- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- Trauma focus
About Mary
Mary Alfinito is a New York LCSW-R with 40 years of practice. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, trauma and abuse, and issues related to LGBT identity. She also addresses self-esteem, career pressures, coping with life changes, and coaching needs.
Her approach is straightforward and practical. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking and change behavior. She draws on dialectical behavior ideas to teach emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills. Trauma-focused methods are used when past events remain painful and get in the way of daily life.
Sessions focus on clear goals and skill-building. Conversations often include identifying patterns, practicing new responses, and setting small, doable steps for day-to-day life. Mary aims to help people manage symptoms and make choices that align with their values.
She has long experience working across a wide range of concerns, including abandonment, attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, codependency, communication problems, control issues, divorce and separation, emptiness, first responder issues, forgiveness, gender dysphoria, and guilt and shame.
People can expect a pragmatic tone that emphasizes problem solving and coping strategies. The work moves at a pace the person can manage. To begin, a short matching questionnaire and a scheduled first session are used to start the process.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Mary uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people spot and change patterns of thinking and behavior; this method often includes setting daily experiments and homework focused on real-life situations. Dialectical behavior therapy provides concrete skills for managing strong emotions and improving distress tolerance, with practical exercises to practice between meetings.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Mary will collaborate with the person to identify which methods fit their goals and preferences. That choice can shift as needs change, and she reviews progress together to adjust focus and techniques.
Session logistics should be checked before booking since specific formats are not listed here. Confirm which session types are offered and how they are scheduled. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy routine, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, or remove travel time so appointments can work around work or caregiving commitments. Licensed professionals adapt techniques used in person so skills practice and goal setting continue effectively in remote sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, trauma and abuse, LGBT concerns, self-esteem, career issues, coping with life changes, and coaching.
How would she approach persistent guilt or shame?
She uses practical techniques such as cognitive behavioral work to examine thoughts and trauma-focused methods when past events continue to cause distress.
What is her professional background?
She has 40 years of professional experience and long-term work across many mental health concerns.
Is she a licensed clinician and where does she practice?
She is a NY LCSW-R and practices in New York.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified here; confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.