- Relationship skills
- Trauma recovery
- Parenting support
About Mary
Dr. Mary Neal is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 26 years of clinical experience. She is licensed in Florida and North Carolina and focuses on relationship struggles, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, self-esteem, and coping with life changes.
She works in a straightforward, person-centered way. Sessions tend to focus on what is happening now and on practical steps people can take between meetings. She uses evidence-informed methods to address communication problems, commitment issues, and attachment concerns that show up in close relationships.
People often come to her when major changes arrive - leaving home, becoming a parent, recovering from past hurt, or managing chronic illness. She also addresses abandonment and adoption-related topics, caregiver stress, dissociation, and challenges linked to aging or blended family dynamics. Dr. Neal pays attention to how early attachment and recent events interact in daily life.
Her clinical style blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, attachment-based ideas, client-centered work, and aspects of the Gottman Method. That mix is used to build coping skills, improve communication, and clarify values and goals. Sessions typically involve talking through patterns, practicing new responses, and planning small steps.
She offers therapy in English and practices from North Carolina. New people are asked to complete a short questionnaire to help match goals to an initial session.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values and take small, practical steps toward them while accepting difficult thoughts and feelings. It is useful for life transitions, chronic stress, and moving forward after setbacks.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions link together. Sessions use structured conversations and exercises to change unhelpful patterns and build coping skills for anxiety, low mood, or relationship tensions.
Attachment-Based Therapy brings attention to how early relationships shape current patterns. It helps people understand bonding, communication styles, and trust issues that affect adult relationships and parenting.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to match methods to their goals, needs, and preferences. That means trying tools, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together.
Confirm current session formats before booking, as options are not specified here. Online work can make scheduling easier and fit into busy weeks. It can allow a shorter check-in on a work break, reduce travel time, or let someone meet without taking extra commute time. These practical benefits help people keep therapy consistent while juggling early adult life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
26+ years
Listed in
Florida, North Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with relationship problems, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, self-esteem, and coping with life changes, plus related issues like attachment and caregiver stress.
How would she describe her therapy style?
The approach is person-centered and practical, combining talk work with skill-building from CBT, ACT, attachment ideas, and the Gottman Method.
How much experience does this therapist have?
Dr. Neal has 26 years of clinical experience and holds the LMFT credential.
Where does she practice and what are her credentials?
She is a Florida LMFT and a North Carolina LMFT and practices from North Carolina.
Can someone who speaks another language work with her?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she accept international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions arranged and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
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.