Meet Nicole Ventour
Nicole Ventour was born in Brooklyn, New York to a teenage mother who had limited education because she was required to sacrifice her own education to help raise her siblings while her mother worked. Nicole's mother also had a developmental disability. This is why Nicole is passionate about an appropriate education. Nicole’s parents married when Nicole was 8 years-old after her father returned from active duty. This started Nicole's life of becoming what’s known as a “Military Brat”. She began traveling with her parents on military tours that took her to other states, overseas, and helped develop her love for various cultures.
When based on Fort Jackson, Nicole became a teen mother at 17 years old. Her teenage pregnancy was the effect of sexual abuse, as a child, and her attempt to escape the domestic violence she was exposed to in the home. She became her mother's protector. At that time, the military did not provide the amazing support they now offer to families experiencing domestic violence and for soldiers battling addiction. Therefore, Nicole found herself not only becoming the protector of her mother, she had to also fight to keep her unborn child, Tony, who her father took her to abort. Her father also later attempted to force her to give up her child for adoption which she refused. This began Nicole's belief of my body my choice. Nicole later refused to travel with the family on their next tour and decided to relocate back to Brooklyn, New York.
After relocating, Nicole began working in health care for a major health insurance company before having her second child, Armani, in 1993, who later died in an auto accident on Labor Day in 1996. This traumatic experience resulted in Nicole ignoring the stigma of mental health by seeking mental health treatment to work through her grief and loss. Nicole’s mother died 6 months after Nicole’s son resulting in Nicole fighting her father and winning custody of her then 13-year-old sister, Shantel. Caring for her then 9-year-old son and 13-year-old sister didn't allow Nicole an opportunity to grieve. She enrolled at Medgar Evers College in 1997 earning a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. Nicole later married, gave birth to her youngest child, Zyhe, in 2006, and earned a Master’s in Social Work in 2007 from Yeshiva University. She's currently on leave from pursing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
In 2012, Nicole and her then 5 years-old son, Zyhe, relocated to Lancaster, SC. Nicole opened The Right Direction, LLC in honor of her mother and son, Armani, by ensuring that children not only received mental health services but academic support. Since then, Nicole continues to advocate for children and families when learning of injustices in the community. Nicole has a history of advocating for children and families in need. As a psychotherapist and advocate Nicole observed how adverse experiences impacted children and families. This led to her increasing her understanding of trauma and how it effects the brain, development, and behavior leading to her becoming Certified in TF-CBT, EMDR trained, and a Brainspotting Practitioner which are trauma informed modalities. Nicole is an advocate for adequate mental health services and educating the public about the difference in treatment modalities.
Nicole has been fighting and advocating since she was 16 years old when protecting her mother and fighting to keep her unborn child. She now wants to fight for justice and liberty for District 45 as your SC House Representative.