Nicole Guessford, LCSW

Nicole Guessford is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Pennsylvania and Virginia with 23 years of professional experience. She works with people managing stress and anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and parenting concerns, offering care that balances structure with a compassionate outlook.

She approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and she adapts conversations and treatment plans to meet individual needs. As a holistic practitioner, her style leans toward being structured and direct, and she often assigns practical tasks for clients to work on between sessions to support progress outside of therapy.

Nicole emphasizes self-care and self-compassion as core elements of healing and growth. She recognizes the courage it takes to begin therapy and acknowledges that first step with encouragement. She is currently accepting clients through insurance only.

She sees clients who are able to commit to telehealth sessions on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Due to insurance regulations she provides care via telehealth and does not offer clinical support over the phone or through messaging.

Approach-Oriented Care Delivered Online

Nicole integrates several evidence-informed approaches to guide online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify personal values and develop practical skills to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while taking meaningful action - it is often used for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and how early bonds influence current connection and trust - it can support healing around family conflict, intimacy issues, and attachment concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers structured techniques to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, which is useful for depression, anxiety, and coping with everyday challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and is decided collaboratively. The therapist will work with each client to select or blend methods that fit their needs, goals, and personal preferences so that care feels practical and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, maintain continuity during life changes, and access licensed professionals from a familiar environment.