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December 3, 2024

Meet Nicole Holmes, LISW-S

A stint as a Hopewell dishwasher during college led to clinician Nicole Homes’ change in career. Over time, Hopewell worked its magic and Nicole’s life path moved from law to social work.

“Hopewell itself was my driving force and inspiration to work in mental health. I started working at Hopewell in 2008 as a dishwasher as I was finishing my BA. At that time I figured I would work for 6 months then go to law school. After graduation I realized that being an attorney was not for me, but I really loved the work that Hopewell did and my goals changed to a career in social work. While I was getting my master’s degree at Youngstown State (from 2010 – 2013), I stayed on at Hopewell as a program facilitator and shift lead.”

A program facilitator assists with direct care of residents: self-administration of medications, helping residents with cleaning their rooms and doing laundry, prompting them for different activities, and transporting them to appointments. Nicole was a program services supervisor during most of this time and was shift lead when all the clinicians and people in charge went home for the evening. Additional responsibilities included handling any crises that arose during her shifts.

When Nicole graduated with an MSW, she assumed the role of clinician. From 2013 – 2016, she was responsible for clinical matters including providing individual therapy, working with residents to create treatment goals, leading therapeutic groups, and communicating with families.

In 2016, Nicole felt it was time to broaden her experience, so she moved on to a position in the Youngstown City Schools. She then held a position counseling residents in nursing homes until the COVID lockdown happened in 2020 and nursing homes were supposed to be ground zero. By that time, Nicole had married and had a son on the way, so she was no longer comfortable meeting clients in nursing homes. She found another position doing outpatient therapy but she felt unfulfilled.

Meanwhile, Nicole’s husband, Jonathan (Mickey) was working at Hopewell, and they moved to staff housing in 2022. She missed the sense of community that she found at Hopewell. “I never felt disconnected from Hopewell when I left in 2016. I felt a drive to work there again and I was just waiting to come back.” In November, 2023, she learned that a part-time clinician position was opening and she was hired. She is now part of the admissions team, where she reviews records of potential admits to Hopewell and sometimes conducts intake assessment to help determine if Hopewell is a good fit for potential residents.

Nicole also works with the Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Group, facilitating 3 of the 5 meeting per week. ERP is intended for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). “I trained with Dr. Charles Brady, a highly regarded OCD specialist that Hopewell utilized as a consultant. I am looking forward to more training through the International OCD Foundation.”

While Mickey has been working at Hopewell full time and pursuing a nursing degree, Nicole has been the primary caregiver for her toddler and young elementary school age child. She said, “Mickey and I named our daughter Clara. She isn't named directly after Hopewell founder Clara Rankin, but we did like that it was a nod to where he and I met: Hopewell.” One of Nicole’s biggest hobbies is canning and preserving food grown in their family’s enormous garden: tomato sauce, pickles, zucchini relish, pickled jalapenos, jam, and salsa. She also loves to crochet, cook, and bake.

Fall is Nicole’s favorite time of year at Hopewell. “I love the crisp fall air and I look forward to picking apples and making fresh pressed cider. It’s not just tasting the delicious cider – it’s the process with residents and staff and engaged and working together in community among the beautiful trees,” she recalled.

Nicole believes the inclusivity of Hopewell's therapeutic community is an invaluable healing tool for adults with mental illness. She said, “Hopewell is a special place; there is no other place like it. People who work here are dedicated, understanding, and passionate. As an organization, Hopewell is wonderful! I have never thought that I could not go to someone with a problem and feel like I wouldn’t be heard. The staff have always made me feel that as a person I am important. When I worked for other organizations, there was much less of a feeling of community and I felt like I was one of many. Here you are asked, what do you want to do, what do you feel drawn to? The quality of care is outstanding and staff can take ownership of what they want to learn and do to help our residents.”