Therapist profile
Mary Jennifer Meister, LCSW
LCSW - Trauma and family-related concerns
Continue with MaryAbout
- Trauma processing
- CBT strategies
- Parenting support
About Mary
Mary Jennifer Meister is an Illinois LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with 17 years of clinical experience. She focuses on trauma and abuse, mood concerns like depression and bipolar, anxiety and stress, relationship and family issues, grief, parenting strain, and career or life transitions. Sessions address parenting strain and family-related concerns as part of individual work.
She uses straightforward conversation and practical techniques rather than jargon. Sessions tend to mix client-centered listening with active tools from cognitive behavioral approaches and motivational interviewing. EMDR is offered when trauma processing is a focus. Her style is down-to-earth and interactive, with room for humor when it helps relieve tension.
Many adults come to her for support after losses, major life changes, or repeated relationship conflict. She also works with people dealing with caregiver stress, blended family challenges, codependency, abandonment issues, and end-of-life or hospice related concerns. Mary addresses mood and personality difficulties alongside practical life problems like career decisions and communication breakdowns.
She draws on evidence-informed methods such as CBT for thinking and behavior changes, Gottman-informed ideas for improving interaction patterns, and trauma-focused tools to reduce intense emotional reactions. EMDR is used selectively to help process memories that continue to cause distress.
Sessions are offered in English and Mary accepts international clients. Cost varies by location and uses a cancelable subscription model. To begin, visitors complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session via the See online therapy options button.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches used in online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and helping people find their own solutions. It’s about being heard and reflecting on what matters, which can help when parenting feels overwhelming or relationships are strained.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical skills for managing anxiety, mood swings, and stress. CBT gives concrete tools to try between sessions, which can be useful during busy family routines.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method for reducing the hold of painful memories or triggers. It is offered when trauma processing is the primary concern and can bring relief for long-standing emotional reactions.
Picking the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, symptoms, and preferences, and then suggest methods to try. That plan can change over time as progress is observed and needs shift.
If you want online sessions, confirm the specific session options before booking since formats were not exhaustively listed in the profile. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins between appointments, and avoid travel time. Discussing practicalities like session length, whether to use video or phone, and timing helps shape a plan that fits everyday life.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with trauma and abuse, depression, bipolar, anxiety, stress, relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting strain, career issues, and related topics.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach combines client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing, and she may use humor when appropriate.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of experience as a practicing clinician.
Is she credentialed and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and provides services from that state.
Does she work in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original profile mentions telehealth and that phone or video appointments are available by appointment; confirm the current session options before booking.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule an initial 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 anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.