Meet Nikki Bidlingmeyer | Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Infant-Family Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist, Perinatal Mental Health Specialist, and Reflective Practice Facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki Bidlingmeyer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikki, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Children’s brains develop connections faster in the first 5 years than in any other time in their lives. The first five years of life is when the foundations of learning, health, and behavior are laid down, similar to the foundation of a new home being built. There is so much pressure on parents to support their child’s development and learning in these first 5 years, but so few resources for the parents themselves- especially when those first 5 years are more challenging than is typical. I want to be a specialized resource for families in this season of life that is so uniquely difficult, and still so crucial to a child’s later success and well-being.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I began my career in Hollywood, CA, working with youth experiencing homelessness and their young children who often also experienced involvement in the child welfare system. Over the next decade I continued to work with children and families with open cases with the child welfare system, primarily those with children under the age of 5, providing play therapy, dyadic (parent and child engaging in play therapy together), perinatal support to birthing persons, and parent support sessions (parent coaching, case management support). During this time I working with children and caregivers who had experienced enormous traumas, chronic trauma and toxic stress, children experiencing developmental delays impacting their abilities to communicate with the adults in their lives, and the caregivers struggling to meet the needs of these small humans with very, VERY big feelings and needs. I became more and more passionate about supporting the needs of families of all types with children ages 0-5, and the importance of early support that can begin even during pregnancy or family planning. I want the parents, caregivers, families, and children that I work with to know that they are not alone in their experiences, that they don’t have to be perfect, and that they are enough.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
– Hermosa Beach for lunch and some sun. Maybe dinner at Steak and Whiskey; – Redondo Beach for some beach sun, a walk around the pier to pick up seafood from the market, and dinner at Tony’s on the Pier;
– South Coast Botanical Gardens for a beautiful walk and picnic;
– Palos Verdes for a hike and spa day at Terranea;
– Dinner in Gardena at HAPPA;
– Brunch and Bowling at the Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop;
– Hiking the Hollywood Sign and lunch at Palms Thai;
– Dinner in Little Ethiopia (Rosalind’s);

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be where I am today without the education and influence of my graduate education and experience at the Erikson Institute in Chicago, and the support of my mentor and friend, Desiree Yoro-Yoo.

Website: www.powerofpausetherapy.com

Instagram: @poptherapyla

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/nicolette-bidlingmeyer-lcsw-pmh-c-ifecmhs-rpf-ii-64301958

Image Credits
Brandon Bibbins Photography