Dr. Mary Neal, LMFT

Dr. Mary Neal is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 26 years of experience working in Florida and North Carolina. She focuses on relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Dr. Neal also addresses related areas such as attachment issues, abandonment, adoption and foster care, and caregiver stress.

In sessions she listens to how past family patterns show up now. She helps people notice repeated roles, communication problems, and expectations that keep causing conflict or shut down connection. Conversations are practical and grounded. People leave with clearer next steps they can try between meetings.

Her clinical approach includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and the Gottman Method. These methods are used to look at thoughts, behaviors, and relationship patterns and to build more effective ways of responding. She works collaboratively with each person to decide which methods to emphasize.

Dr. Neal draws on long experience to address issues like chronic illness, codependency, commitment worries, dissociation, and blended family challenges. She explains options clearly and helps clients weigh what fits their situation. Sessions focus on learning new interaction skills, managing strong emotions, and planning small, doable changes.

People who come to her are often ready to change patterns handed down from their family of origin. She supports parents who are juggling caregiving stress and people facing major life changes. Her practice aims to make coping more manageable and relationships more workable.

Approaches used and how they work online