Nicole "Nikki" Abeleda
​she/they/siya

Brown Blossom Rising | [email protected] | 925-665-3668, ext. 5
Instagram: @brownblossomrising @sweetmangotherapy @sacfilipinxlgbtqia | Learn more about Nikki

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Title: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Connector, Community Organizer
Languages Spoken: English, Basic Tagalog
Affiliations: Sweet Mango Therapy, Sacramento Filipinx LGBTQIA+
Approach: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Multicultural, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Relational Psychotherapy, Strength Based, Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy, Other (list additional approaches unlisted below)

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Greetings! I’m Nicole “Nikki” Abeleda, embracing she/they/siya pronouns. Proudly, I’m a First-Generation Queer Filipinx residing on the ancestral lands of Nisenan and Miwok, currently recognized as Sacramento, CA.
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I hold the role of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, earning my Social Work degree from California State University, Sacramento, and my Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Boston College, specializing in Clinical Mental Health and Neuroscience. With 8 years of direct service experience, I’ve been devoted to supporting children, adults, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

​Beyond my therapeutic practice, I am a passionate community organizer advocating for social justice. My activism journey has shaped my perspective, fostering an intersectional lens grounded in Feminist and Social Justice Theory, Transformative Justice, Restorative Justice, Ethnic Studies, Decolonial Practices, and Trauma Informed Care.

As a Co-Founder of Sacramento Filipinx LGBTQIA+, a collective uplifting Queer and Transgender Filipinx members, I strive to amplify visibility within the community. Your visibility and voice matter. If you’re navigating the intricate intersection of mental health and identity as an LGBTQIA+, BIPOC individual, remember you’re not alone. My ideal client is someone prepared to embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing. I collaborate with those recognizing the significance of their unique narrative, eager to (re)imagine their space in the world.

Whether you’re grappling with challenges in a system not designed with your needs in mind or seeking a supportive space to explore your authentic self, I’m here for you. Let’s co-create a path that honors your experiences, amplifies your voice, and nurtures growth. Together, we can navigate the complexities with creativity, resilience, and authenticity.

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What does "mental health" mean to you? Why is it important for us as Filipinxs/Filipinx Americans to normalize discussions around wellness and mental health in our community?

To me, "mental health" encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and is deeply connected to our sense of identity, purpose, and belonging.

For Filipinxs and Filipinx Americans, normalizing discussions around wellness and mental health is crucial due to the unique cultural challenges we face, such as balancing traditional values with assimilation and navigating intergenerational trauma. These challenges often create barriers to seeking help, leading to stigma and silence around mental health.

By normalizing these discussions, we can dismantle stigma and build a culture of openness and support. This allows us to address the impact of systemic issues like racism and colonization on our mental well-being and approach healing in culturally resonant ways. Open conversations about mental health honor the full spectrum of our experiences and help us move toward a future where mental health care is accessible, equitable, and rooted in our cultural values.