- Attachment-based work
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Creative arts methods
About Mary
Mary Sanders is a Washington state LMHC with 17 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing relationship strains, family conflict, trauma and abuse, grief, and life changes. Her practice also addresses issues like abandonment, attachment struggles, communication problems, divorce and separation, and feelings of guilt and shame.
She combines talk-based methods with creative arts techniques drawn from a long arts background. That includes drama and expressive arts approaches Mary has used for about 20 years alongside her clinical work. Sessions move at a practical pace - naming what feels stuck, tracing patterns, and trying small changes to daily habits and thoughts.
Her trauma work grew from years in community mental health settings. She uses approaches informed by trauma treatment and often layers in motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral tools to help people work through distressing memories and reactions. The focus is on practical steps rather than abstract theory.
Mary offers individual work that looks at attachment and relationship patterns and how they show up now. She also supports people coping with grief, midlife shifts, loneliness, and questions about life purpose. Conversations are direct and conversational, with room for creative exercises when they fit the client's needs.
To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Costs vary by location and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How Mary uses therapy models online
Mary commonly draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how early relationships shape present-day trust and closeness. That approach helps people track patterns in how they relate to others and to themselves.She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which centers the person's experience and pacing. That means sessions focus on what the client brings and on listening and reflecting to clarify next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and try small, concrete changes in behavior and thinking that can reduce distress.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Mary will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before, then suggest which methods to try first. The plan can be adjusted as the client learns what fits.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can be practical for fitting therapy into a busy life because they remove travel and can make it easier to schedule shorter check-ins or evening appointments. Many people find that talking from their usual routines helps them apply new skills between sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with relationship issues, family conflict, trauma and abuse, grief, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include guilt and shame, attachment issues, and social anxiety.
How does she approach shame and guilt?
Mary combines attachment-based ideas, client-centered conversation, and CBT techniques to look at how guilt and shame show up in thoughts and behavior. She may use creative exercises to help people name and work through these feelings.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 17 years of professional experience working in private practice and community mental health settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Washington LMHC and practices in Washington state.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
International clients are not accepted. Sessions are offered in English for people located in Washington.
What session formats does she offer?
The biography does not specify session formats. Confirm current session options before booking to know whether in-person, phone, or video sessions are available.
How are session costs handled?
Costs vary with location. 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 is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.