- Guilt and shame work
- CBT and mindfulness
- Motivational interviewing
About Mary
Mary Ann Skender is a LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Washington with 16 years of experience. She works with adults who are carrying stress, anxiety, grief, relationship struggles, trauma, and issues like guilt and shame. Mary Ann helps people talk through pressing life concerns in straightforward language and practical steps.
Her work focuses on what people can do between sessions. She uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. She draws on client-centered methods to keep the conversation focused on the person's priorities and values. Motivational interviewing supports people who are ambivalent about change, and solution-focused ideas help set short-term goals.
Sessions usually look like a mix of talking, checking specific problems, and trying small experiments. Mary Ann pays attention to how stress shows up in daily life, like sleep, eating, caregiving strain, or work pressure. She helps people sort through relationship and intimacy concerns without blaming or shaming the person seeking help.
She also addresses concerns tied to body image, parenting and caregiver stress, divorce and separation, pregnancy and childbirth, and women's issues. Post-traumatic stress and recovery from abuse are within her practice areas as well. Clients who want coaching around life purpose or career questions can work on concrete next steps.
Mary Ann practices in Washington and holds her LICSW there. Sessions are conducted in English. If you want to start, follow the site's process to match and schedule your first appointment.
How her approaches translate to online work
Mary Ann commonly draws on cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy in her work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and trying new behaviors to change mood and stress. Mindfulness therapy teaches noticing thoughts and sensations without getting swept up in them, which can help with shame, anxiety, and stress.She also uses client-centered methods to keep sessions focused on the client's priorities and motivational interviewing to support people who are uncertain about change. Finding the right combination of these approaches is part of the process. She collaborates with clients to decide what techniques best match their goals and preferences, and adjusts plans as needed.
The site notes session arrangements and formats separately, so confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time for people balancing work, caregiving, or treatment for physical health. Licensed professionals can use these conveniences to keep momentum between appointments while working on practical steps and short-term goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of issues does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, trauma and relationship struggles, plus areas like body image, parenting stress, and guilt and shame.
How does she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
She uses practical conversation, cognitive behavioral techniques, and mindful awareness to help people notice patterns and try different responses.
What is her professional background and experience?
She is a LICSW with 16 years of clinical experience working with adults on trauma, addiction, depression, and life transitions.
Where is she licensed to practice?
She holds a Washington LICSW and practices in Washington state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions arranged and what is the cost?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the site.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.