Mary Schiotis

More About Mary Schiotis

Clinical Interests:

I work with individuals, couples and some limited family situations, such as those involving parents and children. I am willing to see people of all ages. Some rewarding experiences I have had in the mental health field involved working with children through play including neurodivergent individuals and some with different developmental needs, women and men with codependency or substance abuse concerns, couples in relationships, family members with concerns for loved ones, and in crisis counseling with those feeling like they’ve lost all hope. My areas of interest involve anxiety, ADHD, autism, children, chronic illness, codependency, co-occuring disorders, depression, developmental disabilities, emotional regulation, grief and loss, life transitions, loneliness, medical issues, military, mindfulness, PTSD, parenting, postpartum and perinatal depression, spiritual/faith-based issues, stress, substance use and addictive disorders, teens, trauma, veterans and women’s concerns to name a few.

Clinical Approach:

I am optimistic and grateful as a mental health provider. I tend to look for what people are doing well and for healthy foundations to build upon, in accordance with strength-based and wellness philosophies to work with clients on their goals. I am realistic and rather direct in communication style and my approach is mostly rooted in CBT, specifically Rational Living Therapy, a type of CBT developed from Cognitive Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).

I have been trained in utilizing Play Therapy (Adlerian) and am interested in gaining more training in AutPlay and FirstPlay and in practice am highly likely to consider development. I may use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques for some situations or to examine some existential themes or narratives when it warrants, especially if deeper topics or emotions come forward and am open to artistic modes of expression. I am both a licensed mental health provider and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. My experiences and training have involved the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Play Therapy, and use of the Stages of Change.

My focus in practice is on getting to know you, to hear your story and to be validating, motivating and helpful towards you. My intentions are to understand and support you by being present and engaged, giving my honest impressions and input especially through clear communication with you, and by giving you assurance you have someone available to you that you can talk to.

Hobbies:

I enjoy writing fiction and poetry as a form of expression and for fun. More hobbies and interests are reading, knitting, sewing, art, cooking and baking, as well as doing low impact exercise such as walking or hiking, aerobic machines, ballet stretch and conditioning, etc.