Mary Mcfarland Riedel , LCSW

Mary Mcfarland Riedel is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem concerns. She also focuses on body image, caregiver stress, communication struggles, family problems, and women's issues. Mary writes in a direct, calm way and aims to make first steps feel less daunting.

Mary keeps sessions focused and practical. She invites people to talk about what matters most and uses straightforward questions to clarify what they want to change. Conversations move at a steady pace so clients leave with ideas they can try between sessions.

Her work supports people dealing with life transitions, workplace strain, money worries, isolation, and questions about purpose. She also helps with eating and food-related issues and fatherhood concerns that affect a person’s day-to-day life. Sessions look at both feelings and the behaviors that maintain them.

Mary draws on four years of clinical experience as a California LCSW. She aims to build a respectful, nonjudgmental environment where people can name hard things and begin coping differently. Progress often starts with small, doable steps and clearer routines.

People who choose her often want a practical partner for changing unhelpful patterns. She encourages honest conversation and tries to keep therapy accessible and relatable for busy lives.

Evidence-based approaches and online care

Mary uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change and emotional processing. One approach helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with clearer, more helpful thinking; this can reduce anxiety and improve mood. Another approach emphasizes building routines and small behavioral changes to break cycles that keep depression and overwhelm in place; it helps people regain energy and daily structure.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Mary will review a person's goals, preferences, and day-to-day challenges and then collaborate on which methods to emphasize. Together they set short-term goals and adjust strategies as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy fit into busy lives. Video is useful for full conversations and visual connection, while phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging allow brief check-ins, quick problem-solving, and flexible scheduling without needing to be on camera. These options give practical ways to keep therapy consistent and accessible.