Rev. Peggy Ann "Serena" Hemmer, LCSW

Rev. Peggy Ann "Serena" Hemmer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, depression, parenting challenges, and issues around identity and intimacy. She uses a holistic outlook that considers mind, body, and spirit. Serena blends practical talk with creative methods and attention to everyday life changes.

Serena has more than 21 years of clinical experience and worked earlier in county and state mental health and substance abuse services. She has offered counseling to young children, adolescents, adults, and couples in residential programs and independent practice. Her background includes expressive arts work with youth and program development in residential settings.

Her approach mixes evidence-based methods and relational work. She integrates Attachment-Based ideas, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Gottman couple work, and existential perspectives when appropriate. She also uses hypnotherapy and expressive arts for clients who connect with those methods.

Serena trained at Capital University and The Ohio State University and holds Florida licensure as an LCSW. She is an ordained metaphysical New Thought minister and is certified in Rational Hypnotherapy and Gottman Couple's Counseling. She also brings movement and creative arts such as dance, Tai Chi, visual arts, and drama into therapeutic work when helpful.

Clients who choose her often seek a therapist who weaves spiritual concerns and creative expression into practical strategies. She aims to help people notice what matters to them, learn skills for calmer days, and repair strained relationships over time.

How relational and skills-based methods translate online

Online work with Serena often draws on Attachment-Based ideas and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Attachment-Based work looks at how past relationship patterns shape current reactions and helps people change how they connect. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on noticing unhelpful thoughts and practicing new behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.

She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy tools at times to teach emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills. DBT skills can help with strong emotions, impulsivity, and improving day-to-day coping so relationships feel safer and more manageable.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, try methods that fit their needs, and adjust the plan over time. Clients help decide what feels useful and what to focus on next.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow brief check-ins when needed. It can also let someone use less bandwidth by choosing audio-only or schedule a shorter session for a quick check-in. Ask about format choices when you complete the matching questionnaire so sessions match your life and goals.