Mary Hankton

Hi, I’m a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and therapist with a background in working with children, teens, and adults across community mental health and addiction treatment settings. I earned my undergraduate degree in Social Work from Malone University and completed my graduate education at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Throughout my experience, I’ve worked with individuals facing a variety of challenges, with particular areas of interest in anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel heard, respected, and comfortable being yourself. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and centered around helping you better understand yourself, work through difficult experiences, and develop tools that support the life you want to build.

I recognize that reaching out for therapy can feel intimidating, and I strive to create a welcoming environment where you don’t feel judged or pressured. Whether you’re struggling with your mental health, processing past experiences, navigating a major life change, or simply feeling stuck, I’m here to meet you where you are and work alongside you.

Outside of therapy, I’m a proud cat mom to three tuxedo cats. They definitely keep life interesting and are a fun reminder of the importance of finding joy in the everyday moments!

I look forward to getting to know you and creating a therapeutic relationship where you feel supported, understood, and empowered.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, compassionate, and centered around each client’s individual needs and goals. I primarily utilize Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI).

I believe clients are the experts in their own lives, and therapy should begin with understanding what they want to work on and where they are in their journey. I meet clients where they are without judgment and work alongside them to identify meaningful goals, build coping skills, understand patterns of thoughts and behaviors, and create positive changes at a pace that feels manageable.

My goal is to create a safe and supportive space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take an active role in their therapeutic process.

After completing the intake process, our first session together will focus on building rapport and creating a comfortable, supportive therapeutic environment. We’ll spend time getting to know one another, discussing what brought you to therapy, and identifying and clarifying the concerns and goals you would like to address.

I believe therapy works best when we collaborate on goals that are meaningful to you. Rather than rushing into treatment, I want to understand where you are, what you need, and what you hope to gain from therapy. Together, we’ll begin developing a treatment approach that is individualized to your needs and builds on your strengths.