Meet Dr. Nykiel, MD
I founded Justus Mental Health to extend my services beyond psychotherapy – I am here to connect, teach, learn, and share, accessibly.
I am currently accepting speaking invitations and new patients.
View my CV here
Experience Summary
Dr. Nykiel’s journey to becoming a psychiatrist is deeply rooted in her unwavering commitment to serving others.
After becoming the first in her family to graduate college, she embarked on a career in education, becoming a teacher. After several years of encouraging students to work toward their dreams, she decided to do the same. She left the classroom as a teacher and returned as a student, eventually graduating from the University of California School of Medicine with her medical degree. She continued her studies at Harvard University’s Massachusetts General/McLean Hospital Adult Psychiatry Residency and MGH Brigham Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship.
Throughout this journey, Dr. Nykiel dedicated herself to understanding the complexities of human behavior and honing her skills to provide compassionate, exceptional psychiatric care.
Her personal experiences coupled with her passion for social justice helped her to become a fierce advocate for equitable access to mental health and addiction treatment, leading her to both clinical and administrative leadership roles in university hospitals, community programs and state and local government.
Undergraduate
I achieved my medical degree from the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine.
Residency and Fellowship
I then completed a Residency at Massachusetts General/McLean Hospitals/Harvard School of Medicine Adult Psychiatry and proceeded to a Fellowship with the Mass General Brigham/Harvard School of Medicine Addiction Psychiatry.
Career
My clinical expertise is in the treatment of co-occurring borderline personality disorders and substance use disorders, trauma and opioid use disorders, including the use of buprenorphine.
I have extensive administrative and program development expertise, having served as the Medical Director of: McLean Fernside; Boston Medical Center Outpatient Psychiatry; Boston Public Health Commission Behavioral Health Services; First Steps Treatment Center at Crozer Keystone; and as the Chief of Addiction Psychiatry and Medical Director of the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. I currently work as the Behavioral Health Medical Director for the Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance.
Justus Mental Health
In 2019, I decided to found Justus Mental Health to expand my offerings to the public to include education, consultation, and psychiatry services. I will always serve individual patients on their mental health journey, but my passion is education.
Testimonials
See what it’s like to work with me.
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Testimonial
Dr. Nykiel was amazing when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I knew I needed help with my anxiety, depression and instant menopause; Dr. Nykiel was right there for me. When we decided medication would be necessary, she took the time to research meds and work with my oncologist to ensure that nothing counteracted my chemo. People say I was a rockstar through treatment, but I was only able to handle everything with Dr. Nykiel’s help.
Testimonial
Dr. Nykiel made me feel safe in sharing what needed to be shared. She came up with a plan for me and even three back up plans just in case it wasn’t working for me. She cares deeply about the people she is working with and truly wants the best for them.
Testimonial
My life is my story, I’m the author who holds the pen. I’ve written and experienced amazing chapters in my book, yet secretly I carry pages filled with loneliness, sadness, fear, trauma, ADHD, infertility, death of loved ones, and divorce within me. When I turned 50, my pen was replaced by a pencil because everything I knew was quickly being erased. I lost my sense of value and worth and I knew I needed help.
Under the care and guidance of Dr. Nykiel, I’ve found a safe and sacred place where I can speak without judgment, discuss difficult topics all while crying and laughing. She has given me a new pair of reading glasses which has provided me incredible insight into my past, a different perspective on how to view things and the gift of moving forward without secrets. She has taught me invaluable skills and practices which gave me the gift of true confidence. My book is now being written with ink, pencils, and crayons because Dr. Nykiel has given me the courage to write again in a way that is truly who I was meant to be.