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Meet Our Therapists

The therapists at Nickischer & Associates are sole proprietors who contract to work part-time in this practice. Most of our counselors work for other practices or facilities. As a result, their schedules and openings vary according to their personal needs. We cannot guarantee an appointment with any specific therapist, though prospective clients are more than welcome to request to see someone specific. Therapists have every right to accept or decline a case based on their scope of practice, schedule, openings in their caseload, and intuition.

Kathryn Nickischer Friel, LPC, NCC
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Kathryn Nickischer Friel, LPC, NCC

Kathryn is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania and a Nationally Board-Certified Counselor (NCC.) She has a BA from Marywood University, and a MS in Clinical Health Counseling from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM.) Kathryn has owned and operated Nickischer & Associates since 2015. 


In June of 2017, Kathryn was selected by Lehigh Valley Business as one of the 40 Under 40, an award that honors business professionals who have achieved entrepreneurial success while also contributing to the success of the  community.

Kathryn is an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level Two graduate, and an Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) advanced practitioner for couples who are looking for IFS-style coaching to enhance their relationship. She also offers IFS-informed groups, both in-person and via telehealth.  Kathryn runs the Self-Led CEO business group, and is available for private business consultation through an IFS-informed lens.  In addition to operating Nickischer & Associates, Kathryn owns and operates Twin Ponds Holistic Health, a holistic wellness facility located in Breinigsville, PA. An active volunteer and Board Member for Manito Life Center, Kathryn facilitates equine therapy groups that are both empowering and restorative.

Lacey I. Binkley, LPC
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Lacey I. Binkley, LPC

Clinical Lead-Allentown

With over ten years of experience as a therapist, Lacey’s clinical knowledge is a strength in her work as a therapist.  Lacey holds a BA in Criminal Justice from Penn State, and an MA in Education and Secondary School Counseling. She is both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist. Lacey has worked for various, well-respected mental health community agencies in both Pennsylvania and Florida. These include KS-MST, Children’s Home of Reading, Pennsylvania Counseling Services of Lebanon, and The Center for Psychology, in Fort Meyers, FL.  As a program supervisor, Lacey’s Juvenile Court program won the 2010 Court Operated Program of the Year award. 

 

Lacey enjoys working with teens and adults. Her specialty treatment areas are trauma, PTSD, and personality disorders. She is currently invested in a Trauma-Focused CBT certification program and is also an active participant in Internal Family Systems (IFS) trainings.  Lacey combines person-centered and IFS approaches to empower clients to discover their inner warriors and learn to love themselves. Her straightforward approach and sense of humor allow for both fun and focus in the therapy space. 

Lacey also consults as a TF-CBT Family Therapist for KS Consultants.

Susan Featro, LPC, Ed.D
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Susan Featro, LPC, Ed.D

Clinical Lead-Lehighton

Susan earned a B.A. from Lycoming College, an M.Ed. from Penn State University, and an Ed.D. from Wilkes University. After earning her doctorate in education and teaching in K12 schools and at the university level for 15 years, Susan decided to pursue an M.S. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and to work towards licensure. She graduated with an M.S. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Chestnut Hill College and has done additional training in trauma-focused CBT counseling, addictions, and in working with LGBTQ couples. Susan also works at a short-term residential psychiatric crisis center for adults.

Susan combines her background and experience in education, her background and experience in counseling psychology, and her training in yoga, mindfulness, and body-based therapies in serving her clients. She specializes in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), depression, trauma, addictive behaviors, relationship issues, and women's issues. Susan focuses on helping clients to grow in self-awareness and helping them to heal, grow, and find balance in their lives. She sees children, adolescents, and adults and also works with couples in the Lehighton office, offering daytime and evening hours.

Susan is a licensed teacher and teaches for the Commonwealth Charter Academy. She is also an adjunct professor at a local university and a vocal recording artist.

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Rachel Little, LCSW

Rachel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Pennsylvania. She holds undergraduate degrees in both Psychology and Social Work, while completing her Graduate studies in Clinical Social Work. Rachel began her career working with families and young adults as an Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapist, before transitioning into residential treatment facilities as a Diagnostic Clinician until 2012 when she began working in private practice. 

Rachel utilizes clinical approaches based upon the practices of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotional Focused Therapy, and Humanistic perspectives.  As a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, she also offers Holistic framework based upon nutrition and integrative practices.  Rachel works with adults, families, couples, as well as adolescents.  Her specialty areas include Depression, Generalized Anxiety, relationship issues between heterosexual and LGBTQ couples, and Adjustment Disorder. She also has experience working with individuals who have PTSD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and adolescents struggling with mood disorders.

In addition to practicing here, Rachel facilitates Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at Manito Life Center, where she currently serves as a Board Member for their non-profit charity organization.

Holly A. Mullen MSW, LCSW
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Holly A. Mullen MSW, LCSW

Holly is a Pennsylvania Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Kutztown University in 2008 and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Marywood University in 2013. Holly has been in private practice for the past 8 years working with adults, adolescents, and couples. Her specialties include the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, marital issues, premarital counseling, blended family challenges, and career and life stage adjustments. Holly utilizes Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Strengths and Mindfulness-based approaches, with a focus on strength and resilience. As a therapist, Holly seeks to promote a safe and healing environment where you can unveil your personal inner strengths and develop a plan for lifelong growth and healing. Holly welcomes the opportunity to assist you in your journey toward personal growth and healing, offering an improvement of your life’s experiences for years to come.

Roslyn Birnbaum, LPC
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Roslyn Birnbaum, LPC

Roz brings with her a fantastic reputation in the field and a following of clients who truly respect her. Roz has a BA from Pennsylvania State University, and received her MS in Counseling Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. Roz is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Dual Diagnosis Counselor who specializes in emotional, mental health, and drug/alcohol issues. 

Roz provides a safe environment where you can explore your issues to gain insight and develop skills to make positive life changes. Her therapeutic areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, trauma, mental and physical abuse, self-esteem, ADHD, life transition issues, and codependency. She also helps those with chronic pain problems in regaining confidence.

Kerin Oksienik, LPC
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Kerin Oksienik, LPC

Kerin is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania and is additionally recognized as a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Lafayette College in 2009 followed by her Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Services from Lehigh University in 2011.  Kerin has several years of experience working in outpatient treatment settings helping individuals to gain stability over their mental health symptoms and co-occurring substance use disorders to be able to live fulfilling lives.

Kerin specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, addiction, trauma, and relational conflict. She works with adults, adolescents, and couples using a therapeutic approach that integrates elements of cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and person-centered therapies.  Kerin understands the importance of having a safe, supportive environment to feel validated while confronting some of life’s most challenging times.  She develops this through a genuine, caring approach while helping to change unhealthy thought patterns that could be getting in the way of personal growth and satisfaction.

Peter D. Ellison, LPC, CCDPD
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Peter D. Ellison, LPC, CCDPD

Peter is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania and is a Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Saint Joseph’s University in 2002, as well as a Master of Arts degree in community counseling (2004) and an Education Specialist degree in mental health counseling (2005), both from Seton Hall University. Peter has extensive experience providing care within various clinical settings. This includes inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment programs, working within a psychiatric and addiction medicine practice, and as an independent practitioner.

Peter has training and experience in working with adults who are seeking help for managing depression and other mood issues, anxiety, substance use issues, relationship struggles, and stress management. He has provided group therapy, individual therapy, and couples therapy, and specializes in the use of Cognitive Behavioral, Interpersonal and Person-Centered therapy skills and techniques. Peter views each person as a unique individual with their own set of strengths and capabilities that can be developed and used to help challenge and overcome personal issues.  

Peter is a full-time therapist at Nulton Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Slatington, where he treats adults with co-occurring disorders.

Joseph Young, LPC NCC
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Joseph Young, LPC NCC

Joseph is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania and a Nationally Board-Certified Counselor (NCC.) He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his Master’s degree in Mental Health and Counseling from Antioch University. Joseph has worked as a Family-Based Therapist providing in-home and community-based services enhancing feelings of empowerment and self-efficiency so families can help themselves and their children become psychologically self-sufficient. He worked as a Multisystemic Therapist (MST) empowering teens, young adults, individuals, and families using an eclectic approach tailored to the unique needs of each new client and family.

 

Joseph’s clinical vision is to ensure a safe environment for clients to explore and to assist clients in the discovery of their strengths, building support systems, and developing healthy lifestyles to set the foundation for life successes. He employs a cross-disciplinary therapeutic approach utilizing modalities that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused, Person-Centered Therapy, Psychoeducation, and mindfulness, helping clients navigate Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, life stressors, and family and relationship issues.

In addition to the private counseling services he offers in this practice, Joe is also a TF-CBT Family Therapist for KS Consultants.

Heidi Mack, LPC
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Heidi Mack, LPC

Heidi is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Moravian College and her Master of Science degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology, with a focus on Marriage and Family Counseling, from Chestnut Hill College. 

 

Heidi has over ten years of experience working with children, adults, couples, and families in outpatient and community health settings. She takes an eclectic approach to therapy and counseling by utilizing a combination of cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and person-centered therapies. Heidi believes in the importance of building a strong therapeutic relationship to help her clients heal from past experiences, learn skills to cope with challenges, and explore their personal growth.

Waded Baquerizo-Mahuad, MA, LPC
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Waded Baquerizo-Mahuad, MA, LPC

Waded is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Pennsylvania. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in her home country of Ecuador. She received her graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling from Kutztown University. She has worked as a Mobile Therapist for children providing home and community services. In addition to her career in private practice, she works as a professional counselor for a Community-Based Agency. Waded has experience working with a variety of mental health diagnoses that include Generalized Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, ADD, and trauma.  

 

Waded focuses on building insight in order to create self-awareness, personal improvement, and growth. Her approachability and openness to the human experience fosters a safe and accepting environment. She uses a humanistic, person-centered approach, while also utilizing mindfulness and sensorimotor techniques. Waded is bilingual in Spanish and English, and especially enjoys providing counseling and therapy to Latin American and Hispanic community members as a proud bicultural practitioner of compassion. 

Ann Goodrich, LCSW
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Ann Goodrich, LCSW

Ann is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. She earned both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Adelphi University in 2012. Ann went back to school to pursue a career in social work after raising her children.

 

Ann has many years of experience working with individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders. Ann specializes in mood disorders, as well as paths to sobriety. She enjoys working with people in recovery, helping them to develop the self-awareness and coping skills necessary in order to redefine their lives. In addition to using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT,) Ann utilizes mindfulness, Positive Psychology, and behavior therapy in assisting clients to set life goals.

Marissa Cruz, LPC, LBS
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Marissa Cruz, LPC, LBS

Marissa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) in the state of Pennsylvania. She earned her BA in Psychology from Cedar Crest College, and MS in Clinical Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chestnut Hill College. Marissa has worked for several years providing behavioral therapy and family counseling to children, teens, and families in community and outpatient settings. 

 

Marissa has experience in treating couples, families, and individuals encountering anxiety, depression, developmental/spectrum disorders, and ADHD. She uses an integration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT,) Humanistic approaches, and psychoeducation in her work. Marissa strives to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where one can explore difficulties, gain insight, and begin the journey to radical self-acceptance.

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Whitney Keefner, LPC, NCC

Whitney is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania and a Nationally Board-Certified Counselor (NCC). She earned her BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Vermont in 2014 and an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from the University of Vermont in 2018. Whitney has worked as a Family and Community-Based Clinician for the Howard Center in Burlington, VT, before moving to Philadelphia in 2021, where she then began working as an Outpatient Therapist for Wedge Recovery Centers in North Philly.

 

Whitney works with teens and adults and especially loves working with couples. Whitney is certified as a Skilled Cognitive Behavioral Therapist in a Community Setting and is currently training in the Drexel Motivational Interviewing and SBIRT program. She specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, relational conflict, life transitions, and co-occurring disorders.

 

Whitney focuses on helping her clients through a combination of processing/exploring experiences, skill building to increase emotional regulation as well as learning and discussing psychoeducation to help better understand and make sense of our experiences. She places the utmost importance on the therapeutic relationship and fostering a space that feels warm and safe for clients to be able to authentically express themselves in.

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Cindy Dempsey, LPC

Cindy is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania. Cindy holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Delaware and an MS in Clinical Health and Counseling Psychology from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). In addition, Cindy has obtained post-master's graduate credits in Addictions, Psychopharmacology, Career Counseling, and Child and Adolescent Therapy. If you have interest in EMDR treatments or therapy, Cindy is an EMDRIA-approved EMDR therapist.

 

Cindy began her career in cognitive therapy and counseling by working with individuals in outpatient settings, residential settings, schools, and home-based settings. She has worked with clients of all ages and developmental levels—including clients with anxiety, depression, and adjustment issues; clients with stress-management concerns, career concerns & planning, and clients working through family-related difficulties. 

 

Cindy uses her strong background and graduate education in cognitive-behavioral therapy and concepts in order to help clients work through a wide range of concerns such as anxiety, stress, panic, and depression. She aims to provide an environment where individuals can feel understood, accepted, and confident that common goals will lead to success. Additionally, Cindy is trained in trauma therapy and recovery where she works to help clients address current and more complex past traumas in a caring and understanding setting. Cindy is certified in Dr. Karyl McBride’s five-step recovery model for treating adult children of narcissistic parents.

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Melissa Ditaranto, LPC

Melissa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania and a Nationally Board Certified Counselor (NCC). She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology from West Chester University and a Master in Science in Mental Health Counseling from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Melissa has more than 8 years of

experience supporting children, teens, adults, and families in home, community, and outpatient settings in the greater Philadelphia area. She has worked as a mobile therapist for a non-profit organization, and an outpatient therapist at the Center for Autism and Child Guidance Resource Centers.

 

Melissa has experience supporting individuals with anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, ADHD, autism, stress management, relational conflict, and life transitions. She uses a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, person-centered, and trauma informed approaches. Melissa believes that you are the expert on your life. She understands the value of the therapeutic relationship, and having a safe, non-judgmental space to allow for collaboration, self-discovery, learning, and growth. Her goal is to support and empower you to meet your goals.

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Emily Hallahan, LPC

Emily is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Arcadia University and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Social Justice and Advocacy from Delaware Valley University. Before working in private practice, Emily worked in a domestic violence shelter, community outpatient centers, and on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team for individuals experiencing severe mental health illnesses.

 

Emily specializes in working with trauma/abuse, women’s issues, life transitions, PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression through a trauma-informed and empowerment-based approach that is tailored to each client’s individual needs. In addition, Emily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Psychoeducation, Humanistic, and Person-Centered approaches to process your needs as a team in a judgment-free environment and to help you achieve the meaningful change you desire.

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JV (John Vincent), LCSW 

JV (John Vincent) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He earned his MSW from Louisiana State University, a Master’s of Public Administration from Penn State University, and a Bachelor’s of Behavioral Sciences from York College of Pennsylvania.  In addition to outpatient therapy, JV has worked within hospital settings from emergency room crisis stabilization and drug and alcohol counseling to inpatient behavioral health.

JV is available to work with adolescents, teens, and adults. Areas of specialty include treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), OCD, depression, co-occurring disorders and PTSD. Additional interests lie in digital wellness, helping individuals develop a healthy and balanced relationship with technology.

JV uses a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Solution Focused Therapy to help clients build on existing strengths and learn new responses to stressors. He is an EMDRIA trained EMDR therapist, a method that can be integrated into trauma treatment. His warm and friendly approach helps create a calm and nonjudgmental space to help you gain insight and move forward with the changes you want to make in life.

Ellen Lutz, Office Manager
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Ellen Lutz, Office Manager

Ellen is the friendly voice you hear when you call to make an appointment at our practice.  A graduate of Quakertown High School and Lansdale School of Business, Ellen has worked in business administration for over 15 years. Professional, courteous, and truly caring, Ellen is an asset to the practice, and will gladly help you with any scheduling, insurance, or billing questions that you may have. Ellen is the proud mother of Parker, Abby, and Hudson.  

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