About Mary

I practice therapy from the General Systems Theory perspective, which is the basis for Marriage and Family Therapy. That means, my practice is informed by the knowledge that a family's patterns of behavior influence the individual and therefore may need to be a part of the treatment plan.

So, whether you are in the room alone, or you bring in people who are part of the significant relationships of your life, the set of relationship systems in which you are and have been a part will influence how we proceed in therapy. I will attend to the nature and role of you as an individual in your primary relationship networks, such as marriage, family, work, school and society. I will utilize a variety of psychotherapy modalities, including various theoretical approaches (e.g., contextual, structural, experiential, Internal Family Systems, and solution-focused) to “talk therapy”, as well as art and play therapy.

These modalities take place in the context of individual, family, couple or group therapy, as well as in the context of an assessment/evaluation. If at any time you want to know more about what sort of approach is being utilized, or you are not comfortable with the method, please discuss your questions or concerns with me. Within this perspective, I treat a wide range of mental and emotional disorders and health problems. I also provide services for premarital counseling, mediation, consultation and limited case management, as well as services with a focus on wellness, enrichment and prevention, education (e.g., parenting education, communication skills).

I believe in the potential of each person to thrive, reach goals, and to deal with problems, stress, and challenges by using her or his own set of values and resources to make decisions. It is when we make decisions and act outside our values and without our internal resources and without our support systems that we tend to fail to solve problems and to experience the most stress (and which at minimum may exacerbate physical illness, in addition to emotional stress). Therefore, I work with each person to reverse this pattern.

General Systems Theory is helpful for this exploration in determining more about available resources. I provide a safe environment to examine and understand your needs. But, it is also critical to work together to determine which patterns or thoughts, behaviors, and choices may need to be challenged and changed to help you meet your goals, as an individual, as a couple, or as a family.