Q & A with Niki (she/her)

How did I become involved with 515 Fitness Inc.?

I have a deep-seated belief that mind and body wellness go hand in hand. I took a chance and stepped outside of the normal boxes of both personal training and mental health counseling in the hopes of revolutionizing the face of traditional therapy. My passion for helping others is echoed by all of 515’s dedicated therapists and employees who firmly believe that, for someone to be functioning at their highest possible level, they have to be at their best both mentally and physically.

With my enthusiastic mindset, contagious positive energy, and desire for everyone to feel great around me, I have taken my original concept and turned it into an exciting corporate venture!

What's the most inspiring part of your job? 

The clients. When 515 is told that we changed their life.

The best piece of advice I've been given is...

“What I learned…was to treat causes of problems and not just the symptoms…”

Niki Perry, LCPC, Owner & Innovator of 515 Fitness Inc.

  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

  • MA. Counseling Psychology from Lewis University

  • BA. Psychology from Edinboro University

  • Nationally Recognized Certified Personal Trainer (ISSA)

  • Member of the American Counseling Association

  • Registered Yoga Teacher of the Yoga Alliance

  • CPR and AED certification

Niki has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Edinboro University. Counseling psychology assists individuals through the many normal transitions that can be experienced throughout life. In addition to her counseling education, she paid special attention to learning how to work with kids and adolescents to improve various life skills, such as:

  • Understanding why we must experience emotions and what these emotions can look and act like.

  • Mindfulness and emotion awareness.

  • Cognitive flexibility training.

  • Imagery-based exposure.

  • Situational-emotion exposure.

  • Interpersonal effectiveness or communication.

  • Relapse prevention.

In addition to her counseling degrees, she possess a certification in Personal Training from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). This has provided her with the knowledge to enable individuals to live a healthy lifestyle. She has acquired knowledge and skills in these areas:

  • Basic muscle anatomy and physiology.

  • Metabolism and body composition.

  • Kinesiology of exercise.

  • Muscle mechanics.

  • Strength training.

  • Mind Reading.

  • Cardiovascular training theory.

  • Training principles for all types of individuals.

She served as a professional in the counseling field for over ten years before deciding to embrace a new patented approach to counseling by combining mental health therapy techniques with physical fitness. She has been shaped as a professional by her many counseling experiences, including:

  • Mentor in the Adolescent Unit of an Ohio psychiatric hospital.

  • Counselor at various Pennsylvania adolescent group homes, including homes for troubled teen girls, teen boys, juvenile sex offenders, and at a 24 hour youth crisis shelter.

  • Certified instructor for the National Youth Program Using Minibikes (NYPUM).

  • Illinois career counselor, job developer, and job coach for developmentally disabled (ages 18 to 70).

  • Illinois intake and referral counselor for severely, chronically, mentally disturbed at a community health department.

  • Illinois counselor for the SASS program (Screening Assessment and Support Services).

  • Behavior specialist in an Illinois alternative school with a variety of ages (age 6 to 18).