Margaret Thomas- Lapsley, LMHC

Margaret Thomas- Lapsley is a Florida licensed mental health counselor who helps adults dealing with anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. She works with people facing relationship strain and those coping with trauma from childhood, military service, or sexual abuse. Sessions are practical and focused on learning skills that make day-to-day life easier.

Margaret draws on 16 years of clinical experience to teach emotional regulation and clearer boundary setting. She uses straightforward methods so clients can rebuild self-trust and manage difficult feelings. The first meetings often focus on what matters most to the person and on short-term tools to reduce distress.

Her style is warm and nonjudgmental. She aims to create a space where people feel seen and understood while they practice new ways of relating. Therapy includes collaborative goal setting and regular check-ins on progress.

Margaret blends approaches to match each person’s needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy help with practical thinking and values-based change. Attachment-informed and emotionally focused ideas guide work on relationships and intimacy.

Clients can expect a skills-oriented, relational approach that balances support with active work. Over time the focus shifts from coping to longer-term patterns like self-esteem, communication, and purpose. Sessions are offered online by phone, video, chat, or text messaging to fit different schedules.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Margaret commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with small behavioral changes, which can reduce anxiety and improve mood. ACT emphasizes values-based action and learning to accept difficult feelings while committing to meaningful goals, which helps people move forward even when emotions are intense.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. She works together with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and daily life. That collaborative planning means techniques can change over time as needs shift and progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video lets people practice skills in real time, phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, and chat or text messaging can suit quick check-ins or brief coaching between sessions. These formats help fit therapy into busy schedules and different routines.