Therapist profile
Nicole Guessford
Practical support for major life transitions
Review online therapy options on BetterHelp.
- 23 years experience
- Structured direct style
- Telehealth sessions
About Nicole
Nicole draws on 23 years of experience across Pennsylvania and Virginia. She focuses on stress, anxiety, parenting concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship strain, and coping with life changes. Many clients come for help with sleep, eating, anger, self-esteem, ADHD, and career concerns.
Her sessions are structured and goal-oriented. She combines ideas from cognitive behavioral work, acceptance and commitment methods, and skills training to teach coping tools. Nicole also uses attachment-based and client-centered ideas to address relationship and intimacy issues.
Nicole emphasizes self-care and self-compassion as part of everyday recovery. She often gives short exercises or “homework” to practice between meetings. These tasks are meant to build new habits and make progress between sessions.
She provides telehealth sessions only, scheduled weekly or bi-weekly when that fits the person’s needs. Insurance is used for payment due to current practice rules, so prospective clients should confirm coverage with their carrier before scheduling.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Nicole integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people identify unhelpful thinking and test new behaviors. CBT often focuses on practical steps to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and change patterns that affect mood.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and feelings while choosing actions that match personal values. ACT can be useful for long-term coping and making purposeful changes during life transitions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and try methods that fit the person’s needs and preferences. Sessions are collaborative, and plans are adjusted based on what helps most.
Nicole offers telehealth sessions only, scheduled weekly or bi-weekly. Confirm current session options before booking to make sure they suit your schedule and needs. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, avoid travel time, and maintain regular check-ins while working on skills between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Credentials
Pennsylvania, Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist address?
Nicole helps people with stress and anxiety, parenting and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, eating and sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, career issues, bipolar mood concerns, and coping with life changes.
What is the therapeutic style like?
The style is structured and direct with an emphasis on practical skill building. Clients can expect goal setting, short exercises to try between sessions, and collaborative planning.
How much experience does the therapist have?
She brings 23 years of professional experience working with a range of concerns related to stress, relationships, trauma, and caregiving challenges.
Which credentials and region apply to this practice?
Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Pennsylvania and Virginia and practices from Pennsylvania.
In what language are sessions conducted?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not accepted at this time.
What session formats are offered?
She provides telehealth sessions only, scheduled weekly or bi-weekly. Confirm current session options before booking to make sure they meet your needs.
How does payment and cost work?
Sessions are handled through insurance due to current practice rules and costs vary with insurance coverage. The practice uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time, so check with your insurer for details.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Use the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions according to therapist availability and the practice's telehealth format.