
More about Mary
As someone who has spent the last 7 years reinventing herself as a therapist through learning Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I can attest that looking in the mirror and realizing change is necessary is super hard. I am glad that you’ve made it to our web site and I am already proud of you for considering the role that therapy can play in achieving your life worth living goals. When we hit snags in our life, it is generally a function of awareness, willingness or capacity. We can only change those things that we know are in our way when we have the willingness to face them and have someone who can help us learn the skills necessary to change. It is equally important to understand that most of who we are requires acceptance.
I am a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience working with adolescents, adults, couples and families. I enjoy working with folks who are contending with adjustment /life transition issues, affective disorders, addiction recovery, affective disorders, personality disorders and trauma/PTSD.
Because I love this field and we need more social workers, I also work as an adjunct faculty member at Catholic University where I teach and supervise advanced clinical students in their internships.
Current Adventures:
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Currently Reading: Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristen Neff
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Just finished reading: Chatter by Ethan Kross
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Will be going to Thailand in April for a few weeks to study mindfulness with some Buddist Monks (as well as go to the beach and eat awesome Thai street food!)
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Current self care practices: using the “How We Feel” app to improve description and understanding of emotions, spending time with my husband of 34 years. I have two daughters, Ava who is 24 and lives in Charlotte and Emma who is 19 and freshman at Virginia Tech. We also have three fur babies: out labs Wally and Margot and Max, our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is 15 years old and rules us all.
Specialties and Services
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Trauma Survivors and their families
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Parents of children with Personality Disorders
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Gender Affirming Mental Health Care
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Youth Mental Health
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Clinical Supervision of Virginia MSW's towards LCSW
Treatment Style and Methods
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Trauma Informed Care
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
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Mindfulness
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Affect Regulation
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Individual, Couple, and Family Counseling
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Mental Health Skill Building
Education and Credentials
Education
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1988, Boston University, Masters of Social Work
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1991: Post-Graduate Students: Clinical Program on Psychotherapy Practice, The Washington School of Psychiatry.
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2016: Certification from Nation Council on Mental Wellbeing: Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer
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2017: Intensively Trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and continuous participation in ongoing DBT training and membership in consultation team to present .
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2020: Training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy/Prolonged Exposure and supervision with the originator of the model.
Credentials
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia from 1997 to present.
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Licensed School Social Worker in Virginia from 2005 to present.
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Approved to provide clinical supervision from 2006 to present.