Nikki Carter

Nikki Carter, BA, MSW, RSW
(she/her)

Nikki’s training and work experience has focused largely on the cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT) of anxiety, mood, and obsessive-compulsive and related difficulties in youth, emerging adults, postsecondary students, and adults. Her work and training history include community agency, family health team, hospital inpatient and outpatient, research, university, and private practice settings. Nikki was fortunate to receive cognitive behavioural training at the Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre (ATRC) and Mood Disorders Program (MDP) at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton. In addition to other settings, Nikki spent several years working at the student wellness centre at McMaster University and enjoys working with undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to her clinical practice, Nikki is an Assistant Professor at McMaster University in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences.

Nikki enjoys working with individuals wishing to explore adverse childhood experiences, relationships, mood, anxiety and related difficulties such as perfectionism and procrastination. She has a special interest in working with individuals and families navigating paediatric and adult obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related OC difficulties, as well as worry, panic, specific phobias, social anxiety, and sleep difficulties. 

Nikki feels honoured to work with individuals who have experienced difficult life experiences such as early childhood trauma, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and incest, and intimate partner violence or intimidation.

When Nikki isn’t working, she can be found cooking, reading poetry, hiking, or running after her dog Benny and two red-haired toddlers!

Continued Professional Development

Engaging in lifelong training and supervision opportunities allows Nikki to remain up-to-date in evidence-based psychological approaches. Nikki's training has focused on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Mindfulness-Based approaches including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and becoming trained in Koru Mindfulness for emerging adults through the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center; Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT); Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT); Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), and others. She is trained in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and continues to obtain supervision from EFFT, CBT, and DBT trained clinicians. In addition, Nikki is currently in training for her certificate in infant mental health, and continues to participate in individual and group consultation.

Professional Memberships & Associations

• Canadian Association of Cognitive & Behavioural Therapies (CACBT)

• International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)

• Ontario Association of Social Work (OASW)

• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)