Margaret Canady

Margaret (she/her) is a Clinical Psychology Extern at OCAC and is currently pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, Irvine. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Margaret earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Harvard University, where she completed an honors thesis developing a dance therapy intervention for children with anxiety and depression in an inpatient hospital setting.

In her doctoral training, Margaret’s research focuses on understanding the sociocultural factors that shape trauma exposure and recovery, with an emphasis on childhood trauma and its impact across the lifespan. She is passionate about destigmatizing mental health interventions and making them more accessible and culturally responsive. Clinically, she is passionate about working with individuals of all ages to address the effects of trauma and related concerns, particularly anxiety and mood symptoms.

Before joining the team at OCAC, Margaret provided therapy and assessment services to individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, substance use, and interpersonal difficulties. Her clinical work emphasizes individualized, evidence-based care that honors each person’s cultural background and lived experiences. She is dedicated to creating a warm, collaborative, and validating therapeutic space where patients feel empowered as experts in their own lives. She has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based approaches, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

When she’s not working, Margaret enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.