Mary Cowen, LCSW
Experienced LCSW offering practical, narrative-informed care
Details
| Name | Mary Cowen |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | North Carolina |
| Licensed in | North Carolina |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 26 |
About Mary
Mary Cowen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 26 years of practice. She has worked in Texas, Oklahoma, and now North Carolina. Mary brings steady experience to conversations about hard moments and big life changes.
Her work has included support for people facing depression, anxiety, addiction, grief, and eating concerns. She has also helped people coping with cancer, chronic illness, and stress from caregiving. Her background spans community mental health, hospitals, hospice, inpatient settings, home health, schools, and group work.
Background and approach
Mary describes her style as warm, interactive, and respectful. Sessions aim to be practical and tuned to the individual. She uses listening, gentle challenge, and straightforward tools to help people make changes they want.
Her approach draws on Narrative Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and dialectical behavior strategies. These methods are used to untangle unhelpful stories, build coping skills, and improve everyday choices. People who choose Mary often want a collaborative process.
She helps clients name problems, test new ways of responding, and set clear steps forward. The goal is to support growth, reduce distress, and strengthen relationships and daily functioning. Mary welcomes sessions in English and works with international clients as well.
She offers a mix of formats to fit different needs and schedules, and she supports each person in finding the best path for change.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Grief, Eating disorders, Self esteem among the things Mary works with, alongside the areas below.
- Grief
- Eating disorders
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Phobias
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Imago Relationship Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Mary directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Mary directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and skills-based work translates online
Mary uses Narrative Therapy to help people reframe their life stories. That means talking together about the events and beliefs that shape someone's sense of self, and then testing new, more helpful ways to tell that story. Narrative work can be useful for grief, identity shifts, and major life changes.She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on respectful listening and building the relationship so clients can guide the work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers concrete exercises to identify thoughts and change behaviors tied to anxiety, depression, or eating concerns.
Finding the right mix is collaborative. Mary will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then adjust the approach over time. Together they choose strategies that fit the problem and the person's daily life.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video works well for deeper conversations and exercises that need visual cues. Phone calls are a lower-bandwidth option and can fit into a work break. Live chat or text messaging can be shorter check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent across busy schedules and different time zones.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of issues does Mary help with?
Mary supports people facing grief, depression, anxiety, bipolar concerns, ADHD, eating and body image issues, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, career stress, and trauma among other life challenges.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is warm and interactive, focused on listening and practical steps. Sessions combine gentle challenge with tools to change unhelpful patterns.
What is her professional background?
Mary has 26 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker across community health, hospitals, hospice, inpatient care, schools, home health, and group settings.
Where is she based and what credential does she hold?
She is based in North Carolina and holds an LCSW credential in North Carolina.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and Mary accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Mary offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and preferences.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Mary are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Mary where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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