Danielle Nickerson, LPC, NCC
At Messiah University, I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and then returned again to acquire my Master of Arts degree in Counseling with a focus on Marriage, Couples, and Families. I have over 5 years of experience working with clients across the lifespan in college counseling and outpatient therapy settings. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). I am a Professional Member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and a Professional Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Sometimes life can surprise us. Whether the surprise is sudden or more of a “slow sneak up,” we find ourselves asking “how did this happen?” all the same. These surprises often feel daunting and overwhelming and can make us feel isolated and alone in our attempts to navigate through them; we can get stuck.
That’s where therapy can come in. It is my honor to walk alongside each and every one of my clients while they get their bearings for the next leg of their life-journey. Learning to see these surprises in a new light, ascribing meaning to life’s circumstances, and being able to share one’s story and have an active hand in what comes next is empowering and healing.
I find people are very much like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike and likewise no two clients will have the same story. However, unlike snowflakes people have a strength and a resilience that helps them continue forward even when faced with adversity. My focus is always to understand my clients each as a wholly unique human being, and to help them realize their own inner strengths and resilience. I help my clients to do this by exploring how they engage with the world around them and how their values and beliefs shape that engagement.
I aim to create a warm and safe space where clients can safely navigate the growing pains of change and discover their best self on the other side of their adversity. My primary objective throughout our work is to establish and maintain a strong therapeutic relationship and to partner with my clients in their quest to reach their goals.
I have worked extensively with teens (13+) and adults through individual, couple, and family work assisting clients with a wide range of topics.
These topics include: anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, adjustment to change, life-stage transitions, self-esteem; and I specialize in identity development, boundary challenges, relationship struggles, attachment injuries, conflict, premarital counseling, infidelity, sexuality, and spirituality struggles.
My approach is eclectic with strong incorporations from Systemic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Narrative Therapy, but is firmly rooted in Existential Therapy as a foundation. I also provide Faith-Based Counseling (per client request) and Premarital Counseling (I am a certified SYMBIS Facilitator).