Rev. Peggy Ann "Serena" Hemmer, LCSW

Rev. Peggy Ann "Serena" Hemmer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma, parenting challenges, and health-related life changes. She is based in Florida and brings 21 years of clinical experience to her work. Serena prefers to be called Serena and uses a blend of practical and creative methods to support people through hard times.

Serena focuses on the whole person - mind, body, and spirit - and often weaves expressive arts and movement into sessions when helpful. She draws on Attachment-Based ideas to look at relationship patterns, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to reframe thoughts and behaviors, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation. The Gottman Method shapes her work around relationship communication and problem solving.

Her background includes public mental health work and residential treatment for youth, plus private practice that began in 2006. Serena also integrates elements from hypnotherapy and spiritual life coaching when clients are interested. Her training and experience have included work with adolescents and adults across many settings.

Sessions tend to be collaborative and practical. Clients can expect clear aims, tools they can use between sessions, and a mix of talking, creative exercises, or skill practice depending on need. She encourages people coping with chronic illness, caregiving stress, or major life transitions to bring both symptoms and daily life concerns to therapy.

Serena holds a Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Social Work from Capital University. She is a Florida LCSW and has a long history of workshop teaching and program development related to mental health topics.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect current connections. Online work using this approach focuses on identifying patterns and trying new ways of interacting in real life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors with concrete exercises and practice. In remote sessions CBT often involves short between-session assignments and step-by-step skill building. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers specific techniques for regulating intense emotions and tolerating distress; online DBT work emphasizes skill rehearsal and tracking progress between meetings.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to match methods to their goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean combining elements from different approaches and adjusting how exercises are presented for remote sessions.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, reduce travel time, and let people use written tools or screen-shared worksheets during the session. Licensed professionals can help plan practical ways to apply skills at home, work, or while managing chronic illness and caregiving responsibilities.