Mary Smith , LMSW

Mary Smith is a licensed social worker with 23 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life changes. She focuses on practical steps that make daily life easier and clearer for people facing emotional overwhelm or major transitions.

She listens first and asks questions to understand what matters to each person. Sessions are conversational and collaborative. The aim is to find what helps you feel steadier and more connected to your goals.

Mary uses a mix of approaches tailored to the person in front of her. She draws on client-centered work to follow the client's lead, cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and mindfulness practices to build calm and focus. She also uses motivational interviewing to help people make difficult changes and psychodynamic ideas to look at deeper patterns when useful.

Her background includes long experience with mood disorders, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, grief, parenting and caregiving stress, and ADHD. She also supports people coping with chronic illness, career transitions, sleep struggles, anger, and self-esteem concerns.

Mary offers sessions in English and works with international clients as well as people located in Michigan. She aims for a warm, inclusive space where practical tools and honest conversation meet. The goal is steady progress one step at a time.

How Mary Brings Therapy Online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the client's lead. It helps people clarify what matters most to them and build confidence in their decisions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and gives practical skills to shift unhelpful patterns. These approaches are useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and everyday problems that get in the way of functioning.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has helped or not helped in the past. Together they decide which ideas to try first and adjust the plan over time based on what feels useful and manageable.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video is helpful for deep conversational work and visual connection. Phone sessions can be easier when less bandwidth is available or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text work well for quick check-ins, journaling support, or shorter coaching-style moments between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep continuity when schedules change.