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 Mary Dooley
Online therapist

Mary Dooley

Supportive LICSW helping families and parents

Explore online therapy options
Credentials
LICSW
Experience
10 years
Licensed in
Alabama
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Mary

Mary Dooley is a licensed independent clinical social worker with about 10 years of experience helping people navigate hard times. She practices in Alabama and brings a warm, interactive presence to sessions. Mary focuses on practical, straightforward work rather than labels.

Her style is respectful and compassionate while remaining honest and direct. Mary commonly addresses stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles. She also works with parenting concerns, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, and career or life changes.

Background and approach

Additional focuses include adoption and foster care, attachment and blended family issues, and challenges such as codependency, domestic violence, and immigration-related stress. In sessions she adapts methods to the person in front of her. That can mean using client-centered listening, cognitive behavioral tools to shift thoughts and behaviors, or mindfulness exercises to reduce overwhelm.

She also draws on psychodynamic ideas about patterns and solution-focused work for short-term goals. Mary aims to build a practical plan alongside each person. Conversations tend to be collaborative and down-to-earth, with specific steps to try between meetings.

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules. Clients meet a therapist who values sensitivity and straightforward feedback. Mary encourages people who are ready to take a step toward change to reach out and begin a process tailored to their needs.

Therapy approaches and how they work online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a supportive relationship so people feel heard and respected; it helps with emotional coping and making difficult decisions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, targets unhelpful thoughts and habits and teaches concrete skills for anxiety, depression, and stress management. Mindfulness therapy uses attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve moment-to-moment coping.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then try methods that fit. Adjustments are made along the way so the plan stays aligned with what the person actually needs.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more accessible. These formats allow scheduling flexibility and the ability to continue work between appointments. Many people find online options helpful for fitting therapy into busy family life or when travel to an office is difficult.

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.

Mindfulness Therapy

Attention training: noticing thoughts and physical feelings as they arrive without being carried off by them. Much of it is practice you do yourself, so guidance over video or audio works much as it would in person.

Frequently asked questions

What problems does this therapist address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, parenting, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, and related issues listed in her profile.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is warm, interactive, and direct. Sessions focus on practical steps and honest conversation rather than stigma or labels.
What kind of experience does she bring?
She has about 10 years of experience as a therapist and life coach, working with a wide range of concerns including trauma and family problems.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. License details: AL LICSW 3687C, practicing in Alabama.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
10 years
Licensed
Alabama
Languages
English

Next step

Talk to Mary

  • Takes a few minutes to look through
  • Nothing to set up just to read
  • Stop at any point
Explore online therapy options