Therapist profile
Heather McQuay, LCSW-C
LCSW-C focused on family and parenting concerns
Continue with HeatherAbout
- CBT techniques
- ACT strategies
- DBT skills
About Heather
Heather McQuay is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) in Maryland with 20 years in human services and over a decade as a licensed therapist. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, mood concerns including bipolar, grief, parenting strains, relationship and family issues, and ADHD. Heather also addresses workplace stress, compassion fatigue, and life transitions.
Her style is centered on the person in front of her. Sessions focus on clear goals that the client sets. She uses practical techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to help people notice patterns and try new actions. Client-Centered Therapy frames the work so discussion feels directed by the client’s priorities.
Heather has extensive experience with trauma from both childhood and adulthood. She brings strategies from dialectical behavior therapy to manage intense emotions and from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take steps that fit those values. These methods are used in straightforward exercises and in-session conversations.
People often come for help with parenting stress, communication problems, blended family concerns, or caregiver strain. Heather also supports work on self-esteem, body image, and adapting to chronic illness or caregiving roles. Work may include skills practice, role-playing conversations, or planning small, achievable changes.
Her sessions aim for clear, usable outcomes rather than abstract talk. Heather invites adults who want practical tools and steady support to consider a first session and see if the approach fits.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches used in online sessions
Heather commonly draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. ACT helps people identify what matters most to them and take actions that align with those values even when feelings are difficult. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and practicing new responses that reduce distress.She also uses Client-Centered Therapy principles, which means the pace and topics are guided by the client. Deciding which approach to emphasize is a collaborative process. The therapist and client discuss goals, try different techniques, and adjust the approach based on what helps most.
The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so confirm the options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, shorter check-ins during a lunch break or avoiding travel time. It can also allow use of worksheets, in-session behavioral experiments, and skills practice between meetings to support progress.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, parenting strain, grief, relationship and family concerns, ADHD, and related issues listed on her profile.
What is her therapeutic approach like?
Her approach is person-centered and goal-focused, using CBT, ACT, DBT skills, and motivational interviewing to build practical strategies and behavior changes.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years in human services and over a decade as a licensed therapist working with adults on mood, trauma, and family-related issues.
Is she a licensed clinician and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) in the state of Maryland.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not list specific session formats. Confirm current session options before booking to know which formats she offers.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.