Getting to know Mary Kay Rose

Hello and welcome! Thank you for taking the time to read my bio and get to know me a bit. If you are here, I am guessing you are interested in counseling and considering the possibility of working with me. I appreciate that you are considering trusting me to be your partner in your growth and healing process and I look forward to the possibility of getting to know you!

Some things that may be helpful for you to know about me include that I have been a licensed therapist for over 19 years. Though I presently work with adults, aged 19 and over, I have had the privilege of working with people of all ages, including children, adolescents, families, couples, individuals and groups as well as organizations. My experience includes working as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Life Coach and educator in community mental health, private practice, an EAP, a hospital and in the health and wellness field as well as the business field, so I have a wide variety of life and professional experience I bring to the counseling process.

I feel fortunate to have been a part of the lives of thousands of people as they navigate life’s inevitable challenges seeking healing, growth and/or meaning in their lives. While I believe life is beautiful and full of opportunities, I also believe it can be incredibly painful and contain much suffering. The gift of sharing this human experience with another person has been incredibly important to me, in my own life, growth and healing and I feel honored to be able to share that kind of relationship and process with others. In my work and in my life, I value the power of relationship, wholeness, creativity and connection in the healing process. I encourage the deep inner listening and acceptance that facilitate change and growth. Our daily lives offer many opportunities for change and growth and the counseling relationship provides a powerful connection and space, where we can freely share this human experience and find deep acceptance and support.

What should a new client know about working with you?

Having experienced my own counseling and having worked with so many diverse people and experiences over the course of my lifetime, I have a strong sense of what contributes most to healing and I strive to structure my sessions to support that. I believe the counseling relationship is central to the work of growth, healing and change. Relationships are built on a sense of safety and trust, therefore, it is my intention to create a safe space of unconditional acceptance and empathy where you will feel safe to share openly and explore deeply, and where all the parts of you feel welcome. I consider you the expert on your own experience and view our relationship as a co-creative one. I honor, respect and empower you as the main force for change in your life, however, I will be an active participant in the relationship with you, drawing from my own years of life and professional experiences, as well as the educational and experiential modalities I have lived and studied. All of this has given me a trauma informed, culturally competent, eclectic, holistic, breadth and depth of knowledge and experience to share with you in our counseling relationship.

What is your typical process for working with clients?

When we initially meet, we will get right to work, getting to know one another, discussing your hopes, goals and intentions and what brings you to counseling, as well as discussing possibilities for the direction of the counseling relationship. In our work, we will create a safe space together, a place of warmth and acceptance, with the intention of supporting you in sharing what is most meaningful to you, as you become more present in your life, connect more deeply with yourself and your values and move toward desired intentions and outcomes.

We will utilize modalities and theories I have intensively studied and practiced in my own life, including humanistic/person centered, existential, family systems, emotionally focused therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), energy work, breath work, Yoga, journaling, body focused awareness, meditation and mindfulness, as well as growth and depth perspectives.

It would be an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to partner with you in the counseling process. I look forward to the possibility of connecting with you, and together, creating a relationship that will support you in being present in your life and relationships and moving forward in ways you desire.