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Mary Van Hooser

Mary Van Hooser

LISW

Ohio

Compassionate social worker with practical support

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At a glance

Credentials
LISW
License
LISW, Ohio / I.0009592-SUPV
Experience
35 years
Languages
English
Location
Ohio

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Client-centered approach
    • Motivational techniques
    • 35 years experience

    About Mary

    Mary Van Hooser is a licensed independent social worker who helps people feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or traumatized find steady support. She speaks plain about daily struggles and listens first, letting conversations move at each person’s pace. She draws on 35 years in mental health and her own lived experience to offer a calm, nonjudgmental presence.

    Mary uses a client-centered style that focuses on what helps each person feel safer and more calm. She blends practical tools with reflective listening to build coping skills and reduce stigma around mental health concerns. Motivational Interviewing is one of the approaches she includes to help people find their own reasons for change.

    Her work includes support for people living with mood conditions, addiction, trauma, and stress-related problems. She also helps those dealing with grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and caregiver strain. Mary mentions experience with first responder and veteran culture from a personal perspective.

    In sessions she talks through current and past events to gain insight and put problem-solving steps in place. She aims to be transparent and grounding so clients can open up and try new strategies between meetings.

    Mary invites people from many backgrounds to consider therapy as a way to overcome obstacles and move toward a more fulfilling life. She emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and steady encouragement as parts of the path forward.

  2. Approaches that guide online work and recovery

    Mary blends Motivational Interviewing with client-centered care and cognitive behavioral techniques. Motivational Interviewing focuses on eliciting a person’s own reasons to change and can help with ambivalence around addiction or behavior change. Client-centered therapy centers on listening and understanding, helping people feel heard and less judged. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches concrete ways to notice and shift thinking and behavior patterns, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and mood regulation.

    Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and the issues they bring. Progress is shaped by practical steps and ongoing feedback rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.

    Confirm the specific online session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online appointments can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when that suits a schedule. Some formats also need less bandwidth or let people connect without video, which can help when a quieter setup is needed. Talk with the therapist about which arrangement will best match daily life and therapeutic goals.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    AddictionsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemBipolar disorderDepression

    Also works with

    Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementCompassion fatigue

    Additional focus areas

    Caregiver issues and stressDrug and alcohol addictionFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersParanoiaPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issues

    Therapeutic approaches

    Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

    Experience

    35+ years

    Listed in

    Ohio

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What kinds of problems does she help with?

    She works with a wide range of concerns including addictions, trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, grief, and caregiver stress.

    How would you describe her therapeutic style?

    Her style is client-centered and calm, combining listening with practical tools and motivational interviewing to support change.

    How much experience does she have in mental health?

    She brings 35 years of experience working in mental health settings and draws on personal lived experience in her approach.

    What are her credentials and where is she based?

    She holds an LISW, which is a Licensed Independent Social Worker, and practices from Ohio.

    Which languages are supported for sessions?

    Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

    What session formats are available?

    Confirm current session options before booking to know which formats are offered for appointments.

    How are sessions priced?

    Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

    How do I begin the process of working together?

    Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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Mary Van Hooser Continue with Mary