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Mary Alfinito

Therapist · New York

Mary Alfinito, LCSW-R

Compassionate, experienced support for everyday challenges

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  • 40 years experience
  • Practical coping skills
  • Works with LGBT concerns

About Mary

Mary Alfinito, LCSW-R, helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and LGBT-related concerns. She draws on 40 years of clinical experience and offers straightforward support for ADHD, trauma, and self-esteem struggles. Her approach is down-to-earth and practical for people juggling work, caregiving, and health issues.

Mary listens first and builds a plan with each person. She uses tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to address unhelpful thinking and build coping skills. Trauma-focused methods are used when past events continue to cause distress.

Sessions focus on clear goals and small, doable steps. She helps people manage symptoms, improve communication, and make daily life more manageable. Topics often include attachment and abandonment concerns, body image, chronic illness, and caregiver stress.

Her background spans community and clinical settings in New York across many decades. That experience informs a practical style that aims to make therapy feel familiar and useful. She encourages honesty and direct conversation about what is and isn’t working.

People seeking help with career questions, coping with change, or navigating gender dysphoria will find a clinician who emphasizes problem-solving and emotional understanding. The work is collaborative, focused on building skills, and paced to fit each person’s needs.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEmptinessFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Trauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

40+ years

Credentials

New York

Languages

English

Therapeutic approaches for online work

Mary uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different ways of thinking and acting. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress so people can learn concrete skills to feel better day to day.

She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. DBT skills can be helpful for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and coping during crises.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they adjust methods and try strategies that fit the person's life and needs.

Confirm current session options before booking to know which online formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow for more flexible appointment times. It also lets people continue care while handling work, caregiving, or health challenges.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Mary address?

She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, career issues, and coping with life changes. Additional areas include caregiver stress, chronic illness, attachment and abandonment, body image, and gender dysphoria.

How would you describe her therapy style?

Her style is practical and conversational. She listens first, then works with each person to set clear goals and small steps to make life more manageable.

What is her professional background?

Mary has 40 years of professional experience working in clinical and community settings. That long experience informs a grounded, problem-solving approach.

What credentials and location are listed?

She holds the LCSW-R credential and practices in New York.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are fees and billing handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

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