About Mary
Mary Hartenstein is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Louisiana with five years of professional experience. She draws on practical problem-solving to help people handle stress, anxiety, addictions, and major life changes. Mary values straightforward conversation and focuses on helping people use their own strengths to make small, workable changes.
She centers sessions on clear goals and steps that fit everyday life. Conversations tend to focus on what is working, what to try next, and how to build on small wins.
Background and approach
This approach suits people who want concrete ideas and hands-on guidance rather than long, theoretical talks. Mary often helps people facing relationship strain, parenting stress, grief, eating concerns, anger, low self-esteem, and compassion fatigue. She also addresses issues like abandonment, adoption and foster care experiences, blended family dynamics, caregiver stress, body image, and family of origin difficulties.
When substance use is a concern she supports people working on drug and alcohol addiction and related choices. Sessions are paced to match each person’s needs. Mary listens for practical barriers and suggests steps that can be tried between meetings.
She encourages people to notice small shifts and build on them, so progress becomes more manageable. The goal is steady, real change rather than quick fixes. Mary aims to empower people to make decisions that fit their values and daily life.
Her style is direct, compassionate, and focused on clear, achievable next steps.
Solution-Focused Care and Online Options
Mary uses Solution-Focused Therapy which centers on small, practical steps that lead toward your goals. This approach asks what you want to be different and then identifies easy, concrete actions to try between sessions. It is helpful for stress, anxiety, relationship and parenting challenges, and for people working through grief or substance concerns.The right approach often becomes clear through early conversations. Mary works collaboratively to match techniques to your needs and preferences. Together you set short-term goals, try specific strategies, and adjust the plan based on what helps most.
Online therapy with Mary includes video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls let you see facial cues and hold longer sessions. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or for a quick check-in. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief updates, progress notes, or when writing feels easier than speaking. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, and busy days while keeping the focus on practical steps and steady progress.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Mary help with?
What is her therapeutic style like?
How much clinical experience does she have?
Which license does she hold and where is she based?
Are sessions offered in other languages?
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
What session formats are available?
How does cost and scheduling work?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 5 years
- Licensed
- Louisiana
- Languages
- English