Mary Shands, LPC

Mary Shands is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Texas with more than 12 years of experience. She has worked in school settings, substance use treatment, services for veterans, and programs addressing sexual offending. Her background spans a wide range of concerns including stress and anxiety, trauma, depression, parenting challenges, and substance-related issues.

She listens with curiosity and brings a warm, energetic presence to sessions. Conversations tend to be straightforward and practical. Mary aims to help people name what feels hard, try small changes, and notice what shifts over time.

Mary draws on several therapy styles to match each person’s needs. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and client-centered methods to follow the person’s pace. Attachment-based ideas and emotionally-focused strategies are available when relationships and connection are central topics.

Her experience includes work in special education, general school counseling, and community treatment programs. That history informs a flexible approach that suits different life stages and circumstances. She also offers trainings and presentations outside of clinical work.

People who want practical tools for coping with stress, to improve sleep or eating habits, or to manage relationship and career strain may find this approach helpful. Mary supports people working through grief, identity questions, and the fallout from trauma. For those considering therapy, she emphasizes collaboration and steady, manageable steps.

Therapeutic approaches and how they fit online

Attachment-based ideas focus on how relationships shape feelings and behavior. This approach looks at connection and trust in relationships and can help when worry, grief, or intimacy issues are tied to past attachment experiences.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It often uses short exercises and homework to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, or manage mood swings.

Client-centered work emphasizes listening and following the person’s pace. It creates space for people to set the agenda and explore what matters most to them.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Mary will collaborate to pick methods that match a person’s needs, goals, and comfort level. That may mean combining elements from different approaches and adjusting as progress unfolds.

Many people find online therapy helps fit sessions into busy lives, such as fitting a session into a lunch break or avoiding travel time. Because formats are not specified in the biography, confirm which session options are currently offered before booking. A clear plan is made together so sessions can focus on practical coping skills and relationship concerns rather than logistics.