Margaret Johnston, LMHC
Inclusive, trauma-supportive therapy grounded in deep listening
- Trauma supportive care
- Meaning and values work
- Affirming and nonjudgmental
About Margaret Johnston
Margaret Johnston is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida with 11 years of experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and major life changes. She brings a background as a public speaker, community organizer, and social and environmental activist, and she is known for a steady, listening-centered style that helps clients feel heard and understood.
She earned her Master of Clinical Psychotherapy from the University of North Florida in 2013 and completed a 9-month internship in Clinical Pastoral Education focused on deep listening under Ed Wilder. She also spent 8 months in the Talk program at Wounded Warrior, offering a supportive space where participants could speak openly while she focused on careful, attentive listening.
In therapy, Margaret helps clients make sense of patterns that can show up in high-pressure moments, like losing patience, feeling flooded, or getting in their own way without fully understanding why. She approaches painful experiences at a pace that feels manageable, using a trauma-supportive, meaning-focused perspective to explore unmet emotional needs, clarify values, and build practical options for the present. Her person-centered approach emphasizes meeting each client where they are, reflecting emotions with care, and drawing on strengths as a starting point for growth and change.
Margaret aims to be culturally sensitive and non-prejudicial, and she recognizes that race and racism can be central to a client’s lived experience. She describes her practice as inclusive, secular, affirming, and non-judgmental, and she welcomes clients from LGBTQA communities and those exploring or living within polyamory, kink, and non-gendered identities.
She earned her Master of Clinical Psychotherapy from the University of North Florida in 2013 and completed a 9-month internship in Clinical Pastoral Education focused on deep listening under Ed Wilder. She also spent 8 months in the Talk program at Wounded Warrior, offering a supportive space where participants could speak openly while she focused on careful, attentive listening.
In therapy, Margaret helps clients make sense of patterns that can show up in high-pressure moments, like losing patience, feeling flooded, or getting in their own way without fully understanding why. She approaches painful experiences at a pace that feels manageable, using a trauma-supportive, meaning-focused perspective to explore unmet emotional needs, clarify values, and build practical options for the present. Her person-centered approach emphasizes meeting each client where they are, reflecting emotions with care, and drawing on strengths as a starting point for growth and change.
Margaret aims to be culturally sensitive and non-prejudicial, and she recognizes that race and racism can be central to a client’s lived experience. She describes her practice as inclusive, secular, affirming, and non-judgmental, and she welcomes clients from LGBTQA communities and those exploring or living within polyamory, kink, and non-gendered identities.
Areas of Expertise
Also Specializes In
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Mindfulness Therapy Narrative Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Margaret Johnston have?
Margaret Johnston has 11 years of experience providing therapy and supporting clients through a range of concerns.
Is Margaret Johnston a licensed therapist?
Yes. Margaret Johnston is a licensed therapist and holds the LMHC credential (Licensed Mental Health Counselor). License: Florida LMHC MH15423.
In which languages does Margaret Johnston provide therapy?
Margaret Johnston provides therapy in English.
Where is Margaret Johnston located?
Margaret Johnston is located in Florida.
How can I work with Margaret Johnston as my therapist?
You can work with Margaret Johnston through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, depending on what fits your needs and scheduling.
Does Margaret Johnston work with international clients?
Yes. Margaret Johnston works with international clients.
How much does therapy with Margaret Johnston cost?
The cost of therapy can vary based on factors like 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 to help 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.
Therapeutic Approaches That Translate Well to Online Care
Margaret Johnston draws from approaches that help clients understand what is happening inside and choose responses that better match their values and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on noticing unhelpful thought patterns and the behaviors that keep them going, then practicing new ways of thinking and coping that can be especially useful for anxiety, depression, and stress.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) builds skills for making room for difficult thoughts and feelings while still moving toward what matters most. It often helps when people feel stuck, overwhelmed, or pulled off course by old pain or high-pressure situations. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) pays close attention to emotions and connection, which can be helpful for relationship strain, intimacy concerns, and repeated conflict patterns.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Margaret collaborates with clients to shape therapy around their needs, goals, pace, and preferences, adjusting tools over time so sessions feel relevant and supportive.
Online therapy also makes it easier to get consistent support in everyday life. Clients can meet with Margaret through video calls or phone sessions, and can also use live chat or text-based messaging when that format feels more accessible. This flexibility can be especially helpful during busy weeks, periods of transition, or when extra support is needed between sessions.