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Unfortunately, my practice and waitlist are currently full and I am unable to respond to new client inquiries. I will update this message when I have availability
Maggie Hunter, LCSW
Therapist
"The day you decide you are more interested in being aware of your thoughts than you are in the thoughts themselves – that is the day you will find your way out" – Michael Singer
Photo Credit: Tu Nguyen
Areas of Specialty
Perinatal Mental Health
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER
AnxietY
The physical, psychological, relational, emotional, and spiritual changes experienced during the perinatal period are vast and unique to every person. Modern parenthood can be incredibly isolating and taxing. I enjoy offering a space to help individuals explore their experiences, address challenges directly, and foster growth during this season of life.
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I am a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International
OCD involves unwanted and recurring intrusive thoughts or images (obsessions) that are followed by behavioral or mental compulsions. Diagnostic features of OCD can include fear of contamination, fears of harming others, ordering and arranging objects in specific ways, or unwanted aggressive, violent, or sexual thoughts.
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OCD can be very distressing and isolating and take up a significant amount of mental and emotional energy.
Anxiety can be like a game of Whack-a-Mole in which our minds hop around latching onto various distressing thoughts. Anxious beliefs left unchallenged often lead to a great deal of avoidant behaviors and a very small comfort zone that can interfere with living a life we enjoy.
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With compassion and collaboration, I strive to work with clients to challenge anxious belief systems, accept uncertainty, and build skills to tolerate discomfort.
Eating disorders & Body image
depression
Interpersonal Issues
Untreated eating disorders can impact and impair nearly every aspect of life. I specialize in Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder, as well as working with individuals who experience some symptoms of these disorders, but may not meet criteria for a full diagnosis.
I operate from an anti-diet, Health at Every Size framework with an emphasis on the social justice issues related to eating disorders and negative body image.
Psychologist Rollo May stated "Depression is the inability to imagine a different future". The physiological, emotional, and cognitive symptoms of depression can keep us locked in cycles of suffering.
I am passionate about helping people understand themselves and deconstruct negative belief systems that keep us depressed and cut off from others.
We are wired to be in relation with one another. Lack of connection with others, fear of rejection or abandonment, difficulty communinicating our emotions and needs, and conflict avoidance, among others, are all common contributors to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
I enjoy helping clients develop more insight into relational patterns and build skills to improve their connections with others. Note: I do not currently offer couples therapy.
Treatment Modalities
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
EXposure response prevention
This approach focuses on the relationship between our thoughts, behavior, and emotions. Identifying distorted and unhelpful thought processes can help us understand why we get stuck in painful emotional states and engage in unhealthy behaviors.
DBT focuses on reducing intense emotions by developing coping skills in four categories: Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. DBT is traditionally done in a structured format and includes group therapy. I primarily use DBT for teaching coping skills in individual sessions.
ERP is a type of CBT that is considered an evidence based treatment for OCD and some anxiety disorders. It involves intentionally exposing ourselves to distressing situations/stimuli/thoughts and not engaging in patterned compulsions. Through this process we learn to habituate (get used to) our triggers and reduce the automatic anxiety that occurs.
While the above are specific treatment modalities I use, my approach is grounded in a relational and humanistic foundation. I work with clients to create a therapeutic relationship that is a supportive, trusting, and non-judgmental space to explore concerns and improve quality of life.​ I bring my authentic self to the process, using empathy, humor, and my personal and professional experiences.
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Rates & Insurance
Insurances Accepted
I am in network with most commercial plans with Anthem/BCBS, Sentara, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, and Aetna. Please contact your insurance plan directly to learn more about your coverage and benefits for outpatient mental health services.
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​Rates
Please contact me for more information about self-pay rates and a Good Faith Estimate.
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Sliding Scale - I keep spots on my caseload for folks on a sliding scale for lower fees. Please contact me directly for more information about available sliding scale fee spots.
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Payment
I accept cash, checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards.
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​Missed Appointments
Please give 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel your session, otherwise you will be charged $50 per missed appointment. Please note insurance providers do not pay for missed appointments.
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About Me
Buster, my senior pup who joins for most in-person sessions.
I have a natural curiosity about life and people and my love of connecting with others is what drew me to this field. Like all people, I have my own story full of pain and joy. My personal experiences have inspired me to deepen my understanding of life, suffering, and how we make sense of our unique experiences. I enjoy working with individuals of all ages, gender identities, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, and sexual orientations. I strive to be authentic and real in my work with my clients, while also maintaining healthy boundaries to ensure my role is clear and our work together is productive.
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In terms of my education and professional experience, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I have a Bachelor's of Social Work from Temple University and a Master's of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. My professional experiences include working with adults, adolescents, and children with anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. I have also worked with refugees in the US and abroad, as well as perpetrators and survivors of domestic violence.
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Pronouns: she/her.
Contact
Please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. I am happy to answer questions via email to help you determine if I might be a good fit. I am also happy to provide referrals if either of us feel a different provider may be a better fit. I do my best to respond within 48 hours. It is difficult for me to return calls in a timely manner within normal business hours. Email is my preferred form of communication.
Resources
Emergency Resources
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line
Text "Home" to 741741
Community Service Boards (CSB)
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority
Crisis # - (804) 819-4100
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Henrico Mental Health
Crisis # - (804) 727-8484
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Chesterfield CSB
Crisis # - (804) 748-6356
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Hanover CSB
Crisis # - (804) 365-4200
General Resources
Pregnancy & Postpartum​
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Postpartum Support International (PSI) HelpLine - Call: 1-800-944-4773 or Text: 800-944-4773
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This Isn't What I Expected by Karen Kleiman and Valerie Davis Raskin
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The Postpartum Depression Workbook: Strategies to Overcome Negative Thoughts, Calm Stress, and Improve Your Mood by Abigail Burd
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Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers by Karen Kleiman and Molly McIntyre
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Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman and Amy Wenzel
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What About Us?: A New Parents Guide to Safeguarding Your Over-Anxious, Over-Extended, Sleep-Deprived Relationship by Karen Kleiman and Molly McIntyre
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​OCD
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Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts by Sally M. Winston, PsyD and Martin N. Seif,PhD
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Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty by Jonathan Grayson
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Stop Obsessing!: How to Overcome Your Obsessions and Compulsions by Edna B. Foa and Reid Wilson
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Fearcast Podcast https://fearcastpodcast.com/
Finding Meaning
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When Nietzsche Wept by Irvin Yalom
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Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death by Irvin Yalom
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Film: Yalom's Cure
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Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
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Anxiety
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The Wisdom of Anxiety by Sheryl Paul, MA
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The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmond Bourne, PhD
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Hope and Help for your Nerves by Claire Weekes
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The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine Aron
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Codependence
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Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
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Codependent No More Workbook by Melody Beattie
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Body Image & Eating Disorders
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The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
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The Body Image Workbook by Thomas Cash, PhD.
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Health at Every Size (Social Movement and website with information and resources)
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Body Respect: What Conventional Health Books Get Wrong, Leave Out, and Just Plain Fail to Understand about Weight by Linda Bacon, PhD
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Eating in the Light of the Moon by Anita Johnston, PhD.
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Life Without Ed by Jenni Schaefer
