Heather McQuay, LCSW-C

Heather McQuay is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) based in Maryland with more than 20 years in human services and over a decade as a practicing therapist. She has spent much of her career helping people manage anxiety, depression, grief, mood disorders, and the aftereffects of trauma. Heather focuses on practical steps that people can take to feel steadier in daily life.

She uses a person-centered style that aims to meet each person where they are. Sessions are collaborative and paced to each person's comfort. Heather works with clients to set goals that fit their values and real-life needs rather than following a fixed agenda.

Her methods include cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify personal values. She also draws on dialectical behavior strategies and motivational interviewing to build skills and motivation. These tools are mixed to match the concerns someone brings to therapy.

Heather has experience supporting people dealing with stress, trauma and abuse, anger, parenting strain, grief, relationship struggles, and challenges like ADHD or bipolar mood patterns. She also addresses issues such as caregiving stress, body image, codependency, and chronic illness challenges.

If you are thinking about starting therapy, Heather focuses on small, doable changes and steady progress. She aims to help people gain clearer self-understanding and better ways to handle hard moments.

How Heather’s approaches translate to online work

Heather commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her practice. ACT helps people notice unhelpful mental habits and choose actions that align with their values. Client-centered work focuses on listening, respect, and helping a person take charge of their own process. CBT looks at thought patterns and teaches practical skill-based techniques to manage mood and anxiety.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. Heather will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and then try methods that fit those needs. Adjustments are made as therapy progresses so the work stays relevant and helpful.

Practical benefits of online therapy include easier scheduling and fitting sessions into a busy week. Online work can reduce travel time and make it simpler to check in during a lunch break or between commitments. Because session formats were not specified in the biography, confirm current session options before booking to know which formats are available. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, client-centered strategies, and CBT to an online setting to focus on skill building, values work, and emotional coping.