About Mary
Mary VanAlstine is a licensed professional counselor, LPCC, based in Minnesota who helps people facing identity concerns, trauma, mood swings, and attention challenges. Mary speaks English and aims to create a calm, respectful space where clients can make steady progress at their own pace. Mary believes clients are the experts on their own lives.
She looks for strengths and practical steps clients can use between sessions. That often means setting small goals, practicing new ways of coping, and tracking what changes help most.
Background and approach
In session Mary listens closely and asks clear questions to help people name what matters. She focuses on building confidence, improving motivation, and reducing the impact of past abuse or trauma. Mary also supports people managing bipolar symptoms and ADHD-related struggles with everyday tasks.
Her work is straightforward and collaborative. Clients can expect conversations that lead to concrete strategies rather than vague advice. Mary emphasizes skill-building and realistic plans so progress feels manageable.
Mary has three years of professional experience as an LPCC in Minnesota. That experience includes helping people with LGBTQ+ concerns and boosting self-esteem. She describes the therapy relationship as a partnership where goals are chosen together and adjusted as needs change.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Mary uses evidence-based techniques focused on practical change and coping. One approach emphasizes building skills for everyday life - breaking overwhelming problems into small, manageable steps and practicing those skills between sessions. This is helpful for improving motivation, attention, and daily functioning.Another common focus is trauma-informed work that helps reduce the hold of past abuse. That approach centers on stabilizing reactions, increasing safety in daily routines, and learning ways to respond differently to triggers. It is aimed at reducing distress and improving day-to-day coping.
Choosing an approach is collaborative. Mary will work with each person to identify goals, try methods that fit their needs, and adjust the plan based on what helps. The therapist and client check progress together and pick the techniques that feel most useful.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let people work face-to-face without traveling. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth or camera use is a problem. Live chat and text messaging support brief check-ins, follow-up skill practice, or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and maintain regular connection with a licensed professional.
Questions people ask
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What this counselor works with
Most often
Also listed
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorder
- Experience
- 3 years
- Licensed
- Minnesota
- Languages
- English