Emily Materdo, LCSW
Trauma-informed support for stress, mood, and life transitions
- Collaborative person-centered care
- Trauma-informed skill building
- Support across the lifespan
About Emily Materdo
Emily Materdo, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 13 years of clinical and medical social work experience supporting adolescents, young adults, and older adults, including elderly and disabled individuals. Her work often centers on complex trauma, chronic health concerns, caregiver stress and compassion fatigue, anxiety, depression, bipolar and other mood-related challenges, as well as life transitions such as young adults adjusting to new professional roles and teens navigating development and change.
Her style is grounded in a person-centered, collaborative therapy experience that honors each client as the expert in their own life, even when things feel confusing or uncertain. Emily integrates evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), along with self-compassion and other trauma-informed practices, to help clients better understand patterns, build coping tools, and move toward meaningful goals.
Emily is especially interested in helping people explore how home and community environments shape identity and relationships over time. In sessions, she aims to offer a supportive, welcoming space to share what brings someone to therapy, while also helping clients develop new perspectives on their concerns, clarify what they want to change, and identify practical steps toward progress. Her goal is to help clients look beyond day-to-day struggles, strengthen self-compassion, and stay connected to the possibility of change.
Her style is grounded in a person-centered, collaborative therapy experience that honors each client as the expert in their own life, even when things feel confusing or uncertain. Emily integrates evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), along with self-compassion and other trauma-informed practices, to help clients better understand patterns, build coping tools, and move toward meaningful goals.
Emily is especially interested in helping people explore how home and community environments shape identity and relationships over time. In sessions, she aims to offer a supportive, welcoming space to share what brings someone to therapy, while also helping clients develop new perspectives on their concerns, clarify what they want to change, and identify practical steps toward progress. Her goal is to help clients look beyond day-to-day struggles, strengthen self-compassion, and stay connected to the possibility of change.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)EmptinessFamily of origin issuesFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Somatic Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy Internal Family Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Emily Materdo have?
Emily Materdo has 13 years of experience in clinical and medical social work.
Is Emily Materdo a licensed therapist?
Yes. Emily Materdo is a licensed therapist and holds the LCSW credential. Her license is NC LCSW C017661.
In which languages does Emily Materdo provide therapy?
Emily Materdo provides therapy in English.
Where is Emily Materdo located?
Emily Materdo is located in North Carolina.
How can I work with Emily Materdo as my therapist?
You can work with Emily Materdo through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, depending on what feels most comfortable and what is available.
Does Emily Materdo work with international clients?
No. Emily Materdo does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Emily Materdo cost?
The cost of therapy can vary based on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Practical online therapy with evidence-based approaches
Emily Materdo, LCSW, draws from structured, skills-based methods while keeping the relationship collaborative and person-centered. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence one another, and it can be especially helpful for stress, anxiety, and depression by identifying patterns and practicing new responses. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) builds practical tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and communication, which can support people navigating intense emotions, mood shifts, or relationship strain. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes making room for difficult thoughts and feelings while moving toward actions that align with personal values, offering a grounded way to approach anxiety, trauma-related stress, or caregiver burden.Because no single approach fits everyone, the process is designed to be collaborative. Emily works with clients to clarify goals, understand what has and has not helped before, and choose strategies that match each person’s needs and preferences over time.
Online therapy also makes it easier to stay connected to support in day-to-day life. Clients can meet by video calls or phone sessions, and may also have the option of live chat or text-based messaging, allowing for flexibility around schedules, energy levels, and accessibility.