MaryLou Paccione
I am a compassionate therapist with over 20 years of experience in various treatment venues. My approach is client-centered and solution-focused. You will find me friendly and easy to talk to. There is no judgment, only the desire to help you identify your issues and work on making the desired changes to improve your life. Together, we will set the goals for treatment and expectations.
First session
Our first session will be getting to know each other. I will be getting a lot of history about your life and current problems that have caused you to seek help. You will be able to ask any questions and identify what needs to change in your life or in your behaviors.
Strengths
I have a lot of life experiences that I bring to my work, not only within my own life but also from experience in the field and in many different venues. I'm empathic and I am sensitive to my clients' feelings. I will address the behaviors I observe in session and from past events.
Ideal clients
I enjoy working with women's issues. I have many years of practice working with people with addictions, including adolescents. I've done extensive work with suicidal clients with much success. I can work well with the elderly or people going through life transitions. This incorporates grief and loss. I've done a lot of trauma-focused care. Anxiety, depression, and ADHD are the most prevalent issues seen in therapeutic care.
Origin story
I was not one of those high school students who knew what they wanted to do when they grew up! I applied to one school: F.I.T. I received an associate degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising. My mother was a buyer, and I figured if she could do it, so could I, and I liked fashion. Back then, it was a 2-year school and was just beginning to be a 4-year college education. The fashion industry is hard, and I worked retail for several years. However, I wanted a good salary, so I went to Pace University for Marketing, and I earned a B.B.A. However, I hate business. After working in a showroom for a sweater company, I sensed how indifferent these people were to others' feelings and how cutthroat they can be, and I wanted out. A friend of mine worked for an inpatient and outpatient facility for Alcohol and drugs. I became the assistant to the marketing manager, started learning what they did, and found it interesting. So I ended up working as a counselor while I obtained my certificate in Drug and Alcohol counseling. Once I had accomplished that, I became more interested in why this happens to some people and not others. I wanted to know the psychology behind what makes people who they are and how they behave. I was accepted to Columbia University in 1991 and went part-time while I continued doing the drug counseling. Well that's when the miracle happened!! I finally realized what I was good at and felt like I was home. I was 34 when I finished my master's in Social Work.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
This method helps to recognize their issues and develop different ways to respond to or interpret them. It also changes thought patterns from negative to positive. We can change our behaviors to be healthier and more productive.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
As your therapist I accept you without judgements, not that I approve of every behavior but i will treat you as a person of worth no matter what. I will try to understand what your feeling from your point of view. I will be real with you and empathetic to your situation and feelings.
Grief Therapy
The goal of grief therapy is not to erase grief or to force someone to move on. It's more about helping the person process the loss, adjust to life without the loved one in a less overwhelming way.
Trauma-Focused CBT
To help the client process traumatic experiences in a safe, healthy ways. Substance use is often closely connected to unresolved trauma. Trauma-informed care focuses on safety, trust, emotional regulation and the root causes of addiction.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- New YorkLicense 080703