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LCSW

Nicole Guessford, LCSW

  • Experience23 years
  • LocationPennsylvania
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Family
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-Based Therapy
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Check the available next steps for working with Nicole online.

About Nicole

Nicole Guessford is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of experience who helps people coping with stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, parenting challenges, and ADHD. She approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion while tailoring conversations and treatment plans to fit individual needs.

Background and approach

Nicole emphasizes structure and direct guidance in sessions and frequently assigns practical exercises to support progress between meetings. Her practice reflects a holistic outlook that values self-care and self-compassion as part of healing.

Nicole integrates evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral strategies and acceptance and commitment principles alongside attachment-informed and emotion-focused techniques to address issues like grief, bipolar symptoms, sleep and eating concerns, chronic pain, and caregiver stress.

Licensed in Pennsylvania and Virginia, she works with clients who commit to regular telehealth appointments and focuses on helping people build skills for long-term coping and improved relationships.

Evidence-Informed Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify their values and learn practical ways to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while taking action toward meaningful goals; it can be useful for anxiety, stress, and coping with life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking patterns and building concrete skills to improve mood, sleep, and behavior, which is often helpful for depression, anxiety, and some ADHD-related challenges. Attachment-Based Therapy explores relationship patterns and emotional bonds to support healthier connections and improved communication in close relationships.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist partners with each client to assess needs, try methods that fit the client's goals and preferences, and adapt strategies over time so the work remains practical and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit regular appointments into busy schedules and to maintain continuity of care from home or other locations. These formats support ongoing skill practice, allow for weekly or bi-weekly commitments, and can make consistent therapeutic work more accessible for people balancing multiple responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Nicole commonly address?
She works with a wide range of challenges including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting and family issues, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, bipolar symptoms, ADHD, and related areas such as caregiver stress and chronic illness.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Nicole uses a structured and direct approach while maintaining sensitivity and compassion; she often combines talk-based work with practical exercises clients complete between sessions.
What is her professional background and experience?
She holds 23 years of professional experience in clinical practice and has developed skills addressing trauma, family conflict, mood issues, and coping with life changes.
Which credentials and location does she hold?
She is an LCSW licensed in Pennsylvania and Virginia with licence numbers VA LCSW 0904014683 and PA LCSW CW015210, and her practice is based in Pennsylvania.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English only and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available with her?
Nicole provides telehealth sessions; available formats listed include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for the practice.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What should someone do to begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily problemsGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyMidlife crisisPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSex addictionSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

23+ years

Licensed

Pennsylvania, Virginia

Languages

English