01 · Who Margaret works with

Margaret works with stress, Anxiety, anger management and self esteem

Margaret lists 16 specialisms and 14 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Margaret chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Margaret's own words

What Margaret says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by depression, anxiety, trauma, anger, or grief? You're not alone-and you don’t have to navigate these challenges by yourself. I specialize in helping adults work through life’s difficulties with compassion, clarity, and practical support. A central focus of my work is helping you cultivate self-esteem and self-compassion. I believe healing begins with how we speak to ourselves, and I'm passionate about helping you reconnect with your best self.

My approach is warm, non-judgmental, and grounded in evidence-based practices. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Strengths-Based approaches to help you better understand your story, develop healthier patterns of thinking, and build on the inner strengths you already have. Whether you're ready to make a change or just beginning to explore therapy, I’m here to support you with empathy, insight, and encouragement.

I graduated with a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and I am licensed in NY State as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). I am licensed in SC as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I am also licensed in NC with LCMHC. I am also a National Certified Counselor (NCC). My professional life has included working in community Mental Health clinics with people of all ages and backgrounds. In this role I have encountered a variety of life stages and situations, such as depression, anxiety, stress and trauma related issues, career exploration, caregiver fatigue, developmental disabilities, anger management, self-esteem issues, and substance use issues.

I am available through messages which I will check daily, along with live chat, video sessions or phone sessions. My calendar is available for you to schedule appointments with me. My schedule may not accurately reflect all available sessions, so please message me if you need something other than what's available.

I look forward to working with you!

Margaret Paine, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · How Margaret works

The 5 approaches Margaret lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Margaret lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Margaret's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Margaret runs a session.

Acceptance and Commitment TherapyACT

Rather than trying to argue a painful thought away, ACT works on loosening its grip and getting on with what matters to you anyway. Sessions spend real time naming your values, then building action around them while difficult feelings are still present.

Client-Centred TherapyPerson-centred · Rogerian

The therapist does not steer toward a technique or a diagnosis. They offer sustained, non-judgemental attention and reflect back what they hear, on the premise that people find their own direction when they are genuinely listened to. Often what people mean by “someone who just gets it”.

Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT

Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.

Emotionally Focused TherapyEFT

Built for couples and rooted in attachment: the recurring argument is treated as a cycle two people are stuck in rather than as one person's fault. Sessions work to interrupt the cycle and get to what each person is actually asking for underneath it.

Motivational InterviewingMI

A way of talking about change with somebody who is genuinely in two minds about it. The therapist does not argue for the change; they help you say your own reasons out loud, which is the part that predicts whether it happens. Common around substance use and health behaviour.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Margaret practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Margaret's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Margaret at this point.

2. Naming Margaret specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Margaret is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Margaret.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

3 questions worth asking Margaret

Built from what Margaret actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Margaret's - Margaret has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “You list both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. Which do you lean on with someone like me?”

  Those two point in different directions - one structured and led by the therapist, the other led by you. The answer tells you what the sessions will actually feel like.

• “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

  Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LCMHC

Licensed in

New York

Licence

NC LCMHC 21329, SC LPC 10415

Licence number

009232

Licence expires

30 Nov 2026

NPI

1053703538

Years in practice

9

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

9 Jun 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Margaret's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Margaret. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.