Peggy Lingard moved to California to accept the job of her dreams and experienced a significant jolt when nearly everything in her life changed – she lost much of her support system, a sense of self, and the ability to tap into strengths she once relied on. Guided by an excellent therapist early on, she learned to invest in relationships and activities that brought joy and discovered an important lesson: talk less and do more. Reconnecting with nature and taking up painting became meaningful practices, and she still paints after 18 years.

With four decades of clinical experience, Peggy brings deep knowledge and practical skills to work with stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, depression, coping with life changes, addictions, LGBT matters, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, anger management, career difficulties, bipolar disorder, and compassion fatigue. She is licensed in California as a clinical social worker and combines extensive training with a compassionate, collaborative approach.

Peggy trained with professionals at the top of the field and has mastered Family Systems Theory, problem-solving approaches, divorce mediation, solution-focused and narrative therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, resilience-building, and mindfulness practices. She welcomes questions about evidence-based therapies and is willing to share research and her perspective on what is effective, while remaining grounded in real-world application.

After years of sitting with people who struggle with anxiety from change, uncertainty about growth, and grief or loss, Peggy holds the therapeutic relationship as the single most important factor for meaningful change. She draws from many therapeutic models – for example using mindfulness or distress tolerance skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy – yet always honors the partnership between therapist and client to ensure each person feels heard and helps direct the process.

On a personal level, Peggy is a lesbian with three grown children and a wife who is African American. She does not claim to have mastered all the diversity in her life and regards that as an ongoing journey. She feels graced by layers of respect, forgiveness, open-heartedness, and curiosity in relationships, and would not change the discomfort that has shaped her story.

Peggy is excited to work with anyone willing to increase transparency and let go of what is not working. While her experience may be an asset, she emphasizes that the client is the strongest ingredient in growing a life, and she strives to see each person with fresh eyes.