Career Counseling, Men’s Issues, Relationships, Anxiety, Stress / Mental Stress / Work Stress
Accepted insurance & self-pay
About Gordon Niel
Gordon Niel Climer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 7 years of experience in behavioral health. Niel specializes in working with individual adults and couples working through issues that create stuck places.
Niel completed his Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Southern California. He came to social work because three issues caused him to stay up at night: poverty, mental health, and substance abuse. He felt inadequate to address these issues in the community and moved to study social work. Niel specializes in addressing anxiety, depression and life transition issues. He utilizes mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), shame resiliency, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). He has also studied the Gottman Method for couples therapy.
We live in stressful times and at times we may feel overwhelmed by the complexities of our relationships, work, and our own well-being. Niel works with clients to manage these anxious times helping clients find insights, develop skills, and hone strengths. When you are ready to start this journey, schedule an appointment with him.
Get to know Gordon Niel
Why did you decide to become a counselor?
When I was a pastor, I saw how mental health and substance abuse tore apart the lives of people in my community. I felt powerless to help them, so I chose to start a new career to be more useful. Providing a space for people to unpack their lives without judgment has been a rewarding experience for me.
What types of clients do you work with best?
Clients who are motivated to do the work, but might need a little a direction.
What type of clients are you most excited to work with?
I enjoy working with men but many of clients are women as well.
What’s one thing you wish all clients knew?
One thing I tell clients is when I first did therapy for myself, I did not share everything and the therapy did very little for me. I encourage them to not waste their time like I did.
Why did you choose to practice at Thriveworks?
Thriveworks provides a platform to reach people in my community.
What inspires you?
I have a garden, started during Covid, and I am reminded that taking care of the garden takes work. I have to weed, manage the water, prune plants and sometimes transplant them. Sometimes the work is to wait and watch. That is the work of my own well being weeding, pruning, watering, and transplanting. However the most important work is remember I am human being not a human doer.
What can clients expect in their first session with you?
We will do some administration during the first fifteen minutes. Then we will start the work.
What do you want to accomplish with an individual in their first session?
I hope you leave with a couple of skills that will make life easier.
What should clients know about you before scheduling a first counseling session?
I have a sense of humor.
What do you do for fun/on your time off?
I garden, ride my bike and work on restoring a 30 year old Miata with my son.
What’s one thing about you that defines you (non-professional)?
I work to be brave every day.
Other areas of focus
Education and training
- Years in practice
- 7 years
- Graduating institute
- Univesity
- Graduating degree
- Masters
Additional details
Practice information
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