- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- EMDR work
About Margaret
Margaret Elkins is an LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) in Kentucky with seven years’ experience as a licensed therapist and 15 years working in mental health. She helps people who are carrying guilt or shame alongside concerns like anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, grief, and relationship stress. Her work is aimed at people who want clear steps to manage intense feelings and make practical changes.
Elkins uses straightforward talking and skill-building during sessions. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot unhelpful thoughts and try different responses. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is part of her toolkit for trauma work and memory-focused processing, and Motivational Interviewing helps people find internal reasons to change addictive or stuck behaviors.
Her background includes a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Eastern Kentucky University and many years across clinical settings. That history shapes how she balances skills training with deeper processing work. Sessions tend to combine direct feedback, practical exercises, and focused discussion so people can try new patterns between appointments.
Margaret often works with issues that intersect - for example grief that feeds shame, or anxiety that leads to avoidance. She explains techniques in plain terms and helps people practice them in daily life. The goal in sessions is to make feelings more manageable and to increase options for responding differently.
People who reach out should be prepared to talk about specific moments that generate guilt or shame. The first meetings include background, current concerns, and a plan for what to focus on next.
How her therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Margaret uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change thought patterns that keep guilt and shame active. CBT sessions often involve identifying specific thoughts, trying new responses, and practicing small behavioral experiments between meetings.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for managing strong emotions. DBT-based work focuses on practical tools for calming down, tolerating distress, and improving communication when shame or anger flare up.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. She will work with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and comfort level. That can mean starting with skills work, moving into memory-focused processing with EMDR if appropriate, or using Motivational Interviewing to address ambivalence about change.
Confirm the session formats offered before booking, as specific online methods are not listed in the biography. Many people use online therapy to fit sessions into a busy life - for example shorter check-ins during workday breaks, avoiding travel time, or using audio-only when bandwidth is limited. The focus remains on practical progress and matching techniques to daily routines rather than promising a particular session type.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Kentucky
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, grief, depression, relationship and family concerns, eating and anger issues, and career stress.
How does she approach guilt and shame in sessions?
She combines talking with practical skills. That can include examining thoughts, practicing emotion-regulation skills, and targeted processing of painful memories.
What is her clinical background?
She has seven years as a licensed therapist and 15 years in the mental health field, with experience in clinical settings supporting severe mental illness and trauma-related work.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She holds the LPCC credential and practices in Kentucky as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to start?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.