Mary Chen. LPCI

Hello! A person, wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson, “is like a bit of Labrador spar, which has no luster as you turn it in your hand, until you come to a particular angle; then it shows deep and beautiful colors.” I believe that your deep and beautiful colors as well as the dark matrix that contains them are equally valuable. They are all part of your story and contribute to your intrinsic ability to connect and grow. Allowing a therapist to reflect your deep and beautiful colors back for you to see is not without its risks: A body, brain, and self used to rejection can feel warmth, understanding, and acceptance as a threat. My therapeutic style draws from person-centered, parts work, and existential therapies and aims to shift warmth, understanding, and acceptance toward your comfort zone, enabling you to embrace the fullness and complexity of your internal world. My work with clients as a Professional Counselor intern is informed and motivated by over a decade of working in the mental health field, and a previous teaching career. I have lived in multiple states and countries, and appreciate the diversity and experience that each person brings.