Hello my name is Mary Kay and I am honored that you have taken the opportunity to seek online counseling through BetterHelp. We all sometimes need to seek guidance from another as we navigate through a traumatic life event, difficult life transition, or when we just feel “in a funk”/need an extra boost, inspiration, and/or motivation. I am a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist (LCSW) in both California and New York States. I have over 25 years experience in the field of counseling and mental health. I have a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work Clinical Counseling from Columbia University in New York. From a very young age, I have always had a gift for healing, listening, soothing and comforting others which I been able to channel into a life long career. My areas of specialties include treating: trauma, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, healthy and positive parenting issues, PTSD, relational intimacy/couples issues, career guidance, and motivational coaching, among others. My approach to counseling and style within the sessions is based on Strength Based, Cognitive-Behavioral , mixed with Psycho-dynamic techniques. What this means, is that I am a neutral objective nonjudgmental “witness”, of whom motivates, listens, validates, soothes, and encourage you on your life path. Most therapists do not “tell a client what to do”. Instead I will help you to come up with the answers, choices and decisions from within yourself. I have a warm, kind and empathic counseling approach focused on getting to know your story, helping you to stabilize emotions, self-soothe, and challenge unhelpful core beliefs and cognitive distortions.