At a glance
Best fit for: I tend to practice from a CBT perspective, pulling in skills from DBT and ACT, with a strong focus on mindfulness as well. I also rely on a person-centered and strengths-based approach in my work.
Who Am I?
Hello! I am Mary (she/they) and I am a licensed social worker* that works with teens and adults seeking support through therapy. Let’s make sense of life’s challenges together and uncover the strengths you already have. Together we can work to explore the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions, as well as challenge unhelpful patterns and beliefs. I believe in creating a collaborative and compassionate space where you can feel safe, seen, and heard. You set the pace in therapy; I will be alongside you in this process and meet you wherever you are. I don’t have all the answers for you, but I’m here to work with you to find those answers together.
I am a CIS gendered, Caucasian woman.
I specialize in working with:
- Teens and young adults facing life transitions
- Anyone struggling with issues of identity
- Anyone struggling with image/body image concerns
- College students
- Anyone struggling with persistent emotional dysregulation
How I help
I try to create a compassionate and safe environment in which we can establish a therapeutic relationship build on collaboration and trust. I believe in building a space where you can feel safe to share your victories and losses with me, and where we can work together to process through difficult experiences and emotions and problem-solve challenges. I like to assess how thoughts, feelings, and actions affect each other and may be contributing to various difficulties you may be experiencing, along with how different systems within your life may be contributing to your concerns. We can work together to build skills or simply talk through your worries. My job as your therapist is to address your concerns within the therapeutic space, as well as to advocate for your well-being outside in the world. If I make a mistake at any point, please let me know – it’s also my job to address my shortcomings as your therapist and work to correct them. Therapy is a process, and we are in this process together!
What a session with me is like
I believe in meeting clients where they are. I believe that therapy is a collaborative process, and that you can get as much out of therapy as you put into it. I also believe that healing and growth is possible for everyone – it is never too late to make a change.
What I believe
Before we start each session I like to make it known that you can grab a blanket, adjust the lighting, or do anything that you need to do to feel comfortable. I like to start each session by creating a space where you can feel comfortable to tell me about how your day has been going – what has went well, and what has not gone so well. I really value creating a space where you can feel like yourself; a space where you can feel safe to cry and can talk about anything you need to. We can take breaks during sessions to simply breathe together. At the beginning of our work together, we’ll create goals and a treatment plan to help guide us. Your treatment plan is more like a map rather than a strict itinerary, sometimes our plan may change. You set the pace and direction of each session, and I’ll bring curiosity, support, and coping skills that may help along the way. At the end of every session we will check-in about what went well and if there’s anything you would like me to change – it’s okay to tell me if I’ve made a mistake! I want to be the best support for you I can, and work together to reach your goals.
A little more about me
I’m from Detroit but am very excited to be in Chicago! I have one cat here in Chicago and two dogs back home in Detroit so please feel free to show me all of your pet pictures :). I love going for runs and walks, especially as a way to adventure around the city. I’m a big sitcom fan and you can often find me rewatching Modern Family or Parks and Rec with my cat! I also love spending time drawing, painting, and crafting.
A few common questions
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes, I see clients virtually across Illinois, and in person at our Portage Park office.
What insurance do you take?
BCBS PPO, Northshore, and Aetna.
- AetnaBCBS PPOEndeavor/Northshore HMOOptum/United
