Meet Nikki Winchester | Founder & CEO, Cincinnati Center for DBT

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki Winchester and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikki, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had always intended to start a private psychotherapy practice, but I had not expected it to be so soon! I knew I had to do something different when it became clear that a work/life balance would never be attainable at the previous organization I worked at. I had to bust a lot of myths about starting a private practice, do a lot of research, and receive a lot of business consultation, but once I busted the myths, the path was really clear. I was also very aware that there were very few practices providing truly adherent dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in our local community and I felt called to start a practice that people could go to as a reliable hub for adherent DBT treatment, training, and education.

Once I was in private practice for several months, I saw that there was truly a need for what I was providing, and the need was much greater than what I alone could provide. So I got in touch with my values. I realized that there were very few local therapists whom I trusted to provide DBT adherently and felt concerned about the future of our community once we retired. So I made a decision that it would become my mission to train as many therapists in providing adherent DBT as possible so that this community will continue to have adherent DBT available to it for years and years to come. This is how I expanded my practice from a solo to a group practice.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Please tell us more about your business. Cincinnati Center for DBT is a group of highly-specialized, extensively trained clinicians who are passionate about helping people reduce their suffering effectively.
We specialize in treating children, teens, adults, and families who experience disorders of emotion regulation. Our specialties include suicidal and self-harming behaviors, borderline personality disorder (BPD), anxiety, depression, anger, substance use disorders, trauma & PTSD, bipolar disorder, and severe mental illness.

What sets us apart from other DBT practices?

Adherent DBT sessions
DBT sessions are adherent to the Linehan model. We have two-hour multi-family groups where a teen and a caregiver attend with multiple teens and caregivers to get the skills. Clinicians are continuously learning and strengthening their skillsets throughout their time at CCDBT.

Comprehensive DBT all in one place
We provide comprehensive DBT in the same place. Clients can attend both individual DBT and DBT skills training with us and receive 24/7 phone coaching.

Measurement-based care to track progress
We are invested in client outcomes and monitor them throughout treatment, making adjustments as necessary to help clients reach their goals.

what you are most proud of or excited about?
I am so proud of the rapid growth we have experienced. We have a quality team and every team member has something special they bring to the practice that makes us better. I’m looking forward to continuing to bring on new team members and expand our impact in 2024.

How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

I got to where I am in my business through the love, support, and mentorship of all the people and programs I mentioned in the shout outs. I couldn’t have done this without any one of those amazing resources. Building a business is definitely not easy and takes so much time in the start-up phase. I experienced challenges with setting up the initial business processes as well as finding work/life balance after the business processes were established; I sought out consultation from those who had successfully navigated these challenges before me and implemented their advice. I think that’s the biggest learning point – find the people who have done it before, and ideally have done it better, and get their help in setting up what you’re doing.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
At Cincinnati Center for DBT, we are truly committed to providing effective, evidence-based treatment. In regards to DBT, you will get the well-researched treatment from us and will not have to wonder if you are truly getting DBT. We are committed to reducing suffering in the world and we have many talented and skilled providers on staff to fulfill this mission.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For one, I would definitely bring them to the Cincinnati Center for DBT office at 126 Wellington Pl in Mt Auburn because it is so beautifully decorated and feels like home. I’m very proud of it.

For restaurants, we’d have to hit up Bakersfield OTR, Taqueria Mercado downtown, Ambar India, Joe’s Pizza Napoli, Ferrari’s Little Italy, and Chuy’s.

For desserts, we’d definitely have to visit Old Milford Parlour, Servatii’s, Graeter’s, and Mt. Healthy Dairy Bar.

For fun, we’d hang out around OTR and the Banks, go ice skating on Fountain Square, and maybe catch a musical downtown.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many people to thank for getting me to where I am in my journey and career.

My parents, and especially my dad, for modeling perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit. My parents continuously pushed me to do well academically and provided me with the resources to do so.

Mrs. Johnson, my 8th grade math teacher, for talking me into taking high school AP and Honors classes.

The University of Dayton for letting me take Abnormal Psychology ahead of schedule and Dr. Carolyn Roecker Phelps for saying during an Abnormal Psych lecture that one should pursue a career in psychology rather than psychiatry if they truly wanted to build relationships with clients; this changed my entire career trajectory from premed to psychology (and allowed me to skip the dreaded organic chemistry).

Xavier University for accepting me into their Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program and matching me with my mentor, Dr. Nick Salsman.

I owe a great, great deal of gratitude to Dr. Nick Salsman, who taught me almost everything I know about DBT. Because of him, so many people have built a life worth living, including myself.

Cincinnati VA for incredible training experiences.

All of my former clinical supervisors, including Drs. Nick Salsman, Katie Myers, Jim Esmail, Dionne Hollis, Dick Sexton, Laurie Greco, Shauna Keane-Timberlake, Connie Boehner, Teri Bolte, Alyssa Lieb, Jennifer Lewis, Ric. Monroe, Nancy Gustin, Meredith Klump, & Ryan Faulkner.

Bailey Bryant for supporting me and providing the resources as I started my private practice.

Next Level Practice, Group Practice Boss, Whitney Owens, and Alison Pidgeon for helping me set up the business the right way from the start.

Amber Hawley for helping me achieve work/life balance.

Stabilize & Scale, Katie Keates May, and Shaelene Kite for helping me fine-tune my business systems and providing all-around support.

Website: https://www.cincinnaticenterfordbt.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cincinnaticenterfordbt/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/65523665

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cincinnaticenterfordbt

Youtube: @cincinnaticenterfordbt4217

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cincinnaticenterfordbt?_t=8UBB2Y8HCDW&_r=1

Image Credits
Tasha Pinelo Photography