- Years in practice
- 5
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Louisiana
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Family conflicts
About Mary
Mary Hartenstein is a licensed clinical social worker in Louisiana with five years of experience. She focuses on practical, goal-oriented work and supports people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship strain, and major life changes. Mary aims to make the first steps toward change feel manageable and clear.
Her style centers on recognizing each person's strengths. She treats clients as the expert in their own story and helps them use what already works.
Background and approach
Sessions move at a pace set by the client, with an emphasis on solutions and small, achievable steps. Mary uses Solution-Focused Therapy to help clients identify realistic goals and build on existing coping skills. She often breaks problems into concrete parts so progress is easier to track.
This approach is useful for everyday challenges like parenting stress, communication problems, and adjusting after loss. In practical terms she addresses issues such as grief, self-esteem, compassion fatigue, and caregiver stress. She also works with concerns tied to adoption and foster care, blended family dynamics, body image, and substance use.
Conversations tend to focus on what the client wants to change and how to get there. Her sessions are straightforward and supportive. Mary offers encouragement while helping clients map out next steps.
People who want focused, action-oriented help with parenting-related pressures and life transitions may find her approach a good match.
What Mary works with
Everything Mary lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Mary helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Coping with life changes
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Eating disorders
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Approaches Mary lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Solution-Focused Work Online and Practical Access
Mary uses Solution-Focused Therapy to help clients identify small, realistic goals and notice the steps that lead toward them. This approach concentrates on clear, doable changes and is often used for stress, parenting pressures, relationship difficulties, and coping with life transitions.The therapist treats clients as the expert on their own lives and works collaboratively to choose an approach that fits each person's needs and preferences. Together they assess what feels most helpful and will adjust methods as goals shift over time.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to give flexibility. Video calls allow for face-to-face conversation and tones of voice. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit shorter updates, quick tools, or when written reflection feels easier.
These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, manage follow-up between meetings, and try different ways of working until the client and therapist find the best match.
Questions people ask about Mary
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship strain, grief, and coping with life changes, along with parenting-related pressures and family-of-origin issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and strengths-based, using Solution-Focused Therapy to set clear goals and build on what already helps the client.
What is her professional background?
She has five years of professional experience and centers her work on helping people make manageable changes in their lives.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
She holds an LCSW license in Louisiana and practices there.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to get started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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