Margaret Joern

Experienced LCSW offering practical trauma-informed care

LCSW Virginia

Experience: 25 years in practice
Focus areas: Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Languages: English

About Margaret

Margaret Joern is a licensed clinical social worker who uses evidence-informed approaches to help people navigate difficult life experiences.

Background and approach

With 25 years of practice in Virginia, she draws on methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and EMDR to address concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, addictions, and grief. Her work also covers relationship and family issues, self-esteem, stress, bipolar conditions, and compassion fatigue.

She also attends to a wide range of related struggles such as abandonment, caregiver stress, codependency, domestic violence, family of origin problems, and first responder and veteran issues. Margaret brings experience in treating obsessions, compulsions, hoarding, impulsivity, and mood disorders while supporting those coping with life changes and ADHD.

Her style emphasizes practical strategies alongside trauma-focused work to help clients develop coping skills and build resilience. Margaret’s credential is LCSW, listed as VA LCSW 0904006253, and she provides services in English in Virginia.

Session options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, and she is not accepting international clients.

Combining evidence-based approaches with flexible online care

Margaret commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR into her online practice. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought and behavior patterns, offering concrete tools for anxiety, depression, stress, and mood regulation. EMDR involves structured processing of traumatic memories to reduce their emotional intensity and can be helpful for trauma recovery and abuse-related symptoms.

Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to assess needs, goals, and preferences and will adapt methods over time to find the best fit for symptom relief and daily functioning.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible access to care. These options make it easier to fit appointments into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and choose the format that feels most comfortable for ongoing therapeutic work.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Margaret address in therapy?

She works with a broad set of issues including relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, grief, bipolar disorder, and self-esteem challenges.

What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?

Her practice uses evidence-informed approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trauma-focused techniques, often combining practical skill-building with processing work.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Margaret has 25 years of experience working with people on a variety of mental health and life-transition concerns.

Where is she licensed and what are her credentials?

She is a licensed clinical social worker in Virginia with the credential VA LCSW 0904006253.

Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?

Services are provided in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available for online work?

Clients can connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and availability.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Self esteem Depression

Also works with

Stress, Anxiety AddictionsLGBTGriefBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks PhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Social anxiety and phobiaWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Motivational InterviewingTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

Virginia

Languages

English