- ACT and CBT
- EMDR for trauma
- Family of origin issues
About Mary
Mary Brahm is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 35 years of experience. She works with people facing addictions, depression, bipolar disorder, relationship struggles, grief, parenting concerns, and family of origin issues. Mary also addresses career stress, compassion fatigue, and problems tied to military and first responder life.
She draws on several evidence-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy, and EMDR. Sessions focus on practical skills, clearer thinking, and making values-based choices. Conversations move between present strategies and insights from earlier family patterns that still affect daily life.
Mary’s background includes long work in behavioral health and substance use settings, plus years serving military and veteran communities. That experience shaped a direct, flexible style aimed at helping people change habits and manage intense emotions. She uses practical interventions to identify triggers, reduce relapse risk, and improve communication.
Therapy often covers co-occurring concerns such as codependency, process addictions, and multicultural stressors. Mary also offers support around hospice and end-of-life questions, forgiveness, and midlife transitions. Sessions may include goal-setting, behavioral experiments, and skills practice to handle relationship and parenting pressures.
Her years in community mental health and supervisory roles inform a straightforward and structured approach. Prospective clients are invited to review online therapy options and complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling a first session.
How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, and to take actions that align with their values. It can help with depression, anxiety, and patterns that come from family of origin issues. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and changing behavior through clear exercises and homework tasks, which can reduce symptoms of mood disorders and improve coping with life changes. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method that aims to reduce the emotional intensity of distressing memories; it is often used when past events continue to shape present reactions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. That process can include trying different techniques and adjusting the plan based on what helps most.
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They also let people continue care when schedules or locations change. The focus in online meetings remains practical help - skill practice, processing family patterns, and planning steps to address addictions, relationship problems, or grief - rather than any promise of a specific result.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with addictions, depression, bipolar disorder, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting challenges, and family of origin issues among other concerns.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a direct, practical approach that blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered work, Existential ideas, and EMDR when appropriate.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 35 years of clinical experience in behavioral health, substance use treatment, and work with military and veteran populations.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what about cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription 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, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.