Mary Kallenbach, LCMHC

Mary Kallenbach is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina with over two decades of experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, addictions, trauma, and grief. She works with adults on issues like self-esteem, intimacy, career shifts, ADHD, and complicated family matters. Mary meets people where they are and focuses on practical steps toward stability and better day-to-day functioning.

Mary earned a Master’s in Counseling from Webster University in 1997 and has worked in clinical and community settings since 1995. Early in her career she worked on an adult women’s inpatient unit where she assisted clients with eating disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and PTSD. She later provided school-based services and county mental health care before joining a residential healing farm program in 2005.

From 2005 to 2018 she worked with adults who presented with a wide range of emotional health concerns, combining approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and EMDR when appropriate. She has maintained a private practice since 1998, offering individual and group work and occasional animal-assisted sessions for people who are suited to that approach.

In sessions Mary uses straightforward conversation, skill-building, and goal-focused techniques. She helps people learn coping tools, practice new behaviors, and try small changes that can add up. Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth, with an emphasis on real-world results.

To begin, she asks clients to identify priorities and then builds a plan that fits their life. The focus is on manageable steps toward clearer thinking, healthier relationships, and greater day-to-day balance.

Approaches that translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify personal values and take small, meaningful steps even when feelings are difficult. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce distress and improve daily functioning. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and coping skills. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) targets distress from traumatic memories by using a structured process to reduce their emotional impact; it is often offered for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms.

Choosing the right approach is usually a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, past experiences, and what feels most helpful. Together they try methods and adjust the plan if something doesn’t fit, aiming for a practical, personalized path forward.

Confirm current session options before booking since specific online formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people use tools and worksheets between meetings to practice coping skills. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, or EMDR techniques to work in remote sessions when appropriate, and the therapist will discuss the best way to use these approaches based on each person's needs.