- Years in practice
- 27
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About Mary
Mary Stein is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California with 27 years of experience. She helps people dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, addictions, relationship struggles, parenting stress, and other life changes. Mary aims to create a calm, respectful space where people can talk through what matters most to them.
Her approach is warm and interactive. Sessions focus on understanding what brought someone in and then choosing practical tools that fit their life.
Background and approach
She blends person-centered listening with structured techniques to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. Mary uses cognitive behavioral strategies to spot thinking patterns that cause distress and to teach new coping skills. She also draws on client-centered principles that prioritize empathy and collaboration.
Existential ideas help clients consider meaning, choices, and values when facing big life questions. Over nearly three decades, Mary has worked in independent practice and in settings such as adolescent residential programs and a domestic violence agency. That background informs her work with people navigating complex relationship and family issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and recovery from abuse or addiction.
In sessions she focuses on small, manageable steps that lead to lasting change. Her goal is to help people increase self-awareness, strengthen relationships, and rebuild routines like sleep and eating that support everyday functioning.
What Mary works with
Everything Mary lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Mary helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Mary lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Mary’s Approaches Translate to Online Therapy
Mary uses client-centered work to build a respectful, collaborative relationship. That means sessions start with accepting listening and move toward practical goals that reflect each person’s values and circumstances. This approach helps when dealing with parenting stress, relationship conflict, or grief.She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and teach new coping skills. CBT techniques can be practiced during sessions and applied between meetings to improve sleep, reduce anxiety, or manage mood shifts. Dialectical behavior therapy adds skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance, which can be useful for intense emotions, anger, or addictive urges.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Mary will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences, and then together they pick methods that feel workable. That collaborative process makes therapy more likely to fit into daily life and parenting roles.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video allows face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text messaging let people check in between sessions or use brief updates when schedules are tight. These options make it easier to keep consistent care while balancing family, work, and other demands.
Questions people ask about Mary
What concerns does Mary help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting pressures, sleep and eating concerns, anger, self-esteem, career transitions, bipolar challenges, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Mary blends a warm, accepting approach with practical, interactive work. Sessions usually combine listening with hands-on tools to change thinking and behavior.
What is her background and experience?
She has 27 years of clinical experience, including independent practice work and roles as a clinical supervisor in adolescent residential programs and at a domestic violence agency.
What credentials does she hold and where is she located?
Mary is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - licensed in California and practices from that state.
Which languages are offered and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.
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