Mary Brinkmeyer

I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping adults with depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, and chronic pain. I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida, and my work has included extensive experience with survivors of childhood abuse, sexual assault, combat trauma, and moral injury. For the past decade, I have specialized in LGBTQ+-affirming care,. I provide a sex-positive, kink-positive, and poly-affirming therapeutic environment. I believe lasting change begins with a trusting relationship, and I strive to create a warm, collaborative, and compassionate space where clients can challenge unhelpful patterns, heal from past experiences, and reconnect with their strengths and values. Throughout my career, I have combined clinical care, teaching, leadership, and advocacy, and I am committed to supporting each person's growth, resilience, and well-being.

My approach, above all, is based in compassion and understanding within the humanistic tradition - and is also evidence-based, incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and trauma-focused interventions like Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure. Whether we are working on insight, practical strategies and solutions, skill building, value clarification, or mindfulness techniques, we will do so collaboratively. You set the pace for our work together.

As a psychotherapist, I know that true change starts with forming a trusting relationship. I create a warm, respectful, and engaging space where you can feel heard and understood. I bring compassion, openness, and humor as I get to know you as an individual, both your strengths and challenges, sorrows and joys. We may work together to identify thoughts and behaviors that hold you back (knowing that these may also have helped you to survive past trauma); we work toward change without judgement. We may also work to challenge internalized messages that are destructive to your sense of power, integrity, value, worth and potential. Whether these came from important people in your past, or institutions meant to keep you down, we will ferret out and dispute these internalized messages.