Today we’d like to introduce you to Janine McFadden, MA, LPC, CEAP.
Hi Janine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into counseling has been shaped by both professional experience and a genuine passion for helping people navigate life’s most difficult seasons. I began my career working as an Employee Assistance Professional during the time of the 9/11 tragedy where I had the opportunity to support individuals and families during one of the most challenging moments of their lives. Those experiences taught me the importance of remaining calm, compassionate, and solution-focused while helping people find hope in the midst of uncertainty.
As my career evolved, I earned my Certification as an Employee Assistance Professional and my Licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor and founded J. Nichol Counseling, LLC. Today, I work primarily with women that live in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey that are navigating relationship transitions, divorce, anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, and work & life balance as a single individual. I enjoy helping clients move beyond simply surviving difficult circumstances and instead build lives that feel meaningful, confident, and emotionally healthy.
My approach to therapy is collaborative, practical, and personalized. I integrate evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Motivational Interviewing to help clients develop insight while creating realistic strategies they can use in everyday life.
Looking back, every step of my career—from crisis work to private practice—has reinforced my belief that people are incredibly resilient. It is a privilege to walk alongside clients as they heal, grow, and discover that they are capable of creating the life they truly want.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I believe the challenges have made me a more compassionate and effective therapist.
Like many business owners, building a private practice required patience. There were seasons of wondering where referrals would come from, learning the business side of private practice, navigating insurance credentialing, and balancing financial stability while growing a caseload. I quickly realized that graduate school prepares you to be a clinician, but not necessarily to run a business.
At the same time, I experienced significant personal challenges as a divorcee and single parent that tested my own resilience. Navigating major life transitions while continuing to show up for my clients deepened my empathy and reinforced the importance of practicing what I encourage my clients to do—ask for support, remain flexible, and take care of yourself even when life feels uncertain.
Professionally, I’ve also worked in high-pressure crisis call center settings, where every day brings difficult situations and important decisions. Those experiences strengthened my ability to remain grounded and present during moments of crisis while helping people find hope and practical next steps.
Looking back, every obstacle has shaped the therapist I am today. Rather than seeing setbacks as failures, I’ve learned to view them as opportunities for growth. They’ve taught me resilience, humility, and perseverance, and those lessons now influence the way I support my clients as they navigate their own challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the founder of J. Nichol Counseling, LLC where I help adults navigate life’s transitions with greater confidence and emotional resilience. While I work with a variety of concerns, I specialize in supporting women who are experiencing relationship challenges, divorce, anxiety, depression, emotional overwhelm, and the unique journey of rebuilding their lives during seasons of change.
My background in crisis intervention has given me a unique perspective. I’ve worked with people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and those experiences taught me how to remain calm, compassionate, and solution-focused, even in high-stress situations. Today, I bring that same steady presence into my private practice, helping clients move from surviving to thriving.
I believe I’m best known for creating a space where clients feel genuinely heard without judgment. My approach is warm, practical, and collaborative. Rather than simply talking about problems, I help clients develop the skills and confidence to create meaningful, lasting change. I integrate evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing, tailoring treatment to each person’s goals and strengths.
What I’m most proud of is building a practice that reflects my values of authenticity, compassion, and empowerment. Watching clients rediscover their confidence, establish healthier relationships, regulate their emotions, and realize they are capable of creating fulfilling lives is the most rewarding part of my work.
I believe what sets me apart is my ability to combine clinical expertise with genuine empathy based on my personal life experiences. My clients often tell me they appreciate that I meet them where they are while also challenging them to grow. I don’t believe therapy is about fixing people—I believe it’s about helping people recognize the strengths they already possess and equipping them with the tools to move forward with confidence.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t know that I’d call it luck as much as I would call it being willing to keep showing up when opportunities—and challenges—presented themselves.
I’ve certainly experienced what many would consider good luck. I’ve had the opportunity to work in crisis intervention via various Employee Assistance Programs and this career path accelerated my growth as a clinician and gave me a depth of experience that I carry into every therapy session today. I’ve also been fortunate to build a private practice where I can do work that aligns with my passion for helping women navigate relationship transitions, anxiety, and life changes.
At the same time, there has been plenty of what felt like “bad luck.” Building a business hasn’t always followed a straight path. There have been seasons of waiting for referrals, navigating insurance credentialing, balancing financial uncertainty, and learning how to be both a therapist and an entrepreneur all while being a single parent and home owner. Like many business owners, I’ve discovered that success often comes after a lot of persistence behind the scenes. Success has been delivered to me when I maintain faith rooted in Christianity.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that what initially looks like bad luck often becomes an important part of the story. The difficult seasons have made me more resilient, more resourceful, and more empathetic. They’ve helped me relate to clients who are facing uncertainty and remind them that setbacks don’t define the rest of their lives.
Today, I don’t measure success by having avoided obstacles. I measure it by continuing to grow through them. Every challenge has strengthened both my practice and my ability to serve others, and for that, I’m genuinely grateful.
Pricing:
- I accept most major insurances and I also negotiate private pay rates for those that do not have access to medical insurance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/jnicholcounseling
- Other: Business Phone: 484-297-9439
Image Credits
Photo in the white dress taken by Ricky Codio Photography in Philadelphia, PA by way of Tanya’s Traveling Flying Dress Experience.
All Other photos were created using AI.
