About
Nyck Walsh, MA, LPC (he/they)
Early on in the pandemic, both me and The Infinite U went through a bit of an internal and external overhaul, and the organization shifted again. This time, the shift meant letting go of social groups and the focus on kids and teens, and I transitioned who I serve to focus on adults of all ages. After moving to Massachusetts from Colorado with my partner at the time, and my continued growth and evolution, The Infinite U transformed into Nyck Walsh Counseling & Training Center.
Fast forward a few more years and more change, more growth, and more letting go ensued. There seems to be no shortage of growth opportunities on this journey of mine! I returned to Colorado solo as a transmasculine person, a budding author, and fairly unmasked. In the midst of all this change, grief, and expansion, I wrote my first book. Writing provided me a sacred tether to my purpose, passion, and eventual legacy at a time when I needed it most. Neurodivergent Somatics in Therapy: an anti-oppressive model for whole person care will be released by Norton Professional Books in March 2026.
As a social justice, anti-oppression counselor, I recognize that I hold both privileged and marginalized identities and that these directly inform my lived experience. As a white, queer, trans, Autistic, VAST, highly sensitive, empathic, pro-Palestine Jewish human/earth-suit wearer, I am deeply invested in continual exploration and unpacking of these identities in support of liberation for all humans. (To learn more about what it means to me to be a pro-Palestine Jewish person, please click here: www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/resource/zionism/)
Being a therapist and counselor educator are sources of tremendous passion and purpose for me. So much more than a “job,” it is a sacred calling. Outside of my helping role, I can be found communing with our beloved planet Earth; frolicking among the trees with Tuck, my adventure cat and 4 legged bestie; enjoying quality time with loved ones; savoring sensory delight; and vegging out with a good show or movie. Being a human, let alone a trans, Autistic, VAST, empathic human in 2025 is quite the feat!
Hello there :-) Since pre-adolescence I’ve been passionate about self-growth, justice, and contributing to the betterment of planet Earth. From leadership roles in environmental organizations, to delving into spirituality, holistic health, and yoga, and later to social justice and somatic counseling, my path has been one of growth, service, and justice.
After a lot of wandering (floundering is probably more accurate ;-) during the very difficult decade of my 20s, I had a pivotal moment in the late 00’s (roughly 2008 or 2009) that impacted the trajectory of my future. I had a serendipitous opportunity to teach a yoga class to Autistic kids and their families. Suddenly my most ridiculed parts of myself-my gentleness, sensitivity, seriousness, and playfulness-quickly became my greatest assets. This inspired the creation of The Infinite U in 2009, an organization focused on yoga for Autistic youth.
After going to Naropa University for graduate school in somatic psychotherapy, the organization evolved into a somatic-oriented counseling practice and builder of social communities for Autistic adolescents. It was this sense of being “at home” with Autistic people that ignited my quest to better understand my own unique brain body wiring. Highly Sensitive captured some of it, Empath captured more, but it wasn’t until listening to and learning more from the adult online #ActuallyAutistic community that things clicked. “Yes, I am Autistic, too!” …and then came the imposter syndrome, excitement, grief, fear, and LIBERATION. And later, also VAST (Variable Attention Stimulus Trait or VAST [E Hallowell & J Ratey], a more affirming and accurate alternative to what is medically known as ADHD).
The Story Behind The Name: “Nyck Walsh Counseling & Training Center”
For a long time, I didn’t understand why people named their businesses after themselves. I loved that my organization was called “The Infinite U” because it didn’t center me; it was about the people I served connecting with themselves in a greater way. It was “of me,” but not “about me.”
Fast forward years later to my series of coming outs, starting with “I’m so gay!” (which later got traded out for “I’m so queer!”), followed by, “nope, definitely not a woman.” Non-binary felt much more accurate, until transmasculine became even more accurate, though that journey continues to evolve, too! (I often just use the word “trans” to describe myself….as in, “not cis!”). Along the way, I was inspired to change my name from the one given to me by my parents.
It was the middle of the night and I was awoken to a nudge to go meditate. My dad’s presence appeared and lulled me into a most sacred and profoundly unexpected experience (by that point, my dad had been dead for over 15 years). I was in the process of exploring what name would be a better, more expansive fit for me in my trans identity. My dad offered me a message: “whatever you choose, choose something that means ‘victory’.”
This message inspired me to do a little research about my given name. To my utter surprise, it turned out that the name my parents gave me meant “victory of the people!” Talk about a “whoa!” type of moment. Inspired by my dad, I got creative and made the choice to give myself a new version of that name. Nick, or Nic, or Nik didn’t capture who I was becoming. Instead, I opted for creativity and came up with “Nyck.” I knew I needed something different, something uniquely me.
Fast forward another year or so and I was ready to make my name change legal. This offered a lot of permission and an opportunity to change my other names, too, including middle and last. By that point, I was the only “Calvano” left in my immediate family of origin, the name of my dad’s dad. “Calvano” felt synonymous with “lonely” and “trauma.” I was growing a new life with my then partner, and noticed that their last name evoked a sense of “belonging” for me. “Walsh” felt like community, being a part of something bigger, having a “place” in this world. Choosing “Walsh” felt like permission to let go and choose a new beginning, a new future.
While I was at it, I figured I might as well choose a new middle name, too. All this permission and choice! Inspired by another spiritual experience, this time with the support of a sacred plant medicine, I was called to choose “Metatron.” Metatron is known as the archangel of the sensitive ones, and is one of very few archangels believed to have transcended from human form. As a human, Metatron was known as Enoch, a scribe, and I’ve always loved to write! Also, the “M” offered an honoring to my mom who had died several years earlier (it is a Jewish tradition to honor the dead by naming the living after them, whether with the exact name or an initial).
While it felt almost too darn badass to receive/take on, I had my new name chosen: “Nyck Metatron Walsh,” translated as Victory, supported by the Overseer of the Sensitive, Belonging. This name was so much bigger than me alone. This name was an invocation, an intention of heart and soul desire, and something to be called. From this place of leaning into internal and external expansion, I was inspired to re-name my organization to include my new name.
At the same time, my work was growing to include not just counseling clients, but also counselor education and advocacy. I had come up with other ideas, but the addition of “Training Center” evoked a feeling of expansion, possibility, and inspiration. It was scary, but exciting! I knew that was the feeling I wanted to grow into and to allow the future to unfold in ways I couldn’t yet imagine.
When I put it all together, it became “Nyck Walsh Counseling and Training Center.” While yes, it includes my name, my name is so much bigger than myself. It is a desire for all to experience the victory of being themselves, of being known, of honoring their sensitivity, of celebrating the small moments, of safety, freedom and liberation. To be deeply supported by that which is bigger than ourselves, including our precious Earth and the spirit realm, and for all of us to experience a sense of being a part of community, feeling connected to others, of belonging.
And thus, The Infinite U transformed into Nyck Walsh Counseling and Training Center.