MARY ROBINSON THERAPY
My Story
When I was eight years old my teacher called my mother during dinner one night. Bracing for bad news, she was told, "Mary noticed a classmate sitting alone at recess and trying not to cry. She walked up to them, put her arm around their shoulder, and asked 'How are you feeling?'" Needless to say, I didn't get in trouble (that time, anyway).
That second grader is still alive and well in my heart. I am a human first, and a therapist second. The personal aspects that most inform my work are my identity as a woman and a mother. Coming from a place of curiosity and cultural humility, I specialize in women’s issues because I care deeply about the nuances of the female experience. As a woman in the entertainment industry, I became painfully aware of the toxicity and time constraints people in the business face. For this reason, I work Saturdays when needed, understanding that 9-5 doesn’t always apply to this community.
It hasn't always been easy for me to navigate the expectations of others, to figure out where my needs start and other people's end. To feel confident in my decision-making without mourning the roads not taken. To give myself grace when I inevitably make mistakes. But all the complications and missteps have informed my conceit of the human experience and made me better equipped to help fellow travelers. I believe we all have a story. A story created by us but with contributions from our family, culture, community, and friends. It is an honor to be trusted with your story.
My Backstory
I earned my B.S. from Syracuse University, where I double majored in Psychology and Television and Film Studies, and my M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. I spent over a decade working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and pull from my creative past in working with clients. The genesis of my counseling career came in the hours spent with crew members who would seek out my office and sit on my couch, often looking for encouragement or guidance in personal and professional matters. These relationships, and how they revealed my gifts as an empathetic listener, opened the door to this work that I love.