Gentilly is a neighborhood of raised cottages, wide streets and strong family ties, stretching toward the lakefront and home to Dillard University, with the University of New Orleans close by. People here look out for one another, and looking after your own mental health is part of that. If you are looking for a therapist in Gentilly, Nicole Freire, MA, PLPC offers counseling for individuals, couples, families, children and teens at one flat rate of $100 per session. Sessions are available online for anyone in Louisiana and in person in Metairie.
This page explains how Nicole works with people in Gentilly, what kinds of concerns she helps with, what sessions cost and how to get started.
A Therapist in Gentilly for Individuals, Couples and Families
Choosing a therapist in Gentilly should not mean choosing a different office for every member of your household. Nicole provides four kinds of counseling, so the same person can support you as your needs change.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions give you a private place to talk through anxiety, low mood, grief, stress or a difficult decision. You set the goals, and Nicole helps you understand what is happening and build practical skills to manage it. Learn more about individual therapy.
Couples Therapy
Couples in Gentilly come to counseling for communication problems, recurring arguments, broken trust, or simply feeling more like roommates than partners. Nicole stays neutral, slows the conversation down and helps each of you feel heard. Learn more about couples therapy.
Family Therapy
When one person in a family is struggling, everyone feels it. Family sessions bring parents, children and other relatives together to improve communication, ease conflict and get through changes such as divorce, blended households or loss. Learn more about family therapy.
Child and Adolescent Counseling
Children and teens often show distress through behavior, falling grades or withdrawal. Nicole helps young people name what they feel and learn age-appropriate ways to cope, and she gives parents clear guidance for supporting them at home. Learn more about child and adolescent counseling.
Life in Gentilly: What Brings People to Counseling
Gentilly is known for its close-knit blocks, churches, schools and multigenerational households. Many residents are balancing work, raising children and helping older relatives at the same time, which leaves little room for their own needs. College students nearby face academic pressure and big decisions about the future. Families who rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina may still carry stress that resurfaces each storm season. Some people grew up hearing that problems should be handled privately or through faith alone, and reaching out to a counselor can feel like a big step. It is a sign of strength, and counseling can sit comfortably alongside the support you already have.
You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis to talk with a therapist in Gentilly. If something has been weighing on you for more than a couple of weeks, or it is starting to affect your work, sleep or relationships, that is reason enough.
What Counseling Can Help With
- Anxiety and stress: constant worry, tension and trouble switching off. See stress management therapy.
- Depression: low mood, loss of interest and exhaustion. See depression counseling.
- Trauma: the lasting effects of frightening or painful experiences. See trauma counseling.
- Anger: reactions that feel bigger than the moment. See anger management counseling.
- Relationship and family conflict: communication breakdowns, separation, co-parenting and blended-family adjustments.
- Life transitions: a new job, a move, becoming a parent, retirement or grief.
For a plain-language explanation of how talk therapy works, see the American Psychological Association overview of psychotherapy.
Online Sessions From Gentilly, In Person in Metairie
Most Gentilly clients meet with Nicole online, from home or even from a parked car on a lunch break. For those who want to meet in person, sessions are held in Metairie, reached by a drive along the interstate.
Online sessions take place over a secure video platform and last 50 minutes, the same as an office visit. You need to be located in Louisiana at the time of your session. The practice address is 1110 Erato Street, Ste 2, New Orleans, LA 70130. Whichever format you choose, what you share is private; you can read more about confidentiality in therapy.
About Nicole Freire, MA, PLPC
Nicole is a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC), a license issued by the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and practices under clinical supervision through Magnolia Family Counseling. Her approach is humanistic and person-centered, which means you are treated as the expert on your own life. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients notice unhelpful thought patterns and practice new responses. You can read more about Nicole.
$100 Sessions and Simple Scheduling
Every session is $100, whether it is for an individual, a couple or a family, online or in person. Southern Therapy does not bill insurance directly; if your plan includes out-of-network coverage, see out-of-network therapy benefits. Appointments are available Monday and Wednesday from 9AM to 6PM, Tuesday and Thursday from 10AM to 5PM, and Saturday from 10AM to 2PM. Full details are on the fees page.
How to Start With a Therapist in Gentilly
- Reach out. Call or text 504-321-3499 or book online.
- Have a free consultation. Describe what is going on, ask questions and see whether Nicole feels like a good fit.
- Schedule your first session. Choose online or in person and a time that suits you.
- Set goals together. You and Nicole agree on what you want to be different and how you will work toward it.
Questions From Gentilly Residents
Can several members of my family take part in one session?
Yes. Family sessions can include parents, children, grandparents or other relatives. With online sessions, family members can even join from different locations.
How much does a therapist in Gentilly cost?
Rates vary from practice to practice. With Nicole, every 50-minute session is $100.
How long will I be in counseling?
It depends on your goals. Some people come for a few months with a specific concern, and others stay longer. See how long therapy takes.
Is there an office in Gentilly?
Nicole does not see clients at a location in Gentilly itself. Residents meet with her online, or in person in Metairie.
Nicole also works with residents of Uptown, Garden District, Mid-City, New Orleans East, Lakeview, Warehouse District and Metairie.
Southern Therapy is not a crisis service. In an emergency call 911, or call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
If you have been searching for a therapist in Gentilly, Nicole would be glad to hear from you. Book your free consultation today.