Alumna Spotlight: Nicole Saltzman, PhD

Class of 2018: PhD program in clinical social work
Current Residence: Overland Park, KS

"I received my Ph.D. from the Institute for Clinical Social Work (ICSW) in January of 2018. I currently live in Overland Park, Kansas, which is a suburb in the Kansas City area. My psychodynamic training provided a depth to my work with clients that I was missing before. Psychodynamic frameworks assist me with understanding the underlying deficits and the conscious and unconscious motivations of my clients. Before I started the PhD program at ICSW, I felt that my MSW education had equipped me with various brief therapy frameworks that were often fine depending on the client and the presenting issue. But there were many instances when I observed that my clients needed more than what my MSW training had provided, and we found ourselves stuck and frustrated that we were out of the tools needed to move forward. Psychodynamic training also brought the love of supervision and collaboration back into my life. Being able to process cases and the dynamics in the room with other psychodynamically trained professionals is a part of my professional practice that I will always maintain going forward. It absolutely strengthens me as clinician.

The intimate classroom setting was necessary for the depth of the material and discussion involved in the learning process. It allowed our cohort to get to know each other professionally and personally. We were able to grow from the strengths, styles, and knowledge bases of our peers. In the Distance-Learning Program, we traveled from a very diverse range of states, regions, and countries and that diversity of experience was invaluable to our course dialogue.

There were several professors that were also monumental to my ICSW experience. Dr. John Ridings, Dr. James Lampe, Pat Seghers, and Joseph Palombo were essential to my success in this program. Each of them expanded me professionally each in their own way. This program gave me access to both their expertise and their personal attention. I will never be able to quantify the value of their guidance in my professional training. The intimate exposure to these experts is what I would highlight to a prospective ICSW student.

I am the owner of a private psychotherapy practice called the Lotus Foundation, LLC. In addition to psychotherapy, the Lotus Foundation, LLC conducts research and provides psychoeducational workshops. I am also the Director of Programs for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. I also occasionally teach clinical coursework in social work programs."