“I am honored to provide a safe and comfortable environment for clients. I welcome the opportunity to build rapport with you and be a part of your personal growth and discovery. I believe wholeheartedly in the gift of therapy, and I know that attending therapy takes great courage.”
Mary describes the process of therapy as a journey between therapist and client acting as “co-captains” on a boat where the therapist is at the helm, guiding the journey, and the client is the navigator who has a general destination in mind. The client also holds the map and anchor, which allows for a change in direction or a break when needed. Whether it be sunny skies, stormy weather or something in between, you can look forward to sailing through your journey with Mary together as a team. Mary’s clients can expect to learn healthy coping skills, self-compassion, assertiveness and the ability to connect some dots between their childhood and present day living. Sessions often involve a mix of talking, reflective exercises, and practical strategies to apply in daily life. Clients are encouraged to actively participate, ask for feedback and provide feedback at any time.
Mary’s intervention style is eclectic depending on the client’s personal strengths, presenting issues and goals for treatment. She primarily uses CBT, DBT, ACT, Mindfulness and Expressive Arts. Mary is a certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and board certified at the advanced level in addictions related counseling. She also specializes in postpartum and perinatal mood disorders (PMAD) as well as OCD. Additionally, she is an experienced Family Therapist and currently facilitates family support services at the Retreat Clinic.
Mary has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Child & Family Therapist since 2007. She received her MSW from Western Michigan University and her Bachelor’s and Associate degrees in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. Additional roles throughout her career include family court process and testimony, child custody concerns, safety and protective protocol development, and research on stress management for first responders and marketing from a sociological perspective. Mary is currently on the PMAD consultation team at Pine Rest, and provides presentations and training to new clinicians and interns as needed.
