Mary Stein , LMFT

Mary Stein is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 27 years of clinical experience. She earned a Master of Counseling from Phillips Graduate Institute and became a licensed therapist in 1999 (CA LMFT 35416). Over the course of her career she has worked with individuals, couples, and families in private practice and in roles such as clinical supervisor in adolescent residential programs and at a domestic violence agency.

Her work focuses on helping people navigate anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, relationship and family concerns, and a wide range of life changes. She also addresses areas such as eating and sleeping issues, parenting and caregiver stress, intimacy and communication problems, bipolar disorder, chronic illness and pain, and compassion fatigue. Mary brings experience with both early-stage struggles and longer-term challenges, including recovery from domestic violence and support for caregivers and older adults.

Mary’s approach is warm, accepting, and interactive. Grounded in client-centered principles, she partners with clients to explore what brought them to therapy, identify strengths and goals, and select methods that fit each person’s needs. She integrates cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical strategies, existential questions about meaning, and mindfulness practices to help clients build practical skills, increase self-awareness, and move toward healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Mary Stein

Mary Stein combines client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior strategies to support clients in online settings. Client-centered therapy emphasizes an accepting, collaborative relationship that recognizes each person’s goals and strengths and is well suited to those seeking a respectful space to explore life changes and relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical coping and problem-solving skills for issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical behavior therapy focuses on building emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills to manage intense emotions and improve relationships.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Mary works collaboratively with clients to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and then tailors methods so treatment feels practical and relevant. Clients are partners in deciding which techniques will be most helpful.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people balancing work, family, or caregiving responsibilities. Video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging allow clients to access licensed professionals and continue care from different locations, making it easier to fit therapy into daily life and maintain continuity during transitions.