Hello and Welcome! I'm Mary, a Florida licensed mental health counselor who helps teens and adults who feel overwhelmed by family conflict, trauma, anxiety, and unhealthy relationship patterns. Many of my clients are navigating emotionally unsafe family dynamics, high-conflict parent-child relationships, or recovering from psychological or emotional abuse. Clients often come to me when they are: • Struggling with family conflict or estrangement • Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally dysregulated • Recovering from toxic or abusive relationships • Teens experiencing behavioral changes, anger, or withdrawal • Adults working through childhood trauma or attachment wounds • Addressing family-related stress and relational challenge In therapy, I help clients: • Develop emotional regulation skills • Build confidence and healthy identity • Improve communication and boundary setting • Heal relational trauma and attachment injuries • Strengthen coping skills for stress and anxiety My approach is compassionate, direct, and collaborative. I integrate trauma-informed care, attachment-focused therapy, and evidence-based techniques tailored to each client’s needs. The pursuit of healing and inner growth is an arduous yet worthy investment, and I am honored that you’re considering me to walk alongside you as you heal and grow.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session is focused on helping you feel comfortable, understood, and supported. I’ll begin by introducing myself and briefly reviewing practice policies and what you can expect from therapy. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, your goals, and any relevant mental health history, including what has or hasn’t been helpful in past therapy experiences. We’ll also discuss how you learn and process best, so sessions can be tailored to your needs. Depending on your comfort level, we may begin exploring areas of your life that impact your emotional well-being, or simply spend time getting to know one another and building a sense of safety and trust. When appropriate, I may introduce a therapeutic technique or recommend supportive educational resources. Sessions are collaborative and personalized, with your comfort, pace, and goals guiding the process.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I excel at building strong therapeutic rapport, helping clients feel safe to show up as their authentic selves. I attune closely to each client and gently bring awareness to parts of themselves that may feel unseen or difficult to understand. I also use evidence-based assessments to provide meaningful insight and guide the development of practical tools that support healing and long-term growth.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am a great fit for teens and adults who feel stuck in difficult family or relationship patterns and want practical tools alongside deeper healing work. I welcome referrals from schools, physicians, and therapists seeking trauma-informed care for teens and adults experiencing family or relationship stress.
Attachment-based
Clients are taught to identify and change self-defeating thoughts and behaviors that disrupt their relationships and sense of self. Attachment-based modalities are beneficial to clients struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder, recovering from a painful divorce, breakup or betrayal or who have been raised in dysfunctional family systems.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to reduce anxiety, depression, bipolar and stress and trauma related symptoms. Clients are taught how to identify and challenge maladaptive thoughts, emotions and behavioral responses that contribute to the onset of anxiety or depressive symptoms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps clients develop coping skills to manage stress, regulate their mood, and prevent future mental health episodes from developing.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavorial Therapy (DBT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Dialectical Behavioral therapy incorporates CBT principles such as cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation, but also includes additional techniques, such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Dialectical Behavorial Therapy was developed to help clients with borderline personality disorder cope with extreme emotions. However, DBT's is also effective in treating depressive, anxiety, and stress and trauma related symptoms as well.
Schema Therapy
Schema assessment is administered and reviewed with therapist. Client learns to recognize maladaptive schemas that negatively impact self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. Clients are taught to challenge and heal maladaptive schemas and replace them with healthy adult responses.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I use Trauma-Focused CBT techniques to help clients make sense of how trauma shows up in daily life and learn skills to feel more grounded, regulated, and in control. Sessions are paced collaboratively and adapted to the client’s needs and experiences.