Mary Ann Skender

Mary Ann Skender is a LICSW practicing in Washington with 16 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and the many changes that come with major life events. She aims to create a calm, respectful space where people can sort through difficult emotions and practical problems.

Her work often addresses relationship tension, grief, trauma and abuse, and struggles with intimacy and body image. She also supports people dealing with addictions, caregiver strain, parenting pressures, and career questions. Divorce and separation are listed among her additional focus areas and she helps people navigate the practical and emotional shifts that follow those events.

Mary Ann uses several evidence-informed methods to help clients make progress. Her practice draws on Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness Therapy, alongside Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy. She matches techniques to what each person needs and prefers rather than using a single fixed method.

Sessions are geared toward clear, manageable goals. Work in therapy can include learning coping skills, changing unhelpful thinking patterns, practicing mindful attention, and identifying small steps toward change. She also offers coaching-style support for people clarifying life purpose and next steps.

Mary Ann works in English and provides care to adults in Washington. She encourages a collaborative process where the client’s priorities guide the pace and focus of sessions.

How her methods translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and responding to what the client says. It helps people feel heard and decide their own next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting and changing thinking and behavior patterns that keep problems in place, which can help with anxiety, depression, and coping during major life changes. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing skills to reduce reactivity and manage stress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Mary Ann will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and try methods that fit their needs. She adapts tools over time so sessions match what is helping most, and the client helps steer that process.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example by avoiding a commute, fitting a shorter check-in during a break, or allowing focus on skills practice between meetings. Licensed professionals and therapists often find remote sessions helpful for steady support during life transitions, while tailoring exercises and homework to daily life.