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- Structured direct style
- Homework between sessions
- Telehealth appointments only
About Nicole
Nicole Guessford, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), is licensed in Pennsylvania and Virginia and has 23 years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, relationship and intimacy issues, and grief. Her stated style is structured and direct, with regular homework assigned between sessions.
Nicole uses a mix of evidence-based approaches to guide sessions. She lists Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy among her methods. In practice she focuses on clear goals, teaching coping skills, and addressing patterns that affect relationships and self-esteem.
She helps clients who are dealing with chronic pain, caregiver stress, body image and eating concerns, sleep problems, anger, and workplace or career strain. Nicole also notes work with attachment issues, post-traumatic stress, domestic violence, divorce and separation, and complicated grief.
Her approach emphasizes self-care and self-compassion alongside actionable strategies. Sessions include structured dialogue and take-home exercises aimed at building skills outside therapy. Clients are asked to commit to weekly or bi-weekly telehealth appointments when appropriate.
Sessions are provided via telehealth only due to insurance regulations. Insurance is used for payment; details vary by client location. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the platform's process.
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How therapeutic approaches are used in telehealth sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice hard thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then choose actions that reflect personal values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) identifies unhelpful thought patterns and behavior cycles, then teaches specific skills to change them. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, mood issues, sleep problems, and anger management.
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at relationship patterns that began early in life and how they affect current connections. It can be useful for intimacy-related concerns, communication problems, and attachment issues.
Finding the right approach is part of working together. The therapist will help identify which methods fit a client's goals, needs, and preferences and may combine techniques from different approaches to address problems practically and directly.
Sessions are offered via telehealth only because of insurance rules. Confirm current session options before booking. Online appointments can make it easier to fit regular weekly or bi-weekly sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow focused skill practice without needing to leave work or home. The therapist does not provide clinical support over the phone or through messaging.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Pennsylvania, Virginia
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, and related topics such as body image and caregiver stress.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is structured and direct. She gives practical skills and regular homework to work on between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 23 years of professional experience in clinical work.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
What formats does she provide and how does payment work?
She provides telehealth sessions only due to insurance regulations, and payment uses insurance; cost details vary with location and insurer.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, call 911, or call or text 988.