Nicholas Hy (Intern Therapist)

Nick Hy (he/him) will be an intern therapist at The Center for Growth from May 12th, 2025 to May 12th, 2026. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Central Michigan University (remotely from Rhode Island). He is available for therapy at the Providence office in RI.

Philosophy

Nick sees therapy as a partnership formed for the purpose of collaboratively working through problems. Therapy is not just talking; it is about creating meaningful action towards improvement. He believes that no matter what someone is going through, it can get better. Studies and experience demonstrate again and again that humans are amazingly resilient. It can be comforting to remember that people can recover, and go on to thrive, after facing even the most difficult circumstances.

During therapy, Nick seeks to understand each client as a unique human being within their own complex life. He finds that a flexible approach to treatment allows for a more accurate understanding of a client’s reality. Nick listens to find out who a client is, not tell them what they are supposed to be.

Neither clients nor their concerns exist in a vacuum. Countless variables, not all of them obvious, can influence mental health. Nick considers all aspects of a client’s life to help determine what is relevant to therapy. He seeks to integrate the most important variables into treatment for the most effective outcome, focusing on what clients need to find their own path forward.

Nick thinks that many of therapy’s benefits have the potential to extend beyond the individual client. Whether in our jobs or at home, many of us work with or take care of people important to us. Nick believes that to best help others, clients must be in a stable place themselves. There is a good reason flight attendants say, “in the event of an emergency, please secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” Whether it is family, friends, colleagues, or community - the positive changes clients make in therapy can help improve not only their life, but the lives of those around them.

Nick views therapy through the lens of evolutionary psychology, which aims to understand how our thoughts, actions, and behaviors were shaped throughout history. This way of thinking helps explain the ultimate “why’s” of mental illness and can provide useful context when it comes to effective treatment. These insights also help us get a better idea of what should be considered “normal.” Because the environment we live in today is so different from those of our ancestors, we often suffer from what is known as “evolutionary mismatch.” Some forms of anxiety provide a useful example. The same anxiety that helped our ancestors detect potential predators lurking in the grass, can in our digital age become overwhelming when we are constantly exposed to modern stressors. Another way to think of evolutionary mismatch is to imagine taking a polar bear out of the Arctic and suddenly dropping him into the Kalahari Desert. It wouldn’t be surprising if he wasn’t exactly living his best life!

When we think about our modern lives in evolutionary terms, many of the mental health problems we face can be seen as normal responses to our abnormal environment. This means that we are not necessarily broken, nor should we be ashamed, if we suffer from mental illness. While we cannot, and do not want to go back in time, there are a variety of ways to avoid some of the mental health pitfalls of modern society. This might include looking at certain lifestyle changes to more align with what our brains naturally evolved to handle.

In Session

Nick takes a pragmatic view of therapy and looks for ways clients can get the most from their experience. This means figuring out specific actions clients can take to improve their situation, whatever it may be. He thinks that the primary goal of therapy should be to foster independence in clients and help them to become their own therapist.

In one way or another, everyone comes to therapy with a problem. Nick has significant experience dealing with a variety of issues, including major life changes, loss, health-related issues, and relationship concerns.

Nick’s areas of interest include:

Depression
Anxiety
Career Issues and Development
Grief
Men’s Issues
Chronic Illness or Health Problems
Positive Psychology and Self Actualization
Meaning and Purpose
Self-awareness and Mindfulness
Self Esteem

Often, we feel stable enough in our lives until something comes out of nowhere to knock us off balance. This could be a transition into a new phase of life, the loss of a loved one, or being diagnosed with an illness. Therapy can be a helpful tool for a client to regain their footing.

Through therapy, clients can examine how their thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes contribute to what is going on in their life. In session, Nick will work collaboratively with clients to explore these underlying mental processes to get a better understanding of how they interact with the world.

The therapeutic process almost inevitably involves change, which we all know can be scary. We often avoid making the significant decision to change because we fear leaving our comfort zone. Nick can help clients find the courage to choose what they want in life by offering a new perspective on their options.

In the complex and rapidly changing world we live in today, it can be hard to make sense of everything. Many feel they lack meaning and purpose in their lives, and this can leave them feeling lost. Not knowing who we are, what we value, or feeling that we do not understand the world can lead to bad habits or behaviors that do not serve our best interests. Nick can help clients clarify their values and determine how they align with action to get the most out of life.

We all tell ourselves a story about the experiences we face, whether we realize it or not. Oftentimes, that internal narrative has a way of becoming reality. How clients interpret events can make a big difference in their mental health. Nick will encourage clients to reflect on their story in therapy to reveal potential “plot holes” they might be missing.

Plot holes can also be thought of as blind spots. These could take the form of harmful thoughts or patterns in behavior clients engage in without realizing how damaging they are. Nick can act as a functional mirror to help clients get a better sense of their blind spots and demystify reoccurring problems in their life.

Finally, therapy can also involve education – but don’t worry about homework. Nick enjoys digging through the growing mountain of psychological research and sharing anything he finds relevant to a client’s treatment. Nick firmly believes that when clients learn more about how their minds work, it can be therapeutic!

Background

Nick is a native Michigander who received his undergraduate degree in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University. He spent the first 15 years of his professional life building and managing high achieving, diverse teams in restaurants. This experience gave Nick an up-close look at a wide range of human behavior and psychology. Thousands of hungry guests, hundreds of hard-working colleagues, and a handful of demanding business owners taught Nick how to help just about anyone achieve their goals. Over time, Nick realized that he was most fulfilled when he was directly helping people, not just running a business. This revelation led him to pursue a career in mental healthcare.

Along the way, he also studied nutritional science and developed a deep appreciation of the important link between the foods we eat and our overall wellbeing. Nick is also an avid reader of nonfiction, a croquet enthusiast and fan of tabletop roleplaying games. He hopes one day to explore the emerging practice of combining roleplaying games and therapy.

Nicholas Hy (Intern Therapist)'s Resume