Mary Stein , LMFT

Mary Stein is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 27 years of clinical experience. She earned her master’s degree in counseling from Phillips Graduate Institute and became licensed in 1999. Over the course of her career she has worked with individuals, couples, and families in private practice and in community settings, including roles as a clinical supervisor in adolescent residential programs and work in a domestic violence agency.

Her practice focuses on a wide range of concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, relationship struggles, and life transitions. Mary’s counseling approach is warm, accepting, and interactive, grounded in a humanistic perspective that honors where each person is in their life and builds on strengths and goals. She also integrates cognitive tools to address unhelpful thinking patterns and existential ideas that help clients explore meaning and personal choice.

Mary emphasizes collaborative work - together with each client she identifies practical methods and tools to improve coping, communication, and emotional well-being. She values compassion and respectful feedback, viewing therapy as a shared process that supports self-awareness, healing, and healthier relationships that can positively affect people close to the client.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Mary integrates client-centered work, cognitive behavioral strategies, and existential perspectives into online therapy to address life challenges with practical and meaning-focused support. Client-centered therapy prioritizes a respectful, collaborative relationship where the therapist listens, reflects strengths, and helps clients explore goals and values - this approach supports work on relationships, self-esteem, and life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) involves identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and learning concrete skills to reframe thoughts and manage emotions; it is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping skills development. Existential therapy invites clients to examine meaning, choice, and personal responsibility, helping people facing uncertainty, loss, or major life decisions to clarify what matters most to them.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Mary works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting the work over time as progress unfolds. Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for different schedules and needs, making it easier to access consistent support and to use therapy techniques in real-life moments when they arise.