Marcia Tharp, LICSW, LCSW

Marcia Tharp is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Montana. She holds LICSW and LCSW credentials and brings 18 years of professional experience to her work. Marcia centers sessions on helping people find practical ways forward when life feels overwhelming.

She follows a collaborative, client-centered approach. Sessions focus on what the person wants to change and on small steps to get there. Marcia draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy to shape a plan that fits each person.

Marcia has worked across settings and with people facing a wide range of concerns. She supports those coping with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, sleep problems, ADHD, and caregiver strain. She also attends to issues such as abandonment, adoption and foster care histories, chronic illness and pain, and aging and geriatric issues.

Her style is warm and straightforward. She aims to create a calm space where thoughts and feelings can be talked through without judgment. Sessions combine practical strategies with reflection so people can make clearer choices.

Marcia encourages small experiments between meetings to test what helps. She guides people toward skills for managing emotions, improving sleep, and handling relationship and work stresses. Her focus is on usable steps and steady progress.

How therapeutic approaches guide online care

Client-Centered Therapy places the person’s experience at the center of sessions. The therapist listens closely, reflects what is said, and helps the person decide which goals matter most. This approach supports people who want to be actively involved in shaping their care.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. Sessions often include short exercises and experiments to test new ways of thinking and acting, which can help with anxiety, depression, sleep, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers practical skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships, with attention to balance between acceptance and change.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Marcia will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and what feels comfortable, then suggest techniques to try. That collaborative process can shift over time as priorities change.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Talk with the therapist about how sessions will be structured and which methods might suit your goals.