(she/her)
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional with over 20 years of experience providing clinical services in one capacity or another. My experience includes working with children, teens, and adults and my areas of practice have included substance use, serious mental illness, and a variety of anxiety issues. I believe that you are the expert on your own thoughts and feelings, but unhelpful behavior patterns are not always as obvious to the person engaging in them. My role with you will be to help you discover those patterns and their root cause so that we can give them a tune-up to get you going on a more functional path. Why we do what we do has always been a strong focus of my clinical work. I believe that we can always find the reasons for our dysfunctional behaviors if we are open and willing to look for them. I will work well with you if you are open and curious about your own mind and/or are motivated to dig deep into your inner world to affect change. Dream analysis has also highly interested me, and I welcome discussing your dreams and what they could represent about your current life problems.
Being on the receiving end of therapy myself, I find that comfort with my therapist is the most important factor in making change. You are free to ask me (most) questions to get comfortable with me! You are also free to share as little or as much as you'd like in our first session. Opening up to a stranger can feel...strange. If after our first session-or even after our 10th session-you feel something is uncomfortable, I welcome you to be direct and to communicate this to me.
I use an empathic, yet "no-nonsense" approach and help you to take accountability for your decisions and actions. I will work hard with you to find and change unhelpful behaviors, but you hold the power and control to your own life. I will be here as a guide to help you get your momentum going in a more helpful direction. I also believe that mutually agreed upon humor can be an absolute asset in the therapeutic process.
I've found that clients who are willing to remain consistent, patient, and dedicated to their participation typically find faster and more lasting change. I know that there is never an issue too small for which to seek help, and if you give yourself a chance and stick with it, you may be surprised how much better you can feel.
Eclectic
My clinical approach to treatment is eclectic. In short, I use whatever approach works best for your unique personality and presenting problem! I typically draw from principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, and internal family systems. I am also trained in Exposure and Response Prevention for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Perfectionism.
6 ratings with written reviews
February 21, 2026
I liked what I read in her profile; I felt we could establish a professional connection and so far she has been fantastic.
February 17, 2026
Thank you Mary for helping me on this first session. I feel confident your skills, communication style and overall approach to my challenges to improve are a good fit for me.
November 21, 2025
I’ve been seeing Mary for about a month, and I already feel such a noticeable difference in my mental health. From the first session, Mary made me feel understood, supported, and genuinely cared for. In just a short time, she has helped me work through anxiety that I’ve struggled with for far too long. I feel grounded, confident, and more in control than I have in years. Mary creates a safe, welcoming space, and gives me tools that actually work in my day-to-day life. I highly recommend Mary