Dr. Nicole Thompson, who prefers to be called Dr. Wade, is a psychotherapist, counselor educator, clinical supervisor, and Founder and Clinical Director of Bethesda Behavioral Health Services, PLLC. With approximately 20 years of behavioral health experience, she has worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families across clinical, community-based, correctional, and educational settings.

Dr. Wade believes that therapy should consider the whole person—not simply symptoms or a diagnosis. Her holistic approach recognizes that emotional and psychological well-being can be influenced by relationships, family systems, culture, identity, personal experiences, social environments, and the stories people develop about themselves and their lives.

Drawing from multicultural and Gestalt perspectives, Dr. Wade creates a collaborative and reflective therapeutic environment where clients can explore their experiences, better understand themselves, recognize patterns that may no longer serve them, and develop meaningful strategies for change. She is particularly interested in helping clients connect with their authentic selves, recognize their strengths, step into their power, and become more intentional about the lives and relationships they want to create.

Throughout her clinical career, Dr. Wade has worked with clients experiencing a range of concerns, including anxiety, mood-related concerns, trauma and difficult life experiences, relationship and family challenges, substance use, domestic violence, stress, life transitions, and other circumstances affecting emotional well-being and daily functioning.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Wade is a counselor educator and clinical supervisor committed to preparing and supporting future and emerging mental health professionals. Her approach to counselor education emphasizes clinical reasoning, ethical decision-making, multicultural awareness, professional identity development, reflective practice, and understanding clients within the larger systems and contexts that influence their lives.

Through Bethesda Behavioral Health Services, PLLC, Dr. Wade is committed to providing comprehensive, culturally responsive behavioral health services that recognize both individual needs and the broader contexts in which people live. Bethesda seeks to foster personal, emotional, relational, and social well-being while helping clients identify their strengths and work toward meaningful and sustainable change.

At the heart of Dr. Wade’s work is the belief that therapy is about more than addressing symptoms. It can be a space for understanding who you are, making sense of your experiences, recognizing what you need, discovering what is possible, and intentionally moving toward the person and life you want to become.

• Illinois: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), License #180012295
• Missouri: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), License #2026042228

Qualifications

• School: Argosy Univeristy
• Year Graduated: 2011

In The Media

Featured in Successful Black Parenting

Dr. Nicole Thompson-Wade Featured as a Mental Health Expert

Bethesda Behavioral Health Services, PLLC is pleased to share that Founder & Clinical Director Dr. Nicole Thompson-Wade, Ed.D., LCPC, LPC was recently featured as a mental health expert in Successful Black Parenting.

The article examines New York City Public Schools' approach to generative artificial intelligence (AI) and explores what the growing use of AI may mean for children, families, and education.

In the article, Dr. Thompson-Wade shares an important principle for considering how technology is introduced to young people:

"The goal should be to teach children to think with technology rather than allowing technology to think for them."

As a counselor educator and behavioral health professional, Dr. Thompson-Wade contributes her perspective to conversations involving the emotional, social, and educational well-being of children and families.

Bethesda Behavioral Health Services appreciates Successful Black Parenting for including Dr. Thompson-Wade's perspective in this important conversation.