Mary Koch , LMHC

Mary Koch is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with eight years of experience who brings a warm, approachable presence to virtual sessions. She arranges a comfortable environment - whether that means a welcoming video setup with objects to notice or small items to fidget with during sessions - and centers conversations so clients can explore what matters to them. Many of her clients report that sessions feel like a natural conversation, and she often reflects or reframes what a person has said in a nonjudging way so they can hear their own perspective more clearly and take credit for their insights.

Mary draws from a range of therapeutic methods including cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance and commitment strategies, and elements of rational emotive behavior work. She encourages clients to notice strengths and small positives, and she emphasizes that the progress belongs to the client while she remains a supportive, nonjudgmental companion in the process. Her background includes work with people facing depression, anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, grief, and dual-diagnosis needs. She has provided outpatient treatment in substance and alcohol services, supported students from elementary through college settings, and offered care in correctional environments. Mary is experienced working with questions of sexual identity and gender, and with a wide range of life challenges listed among her specialties.

She practices from Iowa and maintains virtual office hours on Mondays 3 pm to 6 pm, Tuesdays 3 pm to 6 pm, Wednesdays 7 am to 3 pm, and Thursdays 7 am to 3 pm, with those times subject to change. Mary checks messages throughout the day and aims to respond as soon as she is able, though responses on weekends may take a bit longer.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Mary Koch

Mary integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) into her work, blending practical skill-building with values-focused change. CBT helps people notice and adjust unhelpful thoughts and behaviors so they can respond to stress and mood challenges more effectively, while ACT teaches techniques for accepting difficult emotions and committing to actions that reflect personal values. She also uses attachment-based ideas to help clients explore how early relationship patterns shape current bonds and to improve connection, trust, and communication in close relationships.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary works with each person to identify goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and she adapts methods over time so therapy fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online sessions offer practical advantages for busy lives - clients can connect by video, by phone, via live chat, or through text-based messaging, making it easier to maintain continuity of care across schedules and locations. These options support flexibility, ongoing skill practice between sessions, and the ability to access licensed professionals in ways that suit a client’s routine and needs.