Adolescents, Young Adults, & Adults

Hi! My name is Malary and I’m very proud of you for taking these first steps towards seeking help by browsing potential therapists. Meeting someone new can make anyone nervous, so let me tell you a bit about myself both personally and professionally.

I’m originally from a small town in Michigan, attending Saint Mary’s College in South Bend for Psychology. From there, I moved to Chicago to pursue my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Roosevelt University. At Roosevelt, I learned to operate from the lens of cognitive behavioral therapy. In utilizing CBT, I aim to help you gain insight into the connections between daily habits and your thoughts behind them.

I have a background in social work alongside DCFS, individual clinical therapy in the community mental health and private practice setting, and currently serve as a crisis clinician for Cook County. Through working with marginalized groups in underserved areas, I have developed a passion for advocacy work. Through this advocacy and support, I aim to help you make changes that enhance your overall quality of life.

As your therapist, I aim to create a comfortable environment where you feel safe to discuss difficult topics. It’s important to me that you have autonomy over our sessions, handing you the reins to choose what we work on each week. I like to integrate humor and mindful self-disclosure into sessions, working to soften perceived power dynamics and anxieties that may exist within the therapeutic setting.

Knowing that our struggles and experiences change from day to day, it’s important to me that we build a “toolbox” of techniques and strategies to help you navigate life each day. Playing to your strengths, we will fill this toolbox with a variety of hobbies, interests, people and therapy techniques that will allow you to better manage stressors throughout your daily life.

My toolbox has been crafted through my own personal experiences with therapy. Inside mine, I have my support system of friends and family. In my free time I like to unwind with video games, puzzles, miniature sets or lounging with my dog. 

I appreciate you taking the time to read a little bit about me. Again, I am proud of you for taking these first steps to begin browsing and look forward to hopefully meeting you soon.