first, but they’re one of the most powerful ways to protect your energy and keep relationships healthy.

Boundaries are about creating safety. When you communicate your limits clearly, you make it easier for others to know how to care for you and how to stay connected without strain.

Saying “no” or setting a limit isn’t selfish or dramatic. It’s a form of honesty that protects your empathy and keeps your connections sustainable. Over time, boundaries strengthen trust because they’re rooted in clarity, not depletion.🙌✨

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

Conflict is inevitable, but disconnection doesn’t have to be permanent. Repairing after tension takes awareness, humilit...
11/17/2025

Conflict is inevitable, but disconnection doesn’t have to be permanent. Repairing after tension takes awareness, humility, and intention. When you slow down enough to regulate before reacting, acknowledge the other person’s experience, and revisit the moment with care, trust deepens instead of eroding.

These small steps can transform conflict into connection. That’s the real work of emotionally healthy relationships. 💬🤝💕

https://www.nderobertislcsw.com/

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.
🧘‍♀️ 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.🪞🌱

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.🤍

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.

🫁Take a few deep, steady breaths.

🚶‍♀️Add light movement such as a stretching, walking, or making your coffee mindfully.

🎶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.🌹✨

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.🧊🌿🩵

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.

🩵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.

🤝Social: Time with people who feel nourishing, not draining.

🌱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/

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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