Nathan Duff, M.Ed., LPC, CCTP, CYMHS, C-DBT, C-PD

Focusing on borderline traits, trauma (in all ages), and adolescents — helping untangle emotions for real understanding and lasting change.

I actually wanted to be a therapist since about 8th grade and started reading textbooks from my dad’s one college psych class. Probably read more about Freud than anyone should, but ah well. I also got into the (probably annoying) habit of trying to play referee in all my friends’ drama during high school. Yeah, that could have ended badly. 😅 But I mention it not because that actually became my passion over time, helping people learn to understand themselves and regulate overwhelming emotions. This eventually led me to focus on teens, adults with borderline personality traits, and trauma of all kinds. (With a special place in my heart for gifted teens having existential crises — basically a hold-over from my school-counseling years.)

My whole backstory is on my website, but briefly: for over a decade, I provided and supervised crisis services (Crisis Intervention / Stabilization, and IIHS), working with just about every diagnosis in the book — from schizophrenic seniors to self-injurious 30-somethings and OCD 9-year-olds. I must say I really enjoyed the adventure, and you really couldn't make up some of the things my team and I saw. During this time, I discovered I was particularly effective with borderline, bipolar, and teens struggling with anxiety or depression.

Often crisis services didn't lend themselves to the depth that some of these individuals needed, particularly regarding trauma. So in 2019 I opened my own practice intending to make this a primary focus. While I treat all kinds of diagnoses at the moment my clients are about 40% sexual trauma, and 20% EMS, military, or other kinds of trauma. I was surprised at the number of female survivors of female sexual perpetrators I've seen — a situation where it seems unexpectedly helpful to be a male in the field. Also I wanted to mention it, because these individuals may have difficulties finding someone to address the unique challenges those situations create.

In terms of credentials, beyond being licensed since 2016, I have certifications in trauma (CCTP), youth (CYMHS), and am certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (C-DBT).

So to end where I began, I'm still interested in the same things I was as a teenager, I just learned to do it better. (Hopefully much better). I'm still driven to help people connect with themselves, navigate relationships, and untangle tough emotions. Also, just like back then, I never get tired of hearing about teen drama 🙂