Margaret Duckworth

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in a variety of clinical settings. I earned my social work education through Missouri State University and have extensive experience providing therapy to individuals and families experiencing emotional, behavioral, relationship, and those struggling with stressful challenges.

I specialize in working with anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, anger and emotional regulation, behavioral concerns, low self-esteem, family conflict, and parenting challenges. I have particular experience working with children and adolescents and supporting families through complex emotional and behavioral concerns.

My approach is strengths-based, solution-oriented, trauma-informed, affirming, and accepting. I believe therapy should be individualized rather than one-size-fits-all. I draw from cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, family-systems, mindfulness, and other evidence-informed approaches based on each client’s needs. Most importantly, I strive to create a warm, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and comfortable being themselves while we work together toward meaningful and lasting change.

My approach to therapy is warm, strengths-based, solution-oriented, affirming, and accepting. I believe people do best when they feel genuinely heard and understood, so I work to create a comfortable, nonjudgemental space where you can be yourself. I meet clients where they are while helping them identify where they would like to be and assist in identifying the steps to get there.

I am an active and collaborative therapist. I listen carefully, ask questions, help identify patterns, offer different perspectives, and teach practical skills that can be used outside of therapy. Rather than focusing only on what is going wrong we will also identify your strengths, what is already working and how we can build on those things to create meaningful change.

Because every person is different, I individualize treatment ad draw from trauma informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused approaches, family systems, mindfulness, and other evidenced-based interventions as appropriate. Above all, I want therapy to be a place where you feel supported, respected, and hopeful about your ability to move forward.

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin understanding what brought you to therapy. I know that starting therapy can feel uncomfortable or even overwhelming, so I do not expect you to walk in and immediately tell me everything. We will move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

I will ask questions about what you are experiencing, what is most important to you, your history, relationships, strengths, and what you hope will be different as a result of therapy. We will begin identifying your goals and discussion what might be most helpful in reaching them.

Most importantly, I want you to leave your first session feeling heard, accepted and hopeful. Therapy is a collaborative process, and our first meeting is also your opportunity to ask questions and decide whether I feel like the right therapist for you. You do not have to have everything figured out before you come in-we can figure out where to begin together.