Mary Harris

Getting started can be the hardest part of therapy and you have taken the first step. To help you make a decision about who to start counseling with, let me share a bit about my background.

I originally began working as a bachelor level counselor, supporting women who were reunifying with their children and individuals with addiction related issues. As an LMSW, I have worked with individuals with a variety of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, phobias, schizophrenia, grieving a loss, separation and divorce, adoption and foster care trauma, LGBTQ concerns and obsessive or ruminating thoughts.

I have been trained in DBT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Person Centered Therapy, Seeking Safety, and Trauma informed therapy. I completed graduate work in Humanist Phenomenology and I am currently working on a certification in Expressive Art therapy.

When starting counseling it is important that your treatment matches your needs and your own style for learning and growing. I am generally a solution focused therapist. Talking about issues can feel helpful, but it is the Doing part of therapy that makes for long term growth and change.

The first session of counseling can be a bit more formal, as I learn as much as I can about your history and experiences. It is important for us to look at the bigger picture of your life, to understand what you are struggling with. Think about what you hope to change from going to counseling, so we can work together to set goals and find ways to recognize when you are making progress.