Mary Brandenburg

GETTING TO KNOW MARY

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. – Mother Teresa

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor. I love helping people to choose life and tap into their strengths to accept the things they cannot change, to change the things they can and to become active writers of their life’s story. I offer unconditional acceptance and a voice of radical honesty. I have a collaborative and integrative approach. I understand that people are the experts on themselves and every person is complex and needs an approach tailored to their unique situation. I embrace a holistic approach which considers your spirit, mind, body and community. With your permission, I will work with your doctors (MD, ND, PhD) to provide a team effort for your best care.

I am passionate about the work I do as a psychotherapist and even after decades of experience working with people, I still love to laugh.

MY CLIENTS

I work with adolescents with “old souls,” emerging adults, and adults in all stages of life’s challenges and transitions. I am well acquainted with trauma, anxiety, unipolar and bipolar depression. My clients are individuals and couples both hetero- and homosexual. I am an ally to the LGBTQ community.

I also offer Telehealth sessions via a secure HIPAA compliant site.

RADICAL HONESTY

As a 2x cancer survivor I live with an awareness that life is NOW. I believe in authenticity and integrity to say what you mean and mean what you say. Radical (not brutal) honesty comes from finding and using your genuine voice. My job is to facilitate discovery.

CHOOSE LIFE

There are people, places and things that suck the life right out of us. Many of those are unavoidable. My approach is to make a list of things that are life-giving and invest time in those people, places and things to counterbalance life suck and keep us thriving.

HOW I HELP

Therapy is not a one size fits all proposition. Therefore, I am integrative, drawing from several modes of therapy: mindfulness-based cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, person-centered, narrative, positive psychology, existential, gestalt and psychodynamic (to name a few). I am also collaborative, I have expertise but YOU are the expert on YOU.

My life’s work is to be a trusted, healing person to those in pain. My therapy room is many things: a confessional, a delivery room, a crucible, a place of radical honesty with a whole lot of grace. Most of all it is a safe place to tell your story, to process thoughts and feelings, to tell deep, dark secrets, to find strength and hope, to cry and to heal. I believe the very nature of love is redemptive and the economy of the universe will use all things. Simply, the worst lemons can become the sweetest lemonade.

MORE ABOUT ME

This is how I choose life. I love to play in the soil. I am an organic gardener with an addiction to creating perennial gardens. Whether working or playing I love being outdoors. I am curious and adventurous. I love to explore and discover. I love walking and hiking. I am a life-long learner and an avid reader/researcher. I read self-help, feminist authors, historical fiction and mysteries. I am also a supporter of LGBTQ rights

INSPIRATION

In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity. – Albert Einstein

Only in the darkness can you see the stars. – Martin Luther King Jr.