Profile / United States
Sarah Johnston Margarida, LCSW
Maryland
LCSW - Stress and anxiety focused
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness practice
- Motivational interviewing
About Sarah
Sarah Johnston Margarida is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) practicing in Maryland with five years of experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, career concerns, and coping with life changes. Sarah speaks English and works with adults who want practical, structured help for day-to-day problems.
She uses clear, goal-oriented methods to identify unhelpful thoughts and habits. Sessions focus on concrete skills clients can try between meetings. Sarah draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and solution-focused techniques to help clients notice patterns and test new responses.
Her style is client-centered, which means conversations steer toward what matters most to each person. She also uses mindfulness practices to support emotional regulation and motivational interviewing to help with substance use or other behavior changes. Together these approaches guide short-term goals and longer-term planning.
In a typical session she will listen to what is happening now, point out patterns, and suggest simple exercises to practice. She pays attention to communication problems, attachment issues, and stresses that come from blended family situations or caregiving roles. Her work also addresses body image, codependency, and forgiveness when these come up.
Sarah expects clients to take an active role in therapy. She helps people set realistic steps and checks progress regularly. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the online options provided.
How Sarah uses structured approaches in online sessions
Sarah integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness techniques into brief, practical online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing different behaviors; it is often used for anxiety, stress, and problems that respond to skill practice. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and grounding exercises to reduce reactivity and improve emotion regulation, which can help with grief, stress, and body image concerns.She also draws on motivational interviewing to support changes around substance use or other habits. Motivational interviewing is collaborative and helps clarify a person’s reasons for change and small next steps. Sarah treats the choice of approach as a shared decision and will work with each client to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences.
Because the biography does not list specific session formats, confirm the available online options before booking. The online setup is intended to make therapy easier to fit into everyday life - shorter check-ins, sessions that avoid travel time, and scheduling that can fit around work or caregiving. The therapist will discuss how to structure sessions so they match the client’s schedule and goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Maryland, Tennessee, Indiana, Texas, Louisiana, Washington, Nevada
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she commonly help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, career challenges, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include attachment issues, blended family issues, body image, and caregiver stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is client-centered and collaborative, with an emphasis on practical, goal-oriented work. She uses short exercises and clear steps to test new behaviors between sessions.
What background and experience does she bring?
She has five years of clinical experience as an LCSW working in Maryland. That experience includes helping people navigate life transitions and emotional challenges.
Which credential and location are listed?
She is an LCSW licensed in Maryland and practices in Maryland. Sessions are provided in English.
Does she work with clients in other countries?
International clients are not currently accepted. Sessions are offered in English to people located where she can legally practice.
What session formats are used?
Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography. The matching process will indicate how sessions are scheduled.
How are costs handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing is provided during the sign-up and matching steps.
How do I get started with her?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform’s scheduling tools.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.