Nicole "Nikki" Wendt
Atlanta, GA · nikkiw1401@gmail.com · linkedin.com/in/nikki-wendt
Warm, steady caregiver who has cared for babies, toddlers, and young children in family homes since 2019, including children with ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and PANS. Builds trusting relationships with parents and shares observations about their child's growth in a clear, encouraging way. Psychology graduate (cum laude), now earning an M.S. in Clinical Counseling Psychology.
Relevant experience
Professional Nanny / Family Assistant · Private Families, Atlanta, GA2019 – Present
- Care for infants through school-age children, including children with developmental disabilities.
- Check in with parents daily about milestones, behavior, and feelings, and plan next steps together.
- Adapt care for children with ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and PANS, encouraging OT and parent-led play therapy and helping families find support in their area.
- Manage schedules and driving for several siblings at once, including car seat safety and installation.
Family Support Provider (part-time) · GA DBHDD COMP WaiverJun 2025 – Present
- Provide in-home and community support for a young adult with Level 3 autism under an individual service plan, building daily living skills.
- Use crisis intervention techniques to keep everyone safe during severe physical aggression.
- Drive him to doctor's and therapy appointments, following a car safety plan developed with his family.
Lead Preschool Teacher · Children's Academy of Hickory Flat, Canton, GAMar 2021 – Jan 2022
- Led a class of 22 toddlers, writing play-based lesson plans for language, social-emotional growth, and independence; potty trained every child before they moved up to the 3-year-old room.
- Talked with parents daily about their child's development, shared concerns gently, and referred several families to Babies Can't Wait for hearing, speech, and sensory concerns.
- Kept daily logs of meals, diaper changes, milestones, behavior, and incidents, and took daily photos of each child and class events.
Peer Counselor · Kennesaw State UniversityJun 2024 – May 2025
- Gave confidential support to diverse students and wrote SOAP notes under strict privacy rules.
- Referred students to campus clinics, addiction services, and group sessions as needed.
- Worked closely with KSU's Vice President of Student Affairs on campus mental health initiatives.
Undergraduate Research Assistant · KSU Developmental Research CollectiveAug 2023 – May 2025
- Observed and recorded children's behavior in six studies; handled consent and private data.
- Delivered poster and oral presentations of research findings at more than five regional and national conferences, including SEPA and APS.
Education
M.S., Clinical Counseling Psychology · Brenau University · In progress. Play Therapy Specialization.
B.S., Psychology, Cum Laude · Kennesaw State University. Double minor in Biology and Data Science & Analytics.
Certifications & specialized training
- NASPA Certified Peer Counselor
- Kognito Mental Health Simulation
- Mental Health First Aid
- QPR Suicide Prevention
- Naloxone & Opioid Overdose Response
- CPR / First Aid
- JED Campus Mental Health
- Be There Certification (Born This Way)
- FERPA Training
Skills & languages
Key skills: Infant & child development · Parent partnership · Crisis intervention · SOAP notes
Languages: English (native) · Russian (native) · ASL (proficient) · Driving record: Perfect, no tickets