Heather McQuay, LCSW-C

Heather McQuay is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) in Maryland with 20 years in human services and more than a decade as a licensed therapist. She helps people dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, mood disorders, trauma, and anger in clear, practical sessions.

Her background includes long-term work with trauma from both childhood and adulthood. Heather listens for the immediate problem and the patterns that keep it alive. She uses straightforward tools to reduce overwhelm and improve day-to-day functioning.

Sessions focus on realistic goals the client can try between meetings. Heather draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and client-centered techniques. Motivational interviewing and solution-focused ideas also appear when they fit the situation.

She frames therapy as collaboration. Clients talk through recent stressors and long-standing patterns. Heather helps people notice what matters to them, practice skills to respond differently, and track small changes over time.

Practical concerns Heather addresses include work stress, parenting strain, relationship conflict, anger that shows up at home or work, caregiver burnout, and grief. She also supports people managing chronic illness, attention differences, and mood disorders. The focus is on usable strategies rather than jargon or lengthy theory.

Approaches used in online sessions and how they fit daily life