PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

MD Portrait of Mari DeRienzo
Online therapist

Mari DeRienzo

Calm, experienced guidance for family stresses

Credentials
LPC
Experience
39 years
Licensed in
New Jersey, Arizona
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Mari

Mari DeRienzo is a licensed professional counselor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, family tension, and parenting concerns. She offers a calm, nonjudgmental presence so clients can speak openly about difficult feelings. Her approach is straightforward and focused on practical next steps that families and individuals can use day to day.

With 39 years of clinical experience, Mari draws on several methods to match each person’s needs. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and change patterns.

Background and approach

She also practices Client-Centered Therapy to keep sessions focused on the person’s own goals and values. Mari often brings Motivational Interviewing into conversations when people are weighing change or feeling stuck. Solution-Focused Therapy is used to set small, achievable goals and track progress over time.

Internal Family Systems helps those who want to understand different parts of themselves and how those parts affect relationships. She has worked with a wide range of concerns including grief, self-esteem, intimacy-related issues, anger, and ADHD. Additional focus areas include substance-related problems, communication and commitment issues, and compassion fatigue experienced by first responders.

Mari practices in New Jersey and works with international clients in English. She aims to make starting therapy clear and simple so families and individuals can focus on what matters most.

Therapeutic approaches that translate online

Client-Centered Therapy centers on the person’s own goals and experiences. In practice this means the therapist listens closely and follows what matters most to the client, helping people feel heard and guiding conversations toward what they want to change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It breaks problems into manageable steps and teaches concrete skills to reduce anxiety, manage anger, or shift unhelpful thinking.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about what feels most useful and try methods that match the client’s needs, goals, and preferences. Progress is checked together and techniques are adjusted as needed to fit how the client responds.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules and to keep work moving forward between appointments. Licensed professionals can use these formats to teach CBT skills, hold client-centered conversations, and support motivation and problem solving without requiring an in-person visit.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she help with?
She addresses stress, anxiety, family problems, parenting issues, intimacy-related concerns, grief, self-esteem, and coping with life changes among other topics.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her work is practical and person-centered, focusing on clear goals, honest conversation, and tools people can use between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She has 39 years of professional experience supporting people through a wide range of challenges and life transitions.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LPC with licenses AZ LPC LPC-22297 and NJ LPC 37PC00071500 and practices from New Jersey.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats does she use?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a time based on the therapist's availability.

Next step

Talk to Mari

  • Takes a few minutes
  • Nothing to set up just to look
  • Stop at any point