About
Prior to relocating to Charlotte, Nikki served as the Director of Adolescent Services at the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (part of New York Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center). There, she developed and oversaw programming, coordinated research studies, and provided treatment at all levels of care (inpatient, day treatment, and outpatient). She continues to work as a consultant for ongoing research studies at Columbia, most recently helping on a relapse prevention study for anorexia nervosa.
Nikki is certified in Family-based Treatment (FBT or the Maudsley Method) and has extensive training in and experience providing CBT, ACT, Exposure and Response Prevention (EXRP or ERP), Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E), and Cognitive Behavior Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR).
She is passionate about providing and disseminating evidence-based care, and frequently gives trainings for providers in the community, including pediatricians, medical students, and other therapists.
Education and Training
Nikki received her undergraduate degree in Economics from Davidson College. After beginning her career in finance, she pursued a Masters in Social work from Columbia University. At the New York State Psychiatric Institute, a joint venture between Columbia University Medical Center and New York Presbyterian, she received extensive training in cognitive behavioral treatments (CBT), including Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP or ERP) for OCD and enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E) for eating disorders as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She received training in treating selective mutism from the Child Mind Institute. The Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders trained and certified Nikki in family-based treatment (FBT or the Maudsley Method).
Presentations + Publications
2024
How and Why to Cultivate Self Compassion. The Feed Blog: News and Views from the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders.
2023
Treating Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents in a Hospital Setting. Invited lecturer, Children's Hospital Inpatient Pediatric Specialists (CHIPS) team at Atrium.
Perspectives on Relapse Prevention following Intensive Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: A Focus Group Study. Co-authored with Deborah Glasofer, PhD, Evelyn Attia, MD, Julia Ruggiero, Kelechi Eziri, Carly Goldstein, PhD, and Joanna Steinglass, MD. Published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Eating Disorders: What Every Clinician Should Know. Invited lecturer, Gordon Conwell Masters in Counseling program.
Family-based Treatment: Empowering Parents and Caregivers to Fight Back Against an Eating Disorder. Continuing education presentation, BASE Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Learning from People with Lived Experience. The Feed Blog: News and Views from the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders.
2022
Eating Disorders: Evidenced-based Approaches for Children and Adolescents. Multiple presentations given to Novant and Atrium pediatricians and staff.
2021
Assessing for an Eating Disorder: the Basics. Continuing education presentation, BASE Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Eating Disorders: the Basics. Invited lecturer, Atrium Residency Program.
2020
preparED: Eating Disorders Education Training Series for Medical Students, co-authored with Deborah Glasofer, PhD, Simon Liebling, MD and Evelyn Attia, MD.
Social Media and Self-Compassion: A webinar for adolescents. Webinar, BASE Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
ARFID: What have we learned? The Feed Blog: News and Views from the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders.
2019
Adolescents and Anorexia Nervosa. Invited co-lecturer for Children’s Day Unit staff and trainees, Columbia University Medical Center.
Goals and Targets and Ranges, Oh My!: Defining Weight Restoration in Eating Disorders across the Lifespan. Workshop presented at the Academy for Eating Disorders, New York, NY with Jennifer Northridge, MD, Katharine Loeb, PhD, and Jennifer Brown, RDN.
Multifamily Group. The Feed Blog: News and Views from the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders.
2018
Eating Disorders: A Clinical Review. Invited speaker, Grand Rounds at Elmhurst Hospital.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year… Or is it? The Feed Blog: News and Views from the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders. Invited co-lecturer for Children’s Day Unit staff and trainees, Columbia University Medical Center.
Body Image and Nutrition for Middle Schoolers. Invited co-lecturer for PTA meeting at Booker T. Washington Middle School.
What You Need to Know about Family Based Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa. The Feed Blog: News and Views from the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders.
2017
Eating with Disorders: Maximizing the Therapeutic Benefit of Mealtimes and Meal Process Groups. Invited co-lecturer for Children’s Day Unit staff and trainees, Columbia University Medical Center.
Family Assessment. Social Work Intern Seminar, Columbia University Medical Center.
Longitudinal Assessment of Neural Circuits in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa. Presentation to clinical programs for eating disorders throughout New York, including Monte Nido, Renfrew, Center for Discovery, Long Island Jewish Hospital, and the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.
Anorexia Nervosa in Teens. The Feed Blog: News and Views from the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders.
What you Need to Know about the Myths of Therapy. The Feed Blog: News and Views from the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders.
2016
A Parent Intervention for OCD, Children’s Day Unit staff and trainees, Columbia University Medical Center.
