Margaret Johnston, LMHC

Margaret Johnston is a licensed mental health counselor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and the aftereffects of trauma and abuse. She brings 11 years of clinical experience and listens closely to help people name what feels wrong and find practical next steps. Her approach is direct and grounded in everyday language so a worried parent can follow along easily.

She trained at the University of North Florida, earning a Master of Clinical Psychotherapy in 2013, and completed a nine-month internship in Clinical Pastoral Education focused on deep listening. That background shaped her way of working: she spends time hearing what matters to each person before offering ideas.

Sessions focus on understanding patterns that get in the way, defining personal meaning, and planning realistic goals. She uses person-centered methods to meet people where they are and builds from their strengths. Race, identity, and cultural context are addressed openly when they matter to the client.

Margaret works with people from LGBTQA and kink-friendly communities and welcomes a range of relationship styles without judgment. She describes herself as inclusive, secular, affirming, and nonjudgmental, aiming to reflect and validate deep feelings while helping clients consider options and make attainable changes.

Her work often moves slowly when needed so past hurts are handled safely. The goal is clearer thinking, steadier coping, and a sense of direction that fits each person’s life and values.

How therapeutic approaches guide online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify what matters to them and take small actions toward those values even when difficult thoughts or feelings appear. It’s useful for anxiety, stress, and situations where people feel stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thinking and trying practical changes in behavior and thought patterns to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. It often includes simple exercises to try between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about problems, goals, and preferences. Together they will pick methods that fit the client’s needs and adjust them over time in a collaborative way.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm which session formats are offered before booking, since the biography does not list specific formats. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins by phone when needed, and avoid travel time. Some approaches translate well to remote sessions because they rely on conversation, structured exercises, and homework assignments that can be done between meetings. Ask about practical arrangements when you schedule to choose what will work best for your life.