Mary Shands, LPC

Mary Shands is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She holds licenses in Missouri and Texas and has worked across schools, veteran services, substance use programs, and other clinical settings. Mary aims to listen closely and offer practical support for everyday struggles.

Her background includes roles as a school counselor in special and general education, clinical work with veterans, positions in insurance, and time at substance abuse and sexual offender treatment centers. This range gives her experience with trauma, depression, anxiety, and addiction-related issues.

In sessions she uses straightforward, evidence-informed methods. Mary draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered approaches, and Attachment-Based ideas to help people identify patterns and try new ways of coping. She also uses Emotionally-Focused and Existential perspectives when they fit a person's goals.

Mary often helps people facing grief, relationship strain, parenting challenges, sleep and eating problems, and work stress. She also supports those dealing with compassion fatigue, first responder stress, and life changes such as adoption separation or aging concerns.

Her style is warm and energetic with a focus on listening first. Mary offers practical tools and short-term strategies while also making room for deeper exploration when needed. To begin, complete the site questionnaire and schedule a session according to availability.

How Mary’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early bonds shape later relationships. It helps identify patterns in trust, closeness, and stress responses, which can be useful for relationship strain and intimacy concerns.

Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes the person’s experience. Sessions center on being heard and understood, with the therapist reflecting and supporting each person’s pace and goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It teaches practical skills for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating problems, and many everyday stressors.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Mary will work with each person to match methods to their needs, goals, and preferences. That may mean trying brief skill work first, then shifting to deeper emotional or attachment-focused work if helpful.

Online therapy can make scheduling easier and help sessions fit into busy lives. For example, it may allow shorter check-ins during a work break or reduce travel time. The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Licensed professionals can adapt these approaches for remote work to focus on skills practice, emotional processing, and planning for changes.