Meet Malissa Duckworth, LCSW

Hello and welcome,

My name is Malissa Duckworth (she/her), and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Owner and Director of Limitless Living, LLC. I am thrilled to introduce the first specialized therapy group in Memphis and the surrounding areas focused on treating OCD, anxiety spectrum disorders, trauma, and related concerns. This initiative has been a true labor of love, driven by the belief that suffering patients deserve evidence-based interventions delivered by highly skilled and compassionate clinicians.

I received a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, earning the prestigious Chancellor’s Award for Extraordinary Professional Promise. After receiving my LCSW, I began my private practice, integrating experience from inpatient mental health, residential substance abuse, and outpatient clinics for neurodiverse populations with my passion for helping those affected by OCD and anxiety spectrum disorders. Over a decade later, I am excited to offer the highest quality treatment based upon the principles of CBT-Exposure and Response (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Habit Reversal Training, and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Tics/Tourette (CBIT). I have the privilege of participating in some of the best training nationally and internationally and bringing the latest research to the therapeutic space. I do not use a one-size-fits-all approach; rather, I believe in the power of collaborative relationships to bring about desired change. I also believe in the importance of time-limited, goal-oriented therapy as opposed to the standard “talk therapy.” To this end, I function as much as a teacher or coach as I do as a counselor.

I am currently serving as the Vice-President of the TN Affiliate Board of the International OCD Foundation. I am a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association, the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation, the National Tourette Syndrome Association, and the Trichotillomania Learning Center. I am trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Additionally, I have completed Level II training in EMDR.

I know how difficult it can be to feel overwhelmed and paralyzed in social situations. For me, the thought of talking to others, even friends, used to trigger a surge of anxiety, making me feel even more isolated and distressed. When I began my journey with therapy alongside Malissa, I genuinely experienced a profound shift. She introduced me to cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques that allowed me to challenge those deep-rooted negative thoughts that seemed so real at the time. With her compassionate guidance, I began to see these social situations not as insurmountable challenges, but as opportunities for connection and growth. Malissa created a warm and supportive environment from our very first meeting, making it clear that I was in a judgment-free space where I could truly explore my feelings. Through her patience and understanding, I found the courage to face the anxiety that once held me back. Each small step forward felt like a victory, and over time, I learned to trust myself again. Thanks to Malissa's unwavering support, I'm beginning to embrace socializing once more, rekindling the joy of connecting with others in ways that I thought I had lost forever.

—L.K., Collierville