Mary Pollock , LPC

Mary Pollock is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 42 years in the human services field. She focuses on helping people facing addiction, mood disorders, life changes, and women's issues. Mary uses a person-centered stance that starts with the client's own view of their needs. Her work history includes both inpatient and outpatient settings for drug and alcohol care. She has provided mental health treatment across levels of care, including partial hospitalization and outpatient services. She has also led training and staff development for new counselors. In sessions Mary talks through what matters most to the client. She draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to notice thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. Motivational interviewing helps when someone is unsure or ambivalent about change. She also uses existential perspectives to talk about meaning, choices, and life transitions. Solution-focused tools are used to build practical steps and small goals. The overall tone is collaborative and respectful of each person's values. Mary has worked with people across a wide age range and many kinds of difficulties. She helps with stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, relationship concerns, anger, and career challenges. Additional areas she supports include caregiver stress, chronic pain or illness, codependency, and addiction-related family issues. People who prefer straightforward, practical conversation may find her approach helpful. Sessions aim to identify clear next steps and to strengthen coping during difficult times.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Mary uses Client-Centered Therapy, which means sessions begin with the client's own goals and perceptions. This approach focuses on listening, understanding, and shaping the work around what the person says they need. It is helpful for many concerns, including stress, grief, self-esteem, and relationship worries.

She also incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. CBT is practical and goal-oriented, often used for anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and coping with life changes. Motivational Interviewing is another tool Mary uses to help people find their own reasons for change and build motivation when they feel unsure.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Mary will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. The process is collaborative and can shift over time as needs change.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits for her practice. Video calls let people have face-to-face conversation when traveling to an office is difficult. Phone sessions provide a lower-bandwidth option for check-ins or when not wanting to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief updates, ongoing support between sessions, and flexible check-ins that fit a busy schedule.