Mary Messerschmidt, LCSW
Therapist in Virginia
Mary Messerschmidt is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia with 25 years of experience helping people through stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship or intimacy-related struggles.
- Licensed inVirginia
- License0904004851
- NPI 1598871113
- Experience25+ years
- LanguagesEnglish
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Mary
Mary Messerschmidt is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia with 25 years of experience helping people through stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship or intimacy-related struggles. She supports people facing addiction, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting strain, and work or career transitions. Mary also addresses concerns tied to ADHD, bipolar mood issues, low self-esteem, and LGBT-related challenges.
Her approach centers on the therapeutic relationship and clear, practical work in session.
Background and approach
She combines Attachment-based therapy ideas with cognitive and behavioral tools. Sessions focus on what is happening now and on steps people can try between meetings. Mary describes her style as warm, straightforward, and respectful.
She avoids relying on labels and treats each person as an individual with their own life story. Coaching techniques are available for people who want goal-focused support alongside therapy. In the room she uses tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as needed.
She also draws on client-centered and emotionally-focused methods to help people reconnect with their values and attachments. Her background includes long-term clinical work and recent training in life coaching. Sessions are offered in English and delivered in several online formats.
To get started, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.
Credentials
- LCSW (Virginia)
- License 0904004851 · expires June 2026
- NPI
- 1598871113 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the therapist lists and checks neither.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Mary lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Intimacy-related issues
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trichotillomania
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Mary names
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Imago Relationship Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How attachment and action-oriented therapies work online
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how people connect and relate to others. It helps when patterns of closeness or distance cause pain in relationships and intimacy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches people to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, then act on values that matter to them. It can help with anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist listens carefully and follows the client's lead to build insight and confidence.Finding the right approach is a shared process. Mary will discuss goals, preferences, and which methods feel most helpful. She often blends approaches so the work fits each person's situation and changes over time.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to give practical flexibility. Video calls let people use visual cues for deeper connection. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone needs a shorter check-in. Live chat and text messaging allow ongoing support between sessions or a less formal way to process thoughts. These options help fit therapy into work, caregiving schedules, or other daily demands while keeping the focus on meaningful progress.
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Frequently asked
What concerns does she help with?
She supports people with anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, grief, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, bipolar mood concerns, ADHD, and LGBT-related challenges.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm, straightforward, and respectful. She focuses on building a caring therapeutic relationship and on practical steps to try between sessions.
How long has she practiced?
Mary has 25 years of clinical experience as a licensed clinical social worker in Virginia and recently expanded her work to include life coaching.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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