Meet Nicole Woolf of Wolf Den Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Woolf.

Hi Nicole, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been connected to the mental health field since high school, when I volunteered at a teen crisis hotline. From there, I studied linguistics at UC Berkeley, earned a Master’s in Education at San Francisco State, and eventually went on to complete my Master’s in Social Work at USC.

I began my career working with kids in Los Angeles — first in public elementary schools with children ages 6 to 12, and later in an intensive outpatient program supporting kids with emotional challenges. Eventually, I shifted into working with adults, focusing on anxiety and trauma.

What I noticed along the way was how much daily wellbeing is tied to the basics — things like rest, energy, and balance. So many of the people I worked with were running on empty, worn down from months or years of poor sleep, and it affected every part of their lives. Wanting to help, I pursued advanced training in insomnia and sleep disorders through Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania. That decision changed the course of my work.

If you had told me back in high school that one day I’d be so invested in helping people reclaim their nights — down to the details of routines and habits — I probably would have laughed. But over time, I realized that helping people finally rest well doesn’t just change their nights, it changes their lives. And that realization became the foundation for Wolf Den Therapy.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but I think that’s true for most people in this field. Early on, one of the hardest things was figuring out how to support others without getting too personally caught up in their struggles. Then the pandemic hit, and suddenly I was working from home and had to find ways to separate “work mode” from “home mode.” Something as simple as using a light to signal when the workday started and ended became a small but important boundary that helped me keep those worlds from blending together.

On top of that, life threw other challenges my way. After the Altadena fire, my family and I had to relocate, which meant rebuilding stability both at home and in my practice. Parenting has also added its own set of challenges — especially when it comes to maintaining balance and boundaries. But honestly, practicing those same skills in my own life has made me stronger in my work. Those experiences taught me resilience and reminded me that the same boundaries and balance I work on with clients are things I’ve had to practice myself.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Wolf Den Therapy?
At Wolf Den Therapy, I help people who are struggling with sleep — especially insomnia and nightmares. Most of the people I see come in completely worn down. They’ve tried medications, supplements, and every “sleep hack” out there, but nothing works. Night after night, they lie awake, exhausted and anxious, wondering if they’ll ever get real rest again.

That’s where I come in. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which is the gold standard treatment proven to help people retrain their mind and body to sleep. It’s not about tricks or quick fixes — it’s a structured, supportive process that actually works. I trained at Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania, and I bring that knowledge into every session so clients can finally see lasting change.

What sets Wolf Den apart is that I don’t just treat sleep in isolation. Anxiety, trauma, depression, and grief are often deeply tied to poor sleep, and I’ve spent years working in those areas as well. That bigger-picture approach means people feel supported not just in getting better sleep, but in feeling better overall.

What I’m most proud of is seeing people who once felt hopeless about their sleep finally find relief. Giving people their nights back — and with that, their energy, focus, and joy during the day — is what Wolf Den Therapy is all about. And if there’s one thing I want readers to know, it’s this: you don’t have to accept poor sleep as your “normal.” There are proven approaches that can help, and you don’t have to go through it alone.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing change. In the beginning, that meant watching kids take small steps in learning how to handle their emotions. These days, it’s seeing someone who hasn’t slept well in months — sometimes years — finally get a full night’s rest and start to feel like themselves again. Watching people go from struggling to thriving is incredibly rewarding and reminds me why I do this work.

On a personal level, I’m happiest when I’m creating. For me, that shows up in building and showing cars. It’s hands-on, creative, and completely different from my day-to-day work, but it gives me the same sense of joy and grounding that comes from seeing transformation in other parts of life. Of course, time with my family is also a huge source of happiness — it’s those everyday moments that keep me grounded and remind me what really matters.

Pricing:

• Individual therapy sessions are $250.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wolfdentherapy.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/yoursleeptherapist

Image Credits
Keturah Bishop