Sarah Johnston Margarida, LCSW

Sarah Johnston Margarida is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, career shifts, and major life changes. She centers sessions on respect and calm so clients can speak honestly and feel heard. Her style is straightforward and warm, aimed at making the first steps feel manageable.

Sarah uses a collaborative, client-centered approach. She listens to what matters most and then helps people set small, realistic goals. Sessions often include practical tools for daily coping, clearer communication, and ways to reduce worry and cravings.

She draws from cognitive behavioral therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thinking patterns. Motivational interviewing is part of her work when someone wants to find the will to change habits. Mindfulness practices are offered to teach simple ways to steady attention and calm the body.

Over five years of practice, Sarah has supported people through grief, job transitions, relationship stress, and substance use concerns. She also works with issues like attachment struggles, blended family adjustment, body image, codependency, and forgiveness. Her clinical aim is to help people build skills that fit their day-to-day life.

Sarah practices in Maryland and holds LCSW as her credential. Sessions are conducted in English. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to therapist availability. Cost varies by location and uses a cancellable subscription model.

How these approaches translate to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters to the person in front of the therapist. Online sessions can mirror that by using conversation, reflection, and joint planning to set goals and try new ways of coping.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps people identify thoughts and behaviors that get in the way. In an online setting, CBT tools include tracking thoughts and practicing specific exercises between meetings to reduce anxiety or change harmful patterns.

Motivational interviewing supports people who are unsure about change. It uses questions and discussion to strengthen motivation and plan steps forward. That style fits well with short, focused online check-ins when someone needs help staying on track.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try different methods, and adjust based on what feels useful. That collaborative fit is part of the first sessions.

Session formats are not listed in the profile, so confirm which options are currently offered before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, provide quicker follow-ups, and allow focused skill practice without the need to travel. Therapists and licensed professionals often structure sessions to match daily routines, timing needs, and the pace a person prefers.