I am a therapist licensed in Virginia with over 20 years of experience tailoring treatment services to each individual, honoring and respecting every unique life story.
I have also just recently become a life coach. My philosophy is rooted in the belief that a caring, authentic therapy relationship, combined with finely tuned, innovative interventions can shape life’s challenges into opportunities for growth and transformation. I believe in treating everyone with respect and compassion and I don't rely on labels, we are all evolving every day.
My therapy and counseling specialties include:
Individual psychotherapy
Anxiety, fear, and the courage to make it through adversity
Couple counseling & marriage therapy
Self-esteem, shame issues
Grief, trauma / PTSD or abuse therapy
Depression
Life coaching
It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards change. If you are ready to take that step, I am here to support and empower you.
I look forward to working with you!
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Avoidant personality, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Commitment issues, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dependent personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Eating and food-related issues, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, Fertility issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, HIV / AIDS, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual disability, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Narcissism, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Paranoia, Personality disorders, Postpartum depression, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Trichotillomania, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Imago Relationship Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
VA LCSW 0904004851
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Mary Messerschmidt. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I worked with Mary for almost 6 months, she is so calm and listens so well she helped me so much.
Written on Feb 06, 2023 after therapy with Mary for 8 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and trauma and abuse
She is so kind and knowledgeable. Every time I’m struggling she reminds me to believe in myself and I have all the power in myself to change my outcome. She is a great life coach and encourages me that I can reach any goal I set for myself. She makes me feel heard
Written on Jan 12, 2023 after therapy with Mary for 8 months on issues concerning depression, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, anger management, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
I think she's great
Written on Jan 11, 2023 after therapy with Mary for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and intimacy-related issues
I love her. And, I’m very picky.
Written on Dec 02, 2022 after therapy with Mary for 6 months on issues concerning grief, coping with life changes, coaching, and compassion fatigue
Best therapist ever. She responds to my concerns. Is kind. I feel comfortable with her. And, I am making progress!!
Written on Nov 29, 2022 after therapy with Mary for 3 months on issues concerning relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and anger management
Mary is always there for me whenever I need her! She pushes me out of my comfort zone and builds me up when I need her to. She’s very helpful and is an amazing therapist!
Written on Nov 10, 2022 after therapy with Mary for 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, compassion fatigue, and adhd