Rev. Peggy Ann "Serena" Hemmer, LCSW

About Peggy

Rev. Peggy Ann "Serena" Hemmer focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, depression, and issues like sleep, anger, and self-esteem. She also addresses ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, compassion fatigue, and life transitions.

Serena presents herself as a compassionate guide who helps parents and families find clearer ways forward. Serena is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, who has practiced since 2004 and brings 21 years of professional experience.

Background and approach

She works with children age 3 and up, adults, couples, and families, and blends clinical training with creative methods she has used in residential and independent practice settings. Her background includes county and state mental health and substance abuse work prior to independent practice. Her sessions often mix practical tools and expressive activities.

For younger clients she uses play and art to help children name feelings and practice new behaviors. For adults and couples she uses proven talk therapies alongside skills-based strategies to improve communication and manage strong emotions. Serena has additional training in hypnotherapy and in couple work using the Gottman Method.

She also brings spiritual life coaching and holistic movement experience into her work when it fits a family’s goals. Her approach aims to help people access their own strengths and try small changes that build safer relationships. Based in Florida, Serena draws on long experience with diverse families and settings.

She combines clinical knowledge, creative tools, and pastoral perspective to support practical changes in daily family life.

Approaches that fit family and parenting life online

Attachment-Based Therapy helps people understand how early relationships shape current connections. It focuses on improving trust, emotional safety, and how family members respond to one another, which can be useful for parenting and blended family work.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and managing strong emotions in daily family life.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, brings concrete emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills. These tools can help parents and partners reduce reactivity and build steadier interactions.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to each family’s goals, needs, and preferences. Sessions may blend approaches so families can try what helps most.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy family schedules. Video calls allow face-to-face contact, phone sessions let parents join from anywhere, and live chat or text-based messaging can support brief check-ins and coaching between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into real life while focusing on clear skills and small changes.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of family and parenting concerns are addressed?

Areas include parenting challenges, blended family issues, family communication problems, attachment concerns, divorce and separation, and youth behavior. She also works with related issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep problems, and caregiver stress.

How would you describe the therapeutic style?

The approach mixes practical talk therapy with creative and experiential methods. For children that can mean play or expressive arts, while adults may use skills-based techniques and gentle coaching.

What is her background and length of experience?

She has 21 years of practice, including early work in county and state mental health and substance abuse services, plus long experience in residential treatment and independent practice.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in Florida under FL LCSW SW14761 and maintains a independent practice in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as session formats.

How are costs handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What is the process to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 21 years
Licensed: Florida
Languages: English

Next step

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