Heather McQuay, LCSW-C
Experienced Maryland LCSW-C focused on midlife change
Continue with Heather
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- Person-centered approach
- Practical coping skills
- Values-based work
About Heather
Heather McQuay is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) based in Maryland. She has more than 20 years in human services and over a decade practicing as a licensed therapist. Heather works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and major life changes. She draws on long experience to offer steady, practical support when life feels overwhelming.
Heather favors a person-centered style. Sessions focus on what matters to the individual and on small, doable steps. She listens for strengths clients can use and helps translate those into change. Conversation is collaborative and paced to the person's comfort.
Her work uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy among other approaches. Those methods help people notice unhelpful thoughts, build coping skills, and clarify values. Heather adapts techniques to each person's situation rather than using a single formula.
Clients come for a broad range of concerns, including parenting strain, career transitions, attention challenges, chronic illness, and complicated grief. Heather also supports people dealing with adoption and foster care issues, attachment and abandonment wounds, and caregiver stress. She aims to help clients find practical ways to manage feelings and move forward.
Heather invites people who want calm, clear guidance and an active partner in problem solving. She helps set goals, track progress, and adjust plans as life changes. To begin, readers are asked to use the site Start Therapy button to match and schedule a session.
Heather favors a person-centered style. Sessions focus on what matters to the individual and on small, doable steps. She listens for strengths clients can use and helps translate those into change. Conversation is collaborative and paced to the person's comfort.
Her work uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy among other approaches. Those methods help people notice unhelpful thoughts, build coping skills, and clarify values. Heather adapts techniques to each person's situation rather than using a single formula.
Clients come for a broad range of concerns, including parenting strain, career transitions, attention challenges, chronic illness, and complicated grief. Heather also supports people dealing with adoption and foster care issues, attachment and abandonment wounds, and caregiver stress. She aims to help clients find practical ways to manage feelings and move forward.
Heather invites people who want calm, clear guidance and an active partner in problem solving. She helps set goals, track progress, and adjust plans as life changes. To begin, readers are asked to use the site Start Therapy button to match and schedule a session.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Maryland
Languages
English
How therapeutic approaches shape online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts without getting stuck and then choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for stress, anxiety, and midlife questions about purpose. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new ways of responding to reduce distress and improve daily functioning.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Heather will talk with clients about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress unfolds, keeping the process collaborative and goal-focused.
If you prefer online sessions, confirm the current session formats before booking. The main practical benefit is fitting therapy into everyday life - sessions can be scheduled around work, caregiving, or other commitments. Online work also makes it easier to keep a regular check-in when life gets busy, and some techniques translate well to brief, focused sessions or homework between meetings. Talk with Heather during matching to choose an approach that fits your needs and schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Heather commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting strain, career questions, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and related issues.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is person-centered and collaborative. She focuses on listening, identifying strengths, and helping clients set practical goals.
What kind of experience does she bring?
Heather has over 20 years in human services and more than a decade as a licensed therapist, working across a wide range of clinical concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a LCSW-C in Maryland and practices from that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Heather?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.