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    Nicole Tierney, J.D., M.S.

    Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Certified Recovery Support Practitioner
    CPC Integrated Health
    Belford, New Jersey

    Nicole “Nikki” Tierney is the loving mother of four children, including 25-year-old triplets—Ashley, Kyle, and Amanda—and a 21-year-old son, Kole. Nikki has been in sustained remission from opioid use disorder for over a decade.

    A former NCAA Academic All-American, she played both basketball and soccer at the Division II collegiate level. Nikki earned her Juris Doctor (JD) with honors from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1997 and practiced law for nearly 10 years. However, as her opioid use disorder progressed, she made the difficult decision to surrender her law license.

    In 2007, after years of struggling to maintain abstinence from opioids and other substances, Nikki felt helpless and hopeless and attempted to end her life. Unbeknownst to her, this moment marked the beginning of her journey to recovery, health, and wellness. Since that dark day, she has received evidence-based treatment for previously undiagnosed mental health disorders and has dedicated herself to living her best life while helping others do the same.

    Determined to turn her experience into advocacy and professional expertise, Nikki pursued a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Addiction Studies at Monmouth University. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was honored with the 2021 Advocacy Award from the Department of Professional Counseling. Now a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC), Nikki works tirelessly to decrease stigma and remove barriers to treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. She is also a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and a Certified Recovery Support Practitioner.

    In honor of her parents, Nikki and her children founded Hope is NEVER Lost, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use challenges.

    Currently, Nikki works at CPC Integrated Care, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), and operates her private practice, Hope-Fullness Counseling, Prevention, and Education. Additionally, she serves as a policy analyst with the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery, where she continues to push for systemic change in mental health and substance use treatment.

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