- Focus on codependency
- Practical skill building
- Works with trauma
About Mary
Mary Alfinito is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-R) based in New York with 40 years of practice. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD, trauma and abuse, and concerns related to LGBT identity. She also addresses self-esteem, career questions, coping with life changes, and coaching around everyday struggles like communication and codependency.
In sessions she keeps things straightforward and practical. Conversations move from what’s happening now to small steps people can try between meetings. She listens for patterns such as attachment wounds or abandonment fears and then helps clients notice how those patterns play out in daily life.
Mary uses evidence-informed methods like cognitive behavioral therapy to spot unhelpful thinking, dialectical behavior therapy skills to handle strong emotions, and trauma-focused work to process painful events. Those approaches are woven into a collaborative plan based on each person’s needs and pace.
Her background includes decades of varied clinical work across settings, giving her experience with developmental and learning differences, chronic health and caregiver stress, and identity-related concerns such as gender dysphoria. She aims to make therapy a practical resource for coping and problem solving.
If someone is ready to begin they are invited to follow the site’s Start Therapy flow to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.
How her approaches shape online therapy
Mary commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems because it breaks issues into manageable steps.She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. DBT skills can be helpful when emotions feel overwhelming or when someone wants better ways to respond in tense moments.
Trauma-focused work is used when past events continue to affect daily life. That approach helps people make sense of painful memories and reduce the ways those memories interrupt relationships and routines.
Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels doable. Together they adjust techniques and the pace so work fits real life.
Session formats are not specified in the profile, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving, or treatment for chronic illness, and it can reduce travel time. Some formats also allow shorter check-ins when needed, or sessions without video if that better suits a person’s needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Mary help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD, trauma and abuse, and LGBT-related concerns. She also addresses issues like self-esteem, career questions, and codependency.
What is her approach in therapy?
Sessions are practical and collaborative, focusing on steps clients can use between meetings. She combines talk, skill practice, and problem-solving to address day-to-day struggles.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 40 years of professional experience working in clinical settings. That background includes work with developmental and health-related challenges.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an LCSW-R credential and practices in New York. The LCSW-R designation is presented as shown in her profile.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what does therapy cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact session fees depend on the matched arrangement.
How do I begin working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.