Margaret Sicari , LCSW

Margaret Sicari is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with more than three decades of clinical experience. Known to many as Peggy, she has served in a wide range of roles including private practitioner, agency clinician, high school social worker, clinical supervisor, and program director, bringing a breadth of perspective to each therapeutic relationship.

Her work spans individual, couples, family, and group therapy, and she has extensive experience addressing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, emotional abuse, childhood trauma, low self-esteem, and struggles with coping. Margaret has also devoted significant attention to substance use disorders, supporting clients in achieving and sustaining recovery while assisting the family members affected by addiction, including Adult Children of Alcoholics.

Margaret approaches counseling as an interactive, collaborative process. She partners with clients to set goals and create a plan for change, prioritizing comfort and trust as foundations for progress. Her aim is to expand clients' understanding of themselves, build on existing strengths, introduce new coping tools, and identify practical paths toward resolving current life challenges. Having reached out for help is recognized as an important first step, and Margaret seeks to support clients as they take the next steps in their journey.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Margaret integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques into her work to meet varied needs. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a collaborative, empathetic relationship in which the therapist supports the client's own goals and self-discovery - it is helpful for relationship concerns, self-esteem, and life transitions. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a practical, skills-based approach that helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, often used for anxiety, depression, and coping challenges. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-focused awareness and stress-management strategies that can reduce reactivity and improve emotional regulation, which is useful for anxiety, trauma symptoms, and daily stress management.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Margaret works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and adapts strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexible access to licensed professionals through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules or connect from different locations. These options allow for consistent care, varied communication styles, and greater convenience while working on recovery, relationship issues, mood concerns, and other life challenges.