I am a LMHC therapist, public speaker community organizer, social and environmental activist and have been listening for decades. I received my formal education at University of North Florida as Master of Clinical Psychotherapy, 2013. I also took a 9-month internship under Ed Wilder, in Clinical Pastoral Education, in deep listening. I worked in the Talk program at Wounded Warrior for 8 months- the warriors talked; I listened.
Did you go through trauma? Are you, right now, in a high stress situation? Do you keep losing your patience or your professionalism at the wrong moment and you don’t know why? Do you keep getting in your own way? I use Trauma Supportive Therapy to safely address, as slowly as need be, the pain of the past that keeps coming to trip your defenses at all the wrong moments, in your present. I can be that supporting presence who will help sort it out by listening- really hearing you. Reflect your depth of feelings back to you. Validate what are your unmet emotional needs. I practice the therapy of defining personal meaning, so, together we will facilitate your thinking of your options, planning, purpose, and goals for living a meaningful life without being afraid of tripping over your past or yourself.
I practice person centered therapy by meeting you where you are. I strive to be culturally sensitive, non-prejudicial and use strength-based therapy as a jump point, truly believing I am the guide for you, but you are the treasure/wisdom keeper. Of all the reasons people come to therapy: anger, guilt, anxiety, changes, transitions, depression, trauma, jealousy, and “it is just not working anymore”, the extra burden of race and racism is more than just a nuance to be nodded at in therapy. I will view race as central to all the other pieces, when it is central to you.
I am inclusive, secular, competent, affirming and non-judgmental. I have worked with people in transition, people who are very much defined, “but things got complicated”, people in the communities of LGBTQA, Polyamory, Kink, non-gendered. Each are safe and welcome here.
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Relationship issues, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Self esteem, Bipolar disorder, ADHD, Abandonment, BDSM, Kink, Alternative Sex Culture, Blended Family Issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Communication problems, Control issues, Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Eating and Food-Related Issues, Family of Origin Issues, Fertility Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Gender Dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Hoarding, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships, Post-traumatic stress, Prejudice and Discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Traumatic Brain Injury, Women's issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
FL LMHC MH15423
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Margaret Johnston. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Margaret is exactly the right person for you if you want to be heard, understood and not judged. She has given me great advice and tools to cope with the many issues I have had to battle with. Most importantly, I've never felt like I'm talking to a therapist but actually to a person who genuinely cares and is in my corner.
Written on Nov 17, 2023 after therapy with Margaret for 2 months on issues concerning relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem
She’s very kind, knowledgeable, and understanding! I’m excited to continue working with her!
Written on Jul 14, 2023 after therapy with Margaret for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
Margaret is an excellent, kind, open minded therapist, who makes me feel seen and supported. My friends have struggled when trying to find a good therapist on betterhelp, but with Margaret I feel like I have hit the jackpot!
Written on Jul 09, 2023 after therapy with Margaret for 1 year and 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
So far a great therapy experience with Margaret.
Written on Mar 16, 2023 after therapy with Margaret for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and adhd
Really lovely therapist and very supportive, but unfortunately I was not very consistent with my sessions and feel that we lost touch
Written on Feb 04, 2023 after therapy with Margaret for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, eating disorders, self esteem, and career difficulties
Margaret has been amazing since session number 1. I felt very supported and understood, she provided me several resources, advice and explanations for different issues.
I always felt like the sky got a bit brighter after each session. Thank you Margaret!
Written on Oct 20, 2022 after therapy with Margaret for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, coping with life changes, and adhd