Emily Materdo, LCSW
Compassionate social worker for complex concerns
Details
| Name | Emily Materdo |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | North Carolina |
| Licensed in | North Carolina |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 13 |
About Emily
Emily Materdo is an LCSW who brings 13 years of clinical and medical social work experience to her practice. She focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, and compassion fatigue. She aims to make going to therapy feel less overwhelming and more practical for people at different life stages.
She uses a person-centered, collaborative style. Sessions start by listening closely to what matters most to the client and by jointly setting clear, realistic goals.
Background and approach
She believes clients are the experts on their own lives and helps them find new ways to move forward. Emily incorporates Narrative therapy ideas alongside cognitive and behavior-focused tools to help people rewrite hard stories about themselves. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-based principles to address relationships, meaning, and emotional patterns.
In session this can look like naming painful patterns, trying small experiments, and building more flexible choices. Her background includes work in clinical and medical social work settings across age ranges and health concerns, including chronic illness and end-of-life support. That experience informs her approach to caregiver stress, chronic pain and illness, and grief-related worries.
Clients can expect practical skills and reflective conversation. Emily aims to offer different perspectives and step-by-step ways to reach goals. She emphasizes self-compassion and helps people notice small changes that add up over time.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Bipolar disorder among the things Emily works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- First responder issues
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Emily among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Emily directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Emily directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and evidence-based approaches work online
Emily often blends Narrative therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-based ideas. Narrative therapy helps people separate themselves from painful stories and look at those stories differently to make new choices. ACT focuses on values and taking meaningful action even when uncomfortable feelings are present, which can help with anxiety and depression. Attachment-based work looks at how early relationship patterns still influence current feelings and reactions and supports building healthier ways of relating.Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with clients about their goals and preferences, then try methods that fit those needs. If something isn’t working, adjustments are made together so the sessions remain useful and practical.
Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for face-to-face conversation and observing body language. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text allow short check-ins, written reflection, or support between longer sessions. These options make scheduling more flexible and help people access therapy from different settings.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Emily address?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, and compassion fatigue. Additional focuses include caregiver stress, chronic illness, codependency, grief, and family of origin issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is person-centered and collaborative. She listens first, then helps set practical goals and uses narrative and cognitive tools to try new ways of coping.
What is her clinical background?
She has 13 years of clinical and medical social work experience. That work included supporting people across different ages and with complex medical or mental health needs.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She holds an LCSW license in North Carolina and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Emily are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Emily where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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