Mary Messerschmidt, LCSW
Virginia · 25 years in practice
Mary Messerschmidt is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia with 25 years of experience helping people through hard moments.
License and registration
- LCSW, Virginia
- 0904004851 · expires June 2026
- NPI
- 1598871113 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 25
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the 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 hard moments. She supports people facing anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship and intimacy struggles, grief, trauma and parenting stress. Mary also brings interest in ADHD, bipolar concerns, career shifts, and LGBT-related issues.
She centers the work on a caring, honest relationship. Sessions are conversational and practical. Mary listens for what matters most and helps clients find steps they can try between meetings.
Background and approach
Her approach draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy to look at feelings in relationships, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and action, and attachment-based ideas to understand longstanding patterns. She also uses client-centered work and cognitive behavioral tools when those fit the situation. Mary frames therapy as a collaborative process.
She helps people name what they want to change, set realistic goals, and practice skills that make everyday life easier. Coaching options are available for clients wanting a more goal-oriented focus. She treats each person as an individual and avoids relying on labels.
Mary respects different life stories and offers straightforward guidance aimed at real-world change. Her style blends warmth, direct feedback, and practical problem solving.
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
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- 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 emotion work and values translate online
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people name and work with strong emotions that affect relationships and personal patterns. It focuses on understanding emotional responses and how those shape interactions and closeness. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches ways to notice thoughts and feelings while moving toward what matters most, which can help with anxiety, depression, and motivation. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at early relationship patterns and how they show up now, useful for intimacy, trust, and commitment concerns.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Mary collaborates with each person to decide which methods best match their goals and preferences. That might mean using EFT ideas for relationship patterns, ACT exercises for values-driven action, or a mix depending on how someone responds.
Online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and emotional connection. Phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging offer brief check-ins, homework support, and flexibility between scheduled meetings. These options help people keep therapy consistent during work days, travel, or when scheduling needs change.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Mary help with?
She works with anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, trauma, parenting stress, and related concerns such as ADHD, bipolar symptoms, and career transitions.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Sessions are conversational and collaborative with a focus on understanding emotions, setting goals, and practicing practical steps between meetings.
What experience does she bring?
Mary has 25 years of clinical experience working with adults in a range of concerns and life stages.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a Virginia LCSW and provides services to people located in Virginia.
Which languages are supported and can international clients work together?
Sessions are offered in English and Mary is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Mary offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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