Kathy Nickerson PhD

Dr. Kathy Nickerson is a licensed clinical psychologist and nationally recognized relationship expert who has helped thousands of couples. Over the past 22 years, Kathy has presented marriage and relationship advice at more than 70 conferences, while authoring more than 85 professional articles and books. She is a frequent contributor to CNBC, MSN, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, Bustle, Medium, Insider, UpJourney, Fatherly, Zoe Report, Bridal Guide, CNN, PsychCentral, Forbes, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, LA Times, Newsweek and many more. Dr. Kathy radiates a sincere, familiar warmth that makes everyone she talks to feel comforted. She captivates readers and listeners with her vibrant and humorous style of communication. Kathy’s approachable and transparent style makes her feel like an "open book," and she is beloved by her clients for intuitively understanding their ideas and feelings. Dr. Kathy earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in psychology at Capella University, following her undergraduate work at UC Irvine in Chemistry. Kathy began her career teaching and counseling at-risk youth with the Orange County Health Care Agency. Kathy then led a distinguished program for the United States Department of Justice, where she and her team trained people how to recognize and respond to domestic violence and child abuse. During these years, Kathy discovered the critical importance of healthy relationships on individuals and families. Dr. Kathy found that strong marriages contributed greatly to the mental and physical health of her clients. From that point on, Kathy dedicated her career exclusively to helping couples strengthen and repair their relationships. Dr. Kathy has spent thousands of hours working with and studying couples in all stages of their relationships, from those just starting out to those who have been together for decades. Kathy has been happily married for 24 years and brings her real-life experiences to all aspects of her work. When she’s away from the office, Dr. Kathy delights in being a wife, sister, auntie and friend. She and her husband enjoy traveling together, digging for fossils, and volunteering with Southern California Bulldog Rescue. Kathy loves to read, work in her garden, experiment in the kitchen, and make handmade gifts for friends. When she wants to relax, Kathy curls up on the couch with her bulldogs and a great glass of wine to watch a true crime show.