Therapist profile
Mary Shands, LPC
Texas
LPC counselor - anxiety and relationships
Continue with MaryWhere Mary stands
- Credentials
- LPC
- License
- LPC, Missouri / 2014024447; LPC, Texas / 77506
- NPI
- 1649793787
- Experience
- 12 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Texas
About
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Attachment-informed work
- Client-centered sessions
About Mary
Mary Shands is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Missouri and Texas with 12 years of experience. She has provided counseling in school settings, substance use treatment, veteran services, and programs addressing sexual offending. Her work covers stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship concerns, parenting problems, and codependency among other issues.
Mary has worked with people from early childhood through late adulthood in a range of organizations. That background means she is used to practical problems like school-related concerns, substance use, and effects of trauma. She has also supported people facing grief, adoption or separation issues, and challenges tied to caregiving and aging.
Her day-to-day approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and client-centered methods. She also uses attachment-informed ideas and emotionally-focused work when relationships and closeness are central. Sessions often include straightforward skills practice, thought patterns to try out, and discussion about relationship patterns that keep people stuck.
Mary describes herself as an active listener who enjoys talking and hearing others. She also presents trainings and educational sessions in community settings. Her dual licensure in MO and TX is part of how she has worked across different systems and settings.
People contact her for help with addiction concerns, coping with life changes, ADHD-related struggles, body image and eating issues, and first responder or compassion fatigue. She also supports those wanting coaching around career or coping skills rather than formal diagnosis-based care.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Attachment-informed work focuses on how close relationships affect feelings and behavior. It helps when trust, abandonment worries, or repeating patterns in relationships are central to what someone wants to change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It uses targeted exercises and skill practice to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful habits.Choosing the right way to work together is part of the process. The therapist discusses goals, current struggles, and what kinds of exercises or conversation feel useful. This is a collaborative decision made over the first few sessions rather than a fixed promise up front.
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. They can also let someone continue with work between sessions and try out new skills in their ordinary routines while getting guidance from a licensed professional.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
Missouri, Texas
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress and anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, grief, parenting challenges, codependency, and related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered and attachment-informed approaches. Sessions tend to mix practical skills, exploring relationship patterns, and attentive listening.
How much experience does she have?
She has 12 years of clinical experience working in schools, substance use treatment, veteran services, and other community settings.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Missouri and Texas and is based in Texas for practice-related information.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats does she use?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Confirm current session options before booking to know whether phone or video sessions are offered.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with scheduling a session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.