Margaret Johnston, LMHC

Margaret Johnston is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida with 11 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, and challenges like ADHD and bipolar disorder. Her practice notes a particular focus on blended family issues and other relationship transitions.

She trained at the University of North Florida, earning a Master of Clinical Psychotherapy in 2013, and completed a nine-month Clinical Pastoral Education internship focused on deep listening. Early work included time in a program for military veterans where she practiced careful, sustained listening.

In sessions she uses Trauma Supportive Therapy to approach painful memories at a pace the client can tolerate. She emphasizes listening, reflecting feelings, and identifying unmet emotional needs. The goal is to help people name their values and build steps toward meaningful daily life without being repeatedly derailed by past hurts.

Her methods draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). She combines these approaches with culturally aware, strength-based work that acknowledges the impact of race and identity when that is important to the client.

Margaret notes inclusive clinical openness to people in LGBTQA communities, polyamorous relationships, kink and alternative sexual cultures. She frames herself as a guide who listens and helps people plan, set goals, and practice different ways of responding to stress and relationship strain.