Nina J. Hotkowski is a licensed clinical social worker with experience working in a diverse range of roles in the mental health field. She obtained a BA in Psychology from Penn State University in 2002 and a MSW from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005. Nina has worked with adolescents and adults with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues in outpatient and inpatient settings. She also has experience working as a medical social worker with patients requiring critical and end of life care. 

Nina was a senior level clinician at the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services clinic (CABS) for several years where she provided psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and psychiatric assessments through a variety of research studies and clinical programs. She was involved with the development and implementation of several studies for youth with or at risk of developing Bipolar Disorder (BP). These studies also involved assessing and treating suicidal thinking and behavior. Nina has worked as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh MSW program and has facilitated many workshops and lectures with local and national mental health and social service organizations. She is also is a professional advisor to the parent/caregiver support group facilitators through the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Nina currently has a full-time private practice in Pittsburgh, PA where she primarily works with adults who struggle with emotional dysregulation, suicidality, mood disorders, and borderline personality disorder. 

Nina has extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and is committed to making this life-changing treatment more accessible to those seeking mental health care.  She is also motivated to provide training to clinicians who are hoping to integrate DBT into their practice. Nina is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Certified Clinician, which is the gold standard certification for individual DBT therapists.  

Nina also has training and experience using Interpersonal and Social Rhythms Therapy (IPSRT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and elements of forward-facing trauma treatment with patients and families. Nina is particularly interested in how relationships and psychosocial stressors affect the course of illness in adolescents and adults with psychiatric symptoms. She also is committed to decreasing stigma surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.