Nickischer & Associates

01/20/2026

For the month of February, commit to four couples sessions.

Commit to redefining what you want for your future. Commit to reinventing your relationship. Commit to making the biggest decision: whether to keep pushing forward or take a giant step back for perspective.

Couples therapy is intense. Let’s work hard together and figure out what is best for you and your partner.

DM or visit www.knickischerandassociates.com to book your first Saturday appointment.

01/15/2026

Fear of flying! Spiders? Vomit? We got you!!!

It’s coming up on a year of us working with CatapalloVR, a fabulous company that specializes in virtual reality for mental health practices. Our virtual reality programming was designed by a clinical psychologist who understand the complexities of treating fear.

We can help you or your child get past debilitating fears that are impacting day-to-day life. Call 610-899-2499 or DM to book your first appointment. Www.knickischerandassociates.com

01/04/2026

It's January and we need to know if you have new insurance! Please let your providers know this week! Some insurance facts that tend to really confuse people:

1. A copay is not gratuity/tip. A copay is a portion of the contracted reimbursement. Your provider MUST accept copays. If you refuse to pay or we refuse to accept, we are all breaching a legal contract with an insurance company.

2. Have you ever had a car accident and had to pay $500 up front to get the vehicle fixed? That's called a deductible. Most health plans have a deductible. It can range from $1,500-$6,000. Until you meet that health deductible, you owe per session. We bill your deductible payment UP FRONT to ensure that our therapists are paid for their education, precious time and expertise. It's also to avoid a situation where a consumer realizes that they owe hundreds and pick up and disappear (It happens.) Once you meet that deductible, you may be covered at 100%. You may also still owe a copay or a co-insurance. Every plan is different.

3. If you have lost your insurance or transitioned to Medical Assistance or Medicare, please tell us so that we can help you continue to receive the mental health care that you deserve.

Insurance is a mess right now. We are happy to help you navigate through the chaos.

01/03/2026

Being a therapist this week has meant so much discussion surrounding the ending of a great series-Stranger Things. How did this show spark so much emotion in all of us? From a psychological point of view, it's about nostalgia. It's about frisson. It's about Gen X and Millenials, remembering a simpler time, or at least in our minds a simpler time. It's about Gen Z and Alpha growing into teenagers along with the actors. The SAME actors. Gen X-remember when tv shows in our day would replace an actor with someone who kind of sort of looked similar? It always hurt the show.

But it's more than that. It was a series that appealed to all demographics, one that seemed to transcend socioeconomic status. It was the break from reality that we needed; that many of us still crave. I looked over at my kids as the finale came to an end and remembered how small they were when the show had its beginnings. They grew up as my husband and I grew older; all of us watching together.

Stranger Things normalized the ups and downs of adolescence while offering a tender return to the 80's for us tired adults. Normalizing the hard feelings that come with teen years is important. It's good for kids. Nostalgia, the pain of an old wound, provides a sense of continuity and connection. It's good for adults.

For my clients and anyone else who is feeling all the things over this show, this is an opportunity to take in the experience of missing something great and be mindful of what made it important to you.

12/24/2025

A holiday gift from me to you: the promise to offer clinical, compassionate counseling to you and your family, regardless of your financial situation. Opting out of insurance in 2026? 6k deductible? You can still receive counseling. And you can do it at a price that still allows you to buy groceries and turn on the heat.

DM, visit our website, or call our office at 484-263-0197.
Thank you for trusting us with your story.

12/17/2025

Great day for a holiday lunch with our administrative team and senior staff! From L to R, Janet Whitehill, LPC Marissa Cruz, LCSW Ann Goodrich, LPC Roslyn Birnbaum, LPC Kathryn Friel, LPC Peter Ellison, office manager Ellen Lutz, and Dr. Susan Featro. Happy holidays! 🎄

12/06/2025

Love our leadership team and love celebrating our interns and associate therapists even more! Our robust internship program gives therapists new to outpatient therapy, the hands-on skills needed to make a difference. But it also allows people without insurance to receive therapy at a price they can afford.

Everyone is deserving of compassionate, clinical care. Our interns and associates offer that. Their supervisors commit to support them every step of the way.

Pictured L to R: Katie Friel, Rachel Little, LAPC Alise Shadle, Peter Ellison, intern Jessica Jacoby, intern Sharon Hubregsen, LAPC Connie Palermo, Susan Featro.

11/11/2025

Today is a great day to donate to Wounded Warrior Project. This amazing organization cares for veterans when the rest of the world has forgotten the sacrifices that they have made. Having worked with this organization, I can attest that the money that is donated goes directly to helping veterans receive the physical accommodations and mental health assistance that they need and deserve. Veterans-thank you so much for your service!

11/06/2025

Congratulations to Sue Featro, our beloved therapist who runs the show at our charming Lehighton location! Sue will be presenting twice this weekend at the Pennsylvania Counseling Association's 57th annual conference. I'm so proud to know Sue, both as a colleague and as a friend.

11/04/2025

We've just added a Trexlertown location within beautiful Hamilton West Business Campus. Plenty of parking, one floor convenience, a cafe and plenty of waiting space for parents and spouses. Live near Trexlertown? Come enjoy a therapy session with Ann Goodrich or Alise Shadle. Side note-our new location is less than five minutes from Home Goods. Need I say more?

10/30/2025

If you have lost your insurance due to hiked rates or job loss, we can help. Our two amazing clinical interns will see you at a drastically reduced rate, to help you stay in a healthy state of wellness. Sharon McDonnell Hubregsen worked as a social worker for years in pediatric oncology before starting her MS at Chestnut Hill College. Jessica Jacoby is in University of Pennsylvania's executive MS program. Our clinical interns make a difference. Don't let finances stop you from reaching out. Call 484-263-0197 or contact us on the web to set up your first appointment. www.knickischerandassociates.com

10/26/2025

Need a fresh headshot? Come on out and get a fresh headshot from professional photographer and media specialist Elaine M Zelker and/or chat with Shonda about menopause and learning to love our bodies just the way they are! Five tickets left! www.hotheadshothappyhour.eventbrite.com

Come join us on November 7th at 6pm for a HOT night of headshots, wine, snacks and cozy conversation with menopause expert Shonda Moralis. I'm so excited to host this fun event! Elaine Zelker is a powerhouse headshot photographer and media expert. She brings her amazing talent to level up your look! Don't need a new pic? Just come for the fun. Two price points to work for all. Get your tickets here: https://hotheadshothappyhour.eventbrite.com