Mary Mcfarland-Norris, LICSW - Therapist in Alabama

About Mary

Mary Mcfarland-Norris is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in Alabama with 20 years of experience. She offers telehealth sessions across the state and focuses on helping adults navigate stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and changes in life circumstances. Her style is calm and personable, and she aims to make people feel heard and understood from the first conversation.

Mary most often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Background and approach

She explains ideas plainly and helps clients set clear, achievable goals. Conversations in early sessions center on understanding feelings and building a trusting connection before moving into skill work. Her sessions emphasize practical steps that people can use between meetings.

Mary asks questions to learn each person’s situation and listens without judgment. She tracks progress together with the client and adjusts the plan as needed. Mary also brings experience supporting issues such as trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, parenting challenges, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, coping with life transitions, compassion fatigue, and multicultural concerns.

She includes areas like first responder issues, hospice and end-of-life counseling, and veteran and armed forces issues in her work. In session she blends structured tools with a collaborative, client-centered tone. That combination helps clients learn new coping strategies, reframe difficult thoughts, and move toward goals at a comfortable pace.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It encourages choosing actions that match personal values, which can help with anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical exercises. It is useful for anxiety, stress, sleep or eating concerns, and mood challenges because it teaches concrete skills to try between sessions.

Mary treats the choice of approach as a collaborative process. She will work with each person to figure out which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. That means trying options, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to give flexible ways to connect. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and allow ongoing skill practice and check-ins. Many clients find that regular remote sessions keep momentum between meetings and make it simpler to follow through on agreed goals.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Mary address in therapy?

She works with a broad range of concerns including family issues, grief, stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, eating and sleeping problems, parenting challenges, anger, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, relationship and intimacy issues, career concerns, and coping with life changes.

What is Mary’s therapeutic style like?

Her style is calm, empathetic, and personable. She focuses on listening first, then works collaboratively to set goals and teach practical skills clients can use between sessions.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Mary has 20 years of experience as a clinician working with adults and a range of concerns.

What are Mary’s credentials and where is she based?

She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - LICSW, license number AL LICSW 1724C, and practices in Alabama.

Which languages are used in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How does cost and billing work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with Mary?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Family conflicts
Grief

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 20 years
Licensed: Alabama
Languages: English

Next step

Talk to Mary

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

Book with Mary