Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Mary is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and enjoys working with children, the inner child in every adult and people experiencing stress from parenting. She has a wide range of experiences working with individuals, couples and families. Her personal approach seems to quickly lower defenses and helps people feel understood and supported. She takes a collaborative stance with her clients and believes that people of all ages will be more invested in their treatment if they feel they had a part in planning it. She has particular expertise in working with trauma, anxiety, depression, developmental delays, ADHD, behavior issues, Autism Spectrum and emotional problems related to other medical issues. She is driven by the hope of improving people’s chance of experiencing success, balance and joy in progress rather than perfection.
Mary also provides Neurofeedback (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/neurofeedback) as a compliment to psychotherapy to treat Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Autism, Insomnia, and PTSD. Neurofeedback is a passive and painless process that teaches the brain to maintain healthy habits over time relieving symptoms and enhancing cognitive performance. Through psychotherapy supported by Neurofeedback, an individual’s brain and nervous system begin to work more efficiently together and as a result thought patterns, behaviors, choices, and relationships begin to change. As this occurs, psychotherapy guides an individual through these positive life changes.
More information on Neurofeedback:
https://www.eeginfo.com/what-is-neurofeedback.jsp
Mary has a Master’s degree in Couples and Family Therapy from Colorado State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gonzaga University. She has additional training in Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment-Based Play Therapy and Gottman Couples Therapy. Mary has had a varied career as an early childhood educator and an English as a Second Language teacher overseas before becoming a Therapist. In her clinical work, she draws on the creativity, knowledge of child development, cultural humility and sense of humor she developed through these experiences.
Mary is an avid reader and traveler and loves a really good cup of coffee. She does yoga and goes for daily walks with her rescue dog, rain or shine. She delights in Chicago’s rich cultural scene and enjoys going to museums, theater, live music and new restaurants.
