- CBT
- DBT
- Trauma-focused work
About Mary
Mary Alfinito is a New York Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 40 years of experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, trauma and abuse, and LGBT related concerns. She also supports people facing career strain and life changes.
Mary sees adults as individuals and focuses on practical steps in sessions. She uses straightforward conversation, skills practice, and problem-solving. Sessions focus on what feels hardest in everyday life, like speaking up, handling worry, or getting through a difficult day.
Her approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach skills for managing emotions and changing unhelpful thinking. Trauma-Focused Therapy is part of her work when past events continue to affect daily functioning. Mary blends these methods to match what each person needs in the moment.
She has long experience working with people who have attention differences, autism spectrum concerns, chronic health challenges, and caregiving stress. Topics she often addresses include attachment and abandonment worries, body image, codependency, communication problems, and guilt or shame.
Mary describes therapy as a chance to try new ways of coping and to practice small changes between sessions. She encourages clear goals and regular check-ins about progress. To begin, people follow the practice's intake steps and schedule an initial appointment through the listed booking process.
How CBT, DBT and trauma work in online sessions
Mary uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change thoughts and behaviors that feed anxiety or low mood. CBT sessions often include short exercises and homework to practice new ways of thinking between visits.Dialectical Behavior Therapy provides concrete tools for managing strong emotions and improving interpersonal skills. DBT work in sessions can focus on breathing and grounding strategies, emotion regulation skills, and role-play for communication practices.
Trauma-Focused Therapy is used when past events still affect daily functioning. This approach looks at specific reactions to difficult experiences and teaches ways to reduce their impact on current life.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Mary will work together with each person to choose methods that match goals, current difficulties, and what feels manageable. She checks in regularly and adjusts plans based on progress and preference.
Confirm the practice's available session options before booking, as formats are set by the practice. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also supports practicing skills in real-life settings between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, trauma and LGBT related issues, plus related areas like self-esteem and career strain.
What is her general therapy style?
Sessions are practical and skills-focused, using conversation and exercises to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
How much experience does she have?
Mary has 40 years of professional experience in social work and clinical practice.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW-R licensed in New York and practices from that location.
Which languages are offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
International clients are not accepted at this time.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.