Nikhita Sharma

My name is Nikhita Sharma (she/her) and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate at Dayspring with a Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology from the University of Washington. I bring over seven years of experience supporting children and families across both educational and mental health settings. I work with children ages 6 and up, as well as families, addressing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns.

Who I Work With

I support clients experiencing anxiety, low mood, emotional regulation challenges, and school-related stress, both academic and social, as well as grief, loss, and other life transitions. I am especially passionate about working with neurodivergent children and their families, including those navigating ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities. With a background in special education, I draw from hands-on experience supporting children across school and home environments.

In therapy, I focus on strengthening emotional awareness, developing coping strategies, and building confidence in navigating challenging situations. I also support children in generalizing skills across settings so they can use what they learn in therapy in their everyday lives.

How I Work

My work is grounded in evidence-informed approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Parent-Based Management Training (PBMT). I incorporate play, creativity, and connection to make therapy engaging, accessible, and developmentally appropriate.

Using CBT, I help clients build awareness of the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we explore unhelpful thinking patterns and practice tools to shift those patterns. I integrate DBT-informed skills to support emotional regulation, particularly when emotions feel intense or hard to manage.

Through PBMT, I support parents in understanding their child’s needs while also increasing awareness of their own emotions and responses. This collaborative work focuses on strengthening the parent–child relationship and creating supportive, realistic expectations while honoring a child’s growing independence.

My therapeutic style is collaborative and transparent. I believe in setting goals together and providing clear psychoeducation so clients and families understand both the concerns we’re addressing and the tools we’re using in therapy. I value culturally responsive care and have experience working with families from diverse backgrounds. I strive to understand each family’s values, identities, and lived experiences and to integrate these into treatment in a way that feels respectful and empowering.

Outside of therapy, I enjoy taking walks with my dog, working on art projects, playing the ukulele, singing karaoke with friends and family and hosting game nights. I also love unwinding on the couch with a good comfort show.