About Dr. Nicole Hassler

Nicole Hassler, Psy.D., M.A.

Dr. Hassler is a licensed clinical psychologist trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She opened her private practice in 2021 with the hope of using her clinical skills in conjunction with her love for all things “geeky” to help clients who struggle to respond to a more traditional therapy approach.

Dr. Hassler mostly works with children and adolescents; however, does work with adults on a case-by-case basis. She specializes in treating anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and traumatic disorders. Additionally, Dr. Hassler has contributed to podcasts and pop culture panels, specifically on how to incorporate geek culture into the therapeutic process.

Dr. Hassler identifies as a proud geek, with a love for many different fandoms. Some of her primary interests include:

• DC Comics (Mostly Batman)

• Marvel Comics/Movies

• Stranger Things

• Star Wars

• Harry Potter

• Lord of the Rings

• Game of Thrones

• My Hero Academia

• Supernatural

• LEGO

Dr. Hassler is not an expert on all things geek related; however, does love any and all recommendations!

My Training and Approach to Therapy

I received my Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Medaille College (now Medaille University) in December of 2018. In addition, I also have an M.A. in Psychology from Medaille College, which I received in August of 2012.

My work and training experience has been diverse. I have worked in schools assessing young children for special education services, as well as providing therapy to middle school and high school aged children/adolescents. Additionally, I have worked in private practice settings learning how to incorporate video games into the therapeutic process. My post-doctoral internship was completed at an in-patient psychiatric facility. I also have over a decades worth of experience working with individuals diagnosed with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

At this time, I currently work in private practice. I use an approach known as Geek Therapy, which is a therapeutic approach that incorporates Geek culture into evidenced-based therapies such as CBT and ACT. This can include comics, TV, movies, gaming, Anime, and any other fandoms you can think of. Through this modality, clients are able to talk about their struggles using their strengths and interests in a safe and therapeutic way.