Dr. Nichole Ayres, MBA, LICSW is the Clinic Director at The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities in Lakewood, Washington where she oversees all operations while following evidence-based practice guidelines. As a leader, she is passionate about building teams and organizational culture that fosters inclusivity, wholeheartedness, and innovation in the care provided and the partnerships created in our community. Nichole thrives in opportunities to lead and share her passion and expertise. which she currently does through several volunteer advisory boards and working group efforts. As a clinician, Dr. Ayres has more than ten years of experience, with a special focus on the treatment of trauma/complex trauma across generations, trauma-informed care across healthcare settings, military social work, CBT for Youth, and clinical risk management. Additionally, Nichole has a decade of experience developing and providing training across several clinical domains including topics related to suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, understanding the whole-person impact of trauma, and military cultural competency. Dr. Ayres is a master trainer for the Cohen Veterans Network’s Suicide Prevention Foundations Program and is currently licensed as an independent clinical social worker, mental health counselor, and an approved supervisor in Washington. She earned a Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University. As a military spouse of over 14 years, Nichole shares that leading the Cohen Military Family Clinic team and serving the JBLM region is a dream come true.
