JINU NIKI, LMFT, LCADC

Jinu Niki smiling in a close-up portrait

Preferred Name: “Jin,” pronounced the same as “gin.”

Regardless of race, ethnicity, class, or culture, what binds us all together is the pain that comes from the distorted beliefs we hold about ourselves — feeling not good enough, damaged, or inadequate. That’s the pain I help people move through.

I work with driven high-achievers and professionals, helping them feel more confident and capable of building their better path.

The Why

My dream of becoming a therapist was sparked when I was 14 years old, upon witnessing the impact of family issues on the mental health of my peers and myself. Those struggles often stemmed from what happens behind closed doors: unhealthy parental relationships, emotional neglect, abuse, critical or rigid parenting, and the absence of emotional support.

From a young age, I learned that many of us who seem to have it together on the outside are often hiding behind a mask, carrying shame, guilt, and deep-seated insecurities. It was through these lived experiences that I realized the wider the discrepancy between how we feel on the inside and who we present on the outside, the more we suffer.

That is why I am a firm believer in creating a life that feels good on the inside rather than a life that looks good from the outside.

As a high-achiever, high performer, and/or a professional, we can easily get caught up and stuck in the endless pursuit of achievements, but is it really worth it if we can’t stop to enjoy or feel good about ourselves?

You may not know exactly what healing looks like for you yet, and that is okay. My hope is that you take the first step, and trust that the path will become clearer as you walk it. And I am confident that this one step will lead to a better path than where you are today.

My own healing journey is a big part of why I do this work. Read more about the path that led me here.

Two wooden vases with green leafy plants against a white background.

MY Approach

What’s it like to work with me

My approach isn’t one-size-fits-all. I want to understand the parts of you shaped by your story, not fit you into a framework. If you’ve been to therapy before and it felt flat over time, wasn’t trauma-informed, or helped you feel understood without actually helping you change, that’s exactly what I aim to do differently — using EMDR therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to get to where these patterns actually started, often long before adulthood.

I can be structured and directive when it's helpful, and I keep track of what we've worked on so things don't get lost between sessions. We pick up where we left off to stay oriented toward your goals, unless something unexpected during your week needs attention. In session, I tend to be direct: I'll name a pattern when I see it, because I care more about your growth than about letting you stay stuck in the same cycle.

Ultimately, my goal isn't to keep you forever. Therapy has an ending. One sign is when clients tell me they've caught themselves wondering, “what would Jin say,” or thinking through a situation the way we might in session. That's the direction I want our work to move toward: you becoming your own therapist. Therapy isn't about creating dependence; it's about giving you skills you can carry long after therapy ends — learning to catch yourself, course-correct, and recognize the changes happening within you.

Clients who tend to see the greatest change are often those who actively practice what we work on between sessions, particularly when it comes to managing anxiety, triggers, and spiraling. Change tends to build gradually rather than all at once, and staying engaged between sessions often matters as much as the sessions themselves.

Education and licensure required for a licensed therapist-marriage and family therapist-Licensed alcohol and drug counselor

CREDENTIALS

About my experience

Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and licensed to see clients throughout Nevada and California, I bring 15+ years of experience specializing in generalized anxiety, PTSD, and complex trauma. I also provide EMDR through telehealth, and many of my clients find it just as effective as in-person sessions.

Licenses & Credentials:

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #82465 (CA)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #01350 (NV)
Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor #00486-LC (NV)
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy - Clinical Fellow

Clinical Trainings & Certifications:

EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist‍
IFS Level 1
Brainspotting Phase 1 & 2
Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Education:

Alliant International University, M.A. Marriage & Family Therapy
University of Southern California, B.A. Psychology

‍I enjoy working with:

Adults living with the lasting effects of severe or complex trauma, especially when it feels like the past still has a hold on the present
‍Those who are stuck in anxiety, rumination, having difficulty stopping the rumination
Couples who care deeply about each other but feel stuck in patterns of miscommunication, recurring conflict, or emotional distance

For therapists and clinicians:

I also work with Nevada MFT and CPC interns who want to build confidence while developing an IFS-informed approach, EMDR basic-trained therapists seeking EMDR certification.