Mary radiates kindness and warmth. She enjoys engaging in conversation with people and values the connections that she creates with these interactions. She describes her childhood home in Columbus, Georgia as supportive. Since summer is her favorite season, she fondly remembers boating, skiing, and hanging out at the lake together with her parents, two older brothers and younger sister.
Mary’s transition from a small Christian high school to the seemingly enormous campus of UGA was challenging and stretched her in new ways. This experience, while difficult, touched her deeply. She developed fellowship within the Wesley Foundation, and enjoyed singing in the worship band together with Ryan, whom she married after graduation.
With a degree in middle school education, Mary found herself in the right spot to make a difference as her students developed through the critical life stage of creating their own identity. While she loved learning and sharing new information, she found the duties of classroom management often truncated her opportunity to respond to the emotional content that bubbled just under the surface.
Counseling felt like a natural step in career progression for Mary. A continuous learner herself, she appreciates the teaching aspect of therapy. She loves watching it click for her clients as she helps them integrate new information and begin to apply the new knowledge to their lives. Mary is touched by her client’s life stories and she finds herself changed through the process of facilitating change.
Mary has a heart for working with women. She is gifted in helping adolescent, college-aged, and young adult women manage their life transitions. Her authentic style guides her as she walks alongside women through life stages including new relationships, marriages, and motherhood as well as new careers, and shifting family dynamics. Mary offers tender insights as she brilliantly makes sense of things that at first glance seem meaningless.
Mary fosters her creativity through home design, cooking, and fashion. She enjoys exploring flavor and texture as she concocts original dishes to be enjoyed by Ryan and their two children, Lily Kate and Noah. Her hospitality shines as she generously hosts family and friends in her lovely home. A fashionista and foodie at heart, Mary can be spotted around town wearing fun and chic new trends while trying new restaurants or visiting old favorites.