- Addictions
- Depression and bipolar
- Trauma and grief
About Mary
Mary Brahm is an Illinois Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LCPC) with 35 years of clinical experience. She focuses on addictions, mood disorders such as bipolar and depression, and helping people cope with major life changes. Mary also lists relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy issues, parenting challenges, career questions, and compassion fatigue among her core areas of work.
She uses practical, straightforward methods drawn from approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Existential Therapy, and EMDR. Sessions often include talking through immediate problems, identifying patterns that get in the way, and building skills to manage strong feelings and cravings. Mary draws on long experience with substance use disorders and dual diagnosis cases to address relapse triggers and recovery planning.
Her background includes work in community mental health, senior therapy roles, and time supporting military personnel and veterans. That experience has informed how she looks at stress, trauma, and work-related strain, including first responder and veteran issues. She also has a history of working with diverse cultural groups across different settings.
Mary frames therapy as a collaborative process that mixes practical strategies with attention to meaning and values. She helps people set concrete goals, try new ways of coping, and make step-by-step changes that fit their day-to-day life. The work can cover short-term problem solving or longer-term exploration depending on what a person needs.
Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. People interested in a first appointment are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule an initial session.
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Mary frequently draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her clinical work. ACT helps people clarify what matters to them and then build small, consistent actions that reflect those values. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and addictive urges.She also uses Client-Centered principles, which emphasize listening and responding to each person's experience. That approach is useful when someone needs space to make sense of big life changes, grief, or relationship strain. Together these methods aim to combine skills training with attention to meaning and personal goals.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Mary will discuss options and help decide what methods fit a person's goals, needs, and preferences. She frames the process as collaborative and adjusts techniques based on how things are going.
The original profile does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, cut travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They can also be useful when someone prefers not to be on camera or needs a lower-bandwidth option.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
She works with addictions, depression and bipolar disorder, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting stress, career concerns, and related struggles.
How would she approach my situation?
Her style mixes Client-Centered work with CBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She also uses EMDR for trauma when appropriate and focuses on practical skills and values-based action.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 35 years of experience in behavioral health, substance use treatment, and community mental health settings.
Is she a licensed clinician and where does she practice?
She is an Illinois Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LCPC) and practices out of Illinois.
Can I work with her if I live outside the US?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.