Dave Nichols, LCSW

Dave was hired as the Clinical Director at La Europa Academy in 2018. Dave grew up in Washington state and moved to Utah in 2005 to attend college. He worked for 7 years as a direct care staff in a residential treatment program for females assigned at birth with a history of sexual abuse/trauma and who had developed sexually maladaptive behaviors. He began working with adolescents in Proctor Care and independent living and eventually decided to obtain a graduate degree in Social Work from the University of Utah with an emphasis in Substance Abuse Treatment.

After obtaining his Master's degree, he spent the next 7 yrs working in an inpatient psychiatric setting treating adults and adolescents with a wide variety of mental health and substance abuse concerns. He has extensive experience working with depression and self-harming behaviors, anxiety, OCD, PTSD/Trauma (particularly surrounding sexual abuse), autism, psychosis, as well as sexual and substance use addictions. Dave has strengths working with some of the more undercontrolled students (ADHD, substance abuse, personality disorders, bipolar, and attachment disorders). He also has extensive experience working with chronic depression, anxiety and overcontrolled individuals. Dave builds rapport quickly, holds good boundaries using humor and creativity. Dave likes to think outside the box and occasionally step outside a traditional talk-therapy session, whether that means going for a walk, using music or art to express themselves or experiential activities based on their learning style. 

Dave spent several years as a crisis worker completing assessments for adolescents and adults in crisis who were a danger to themselves and/or others and assisting them to get the services they needed. Dave has also worked for years in Private Practice with individuals, couples, and families and has been an in-home therapist working primarily with youth who have been adopted with attachment disorders. Dave has been a Clinical Director for over a decade and has a broad understanding of the entire continuum of care from Intensive Outpatient to Residential Treatment. He has received training in DBT, Radically Open DBT, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, Brainspotting, and Exposure Response Prevention.

Dave’s interests include community theatre, film, art, music, singing, playing basketball, hiking, camping, and spending time with his wife and two kids. His most defining characteristics include his low-key approach with youth and the use of humor, empathy, and positivity in therapy to quickly build rapport and trust. His interest and experience in the Arts contribute to La Europa’s overall vision and focus.