Natalie Nordlund, PsyD, NCSP

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Psychologist, Consultant, Author

Natalie Nordlund Psy.D., NCSP

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Photo by Autumn Layne Photography
I am a licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist, with a background working primarily with youth, and providing direct services as well as engaging in systems-level/prevention work and consultation. I am passionate about utilizing, creating, and collaboratively developing children’s media/entertainment and companion resources to help cultivate youth’s social-emotional development and well-being.

Prior to returning to graduate school to earn my doctorate degree in School Psychology, I worked as a school psychologist in urban public schools. Beyond having worked as a school psychologist, I have years of experience providing group and individual therapy and conducting psychological evaluations, having provided direct services primarily with youth and across multiple settings including schools, outpatient clinics, and private practice. I additionally have over five years of experience providing both individual and group supervision to student trainees across various settings. I also have experience engaging in systems-level/prevention work and consultation with schools, organizations, and programs, including:

  • developing and delivering mental health and wellness-focused workshops, programming, and trainings;
  • leading and supporting the development, implementation, and evaluation of schoolwide, organization-wide, and statewide initiatives grounded in equity-focused, trauma-informed practices and mental health and well-being;
  • and developing and leading or utilizing games/activities, interactive lessons/presentations, media/entertainment, and companion materials for youth, parents/caregivers, and educators.

When working with youth, I often incorporate play, storytelling, children’s media/entertainment, and creative expression tools and activities including art for learning about and practicing social-emotional concepts/skills, to help with self-expression and self-exploration, and for cultivating connection, aiming to ensure youth can feel truly seen and heard in a way that works best for them. When working with families, providers, and systems that serve, support, and educate youth, I aim to help make talking about mental health topics, concepts, and skills as accessible, helpful, and meaningful as possible.

Overall, in addition to providing direct services, I am passionate about prevention/systems-level initiatives and systems change work, specifically aiming to help:

  • cultivate children’s social-emotional development and make conversations about mental health and wellness normalized early on with youth in an engaging, kid-friendly way;
  • foster meaningful, healing connections within and with others;
  • create spaces that actively and visibly value youth voice, diversity, accessibility, holistic well-being, and other values that also embody equity-focused, trauma-informed practices;
  • and develop and provide children’s media/entertainment and companion resources for families, educators, and child-serving providers that are engaging, developmentally aligned, accessible, inclusive, and helpful in cultivating youth’s social-emotional development and well-being..
Beyond acquired professional knowledge and experiences, and people I have learned from along the way, my passions and work greatly stem from and are inspired by my younger self–
  • A young girl who loved, learned from, and was inspired by the films and shows she watched and books she read, but who still needed ones that didn’t yet exist.
  • A young girl who—despite stressors, challenges, and adverse experiences—was grateful to have had supportive, loving people in her life and places of joy and oasis.
  • A young girl who on the outside seemed to be thriving, but who kept a lot inside.
  • A young girl who coped and expressed herself in ways beyond words spoken, including music, dance, writing, and art.

Degrees Held:

  • B.A. in Psychology and Sociology (2015)  | Drake University – Des Moines, IA
    • Concentration in Behavior Analysis of Developmental Disabilities
  • M.Ed. in Psychology (2017) | The Chicago School – Chicago, IL
  • Ed.S. in School Psychology (2018) | The Chicago School – Chicago, IL (NASP Accredited)
  • Psy.D. in School Psychology (2023) | The Chicago School – Chicago, IL (APA Accredited)

Licenses & Certifications

  • Licensed Psychologist – New York (026746) and Wisconsin (5239-57)
  • School Psychologist license/certification – New York (4372491) and Wisconsin (3001026894)
  • Nationally Certified School Psychologist (52588)