Margaret Swanson, LICSW
Compassionate therapy for life’s difficult changes
Details
| Name | Margaret Swanson |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LICSW |
| Based in | Vermont |
| Licensed in | New Hampshire, Vermont |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 25 |
About Margaret
Margaret Swanson is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, and parenting strain. She works with individuals facing identity issues, bipolar mood challenges, trauma and abuse, and compassion fatigue. She also supports people dealing with career shifts, low self-esteem, anger, and ADHD.
Margaret’s style is straightforward and person-centered. Sessions focus on listening, naming patterns, and trying simple experiments that fit daily life.
Background and approach
She uses a mix of approaches to help people rewrite difficult stories about themselves and their relationships. In practice she draws on Narrative ideas to help clients separate themselves from painful problems. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and take small actions, and Attachment-Based work to understand relationship patterns.
Cognitive Behavioral tools are used when helpful to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. Her background includes long-term clinical work across Vermont and neighboring communities. Margaret holds a Vermont Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker credential and also a New Hampshire LICSW.
That experience informs practical strategies for coping with life changes and chronic stress. People can expect calm, direct guidance and a focus on what the person wants to change. Sessions aim to build clear steps for day-to-day life, whether that means improving communication, managing mood swings, or calming anxiety.
She offers sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and routines. The emphasis is on collaboration and steady progress rather than quick fixes.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Family conflicts among the things Margaret works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Depression
- LGBT
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Margaret among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Margaret directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Margaret directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Narrative and Acceptance Approaches Work Online
Margaret uses Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves from their problems. In simple terms, this means talking through the story a person tells about a difficulty and looking at other ways to understand it. This approach can help with issues like identity, grief, and patterns that repeat in relationships.She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on clarifying what matters most and taking small, values-based steps. ACT can be useful for anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and when someone feels stuck and unsure what to do next. Attachment-Based ideas are used to track how early relationships influence current patterns, helping people change how they relate to others and to themselves.
Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. Margaret works collaboratively to find what fits each person's goals and preferences. She will discuss options, try methods, and adjust the plan based on what is helpful and practical.
Online therapy offers flexibility for people with busy schedules or limited travel options. Video calls let people use visual cues and longer conversations, phone sessions work when bandwidth is low or hands-free time is needed, and live chat or text-based messaging can suit brief check-ins or those who prefer writing. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, and everyday life while keeping the focus on steady, manageable progress.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Margaret commonly address?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, trauma, parenting strain, ADHD, bipolar challenges, and issues tied to identity and career.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is calm and practical. She listens, helps name patterns, and tries doable steps that fit everyday life.
What kind of experience does she bring?
Margaret has 25 years of clinical experience working across Vermont and nearby areas, bringing long-term practice with diverse emotional and life challenges.
What credentials and location are on file?
She holds a Vermont Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker credential and a New Hampshire LICSW and practices from Vermont.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What formats are available for sessions?
Therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Margaret are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Margaret where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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