Susan Maguire, LCSW

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I work with adults—often in their 40s, 50s, and 60s—who want a steady place to make sense of the emotional challenges that arise in midlife.

You may be carrying responsibilities you never imagined, navigating transitions you didn’t choose, or noticing emotional patterns that no longer feel sustainable.

Midlife often is a time of many pressures, and even people who have always coped well can find themselves feeling overwhelmed, depleted, or unsure of what they need. 

At Clear Skye Counseling, my work is grounded in the belief that therapy offers something rare: a calm, thoughtful space to slow down, reflect, get organized - from an emotional sense, and reconnect with yourself.

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My Approach

I work from a relational, attachment and insight‑oriented therapy approaches. This means we pay attention to the relationships and patterns that have shaped your life, your emotions and internal experiences, and the pressures you carry - and may have for years. Our work focuses on your goals, and at a pace that respects where you are.

My role is not to offer quick fixes or surface‑level strategies. Instead, I help you explore what’s beneath the overwhelm — the expectations, beliefs, and long‑standing ways of coping that may no longer serve you. Together, we look at what feels heavy, what feels unclear, and what might support a more grounded and sustainable way forward.

Therapy in midlife isn’t about reinventing yourself. It’s about reconnecting with yourself — with clarity, compassion, and steadiness.

Who I Work With

Many of the people I work with are high‑functioning adults who have spent years holding things together for others. They may look capable on the outside while feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally tired on the inside. They’re often experiencing and navigating:

•     anxiety or chronic stress

•     depression or emotional fatigue

•     grief or major life transitions

•     perfectionism or long‑standing self‑pressure

•     questions about identity, purpose, or direction

I frequently work with women, and welcome adults of all genders who resonate with the emotional experience and challenges of midlife.

EDUCATION / LICENSES

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker in
    Virginia (LCSW, 0904009884), Maryland (LCSW-C, 20377) and Washington, DC (LICSW, LC50081472)

  • M.S.W., Masters in Social Work, Clinical Focus, Catholic University, Washington, DC 

  • M.A., Masters in Public Communication, American University, Washington, DC

  • B.S., Bachelor of Science, Journalism, University of Colorado, Boulder

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POST GRADUATE TRAINING

My post‑graduate training includes advanced work in relational and insight‑oriented therapy, grief and loss, anxiety, and midlife transitions. I continue to engage in ongoing professional development that supports holistic, thoughtful, grounded clinical work.

  • EFT, Emotionally Focused Therapy-Training Externship

  • AEDP, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy-Level 1

  • Clinical Program in Psychotherapy Practice, Washington School of Psychiatry

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certificate Training, PESI, Inc.

  • Internal Family Systems training, Life Change Psychotherapy Institute 

  • Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 

  • Professional MInd-Body Training Program, (Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Washington, DC)

  • Professional Certified Coach-PCC, (International Coach Federation)

If You’re Considering Therapy

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or unsure how to move forward, you don’t have to sort through it alone. A brief consultation call gives us a chance to talk about what’s been going on and whether working together feels like a good f

My Background & Experience

Like many people in midlife, my own life and career have included shifts, questions, and moments of rethinking things. I have done my own personal work, and had years of listening to and supporting adults through their emotions and transitions.  All of this has shaped how I work with my clients.  And I continue to have deep respect for the courage it takes to grow and change.  It's a big part of why this work continues to be fulfilling to me every day.   

The name of my company, Clear Skye Counseling & Coaching, was inspired by the beauty and spaciousness of the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

Residential buildings on a city street with a sidewalk in Alexandria VA, small front yards, and trees.
A cozy living room therapist office with a blue armchair with a rust-colored pillow, a small side table with decorative items, a patterned rug, a beige desk chair, a lamp, and a wall clock.
Living room with a dark gray sofa, a blue armchair, and a colorful patterned rug. There are two lamps, a side table with glasses, and a window with natural light.
Request a Free Introductory Call