Mary Missig (she/her)

Depression can be an all-encompassing beast. Depression can be a symptom of something else going on. Depression can be something you spend a lot of energy hiding. Depression can be a lot of things. What does depression look like for you? What does depression tell you about what you can and can’t do? In working with depression, I find it’s important to ensure a balance of validating and witnessing the struggle you are going through and helping you find a way forward.

Trauma can be unbearable. Trauma can live in our body. When trauma goes unprocessed, it can make us do and feel things we can't control. I take a trauma-informed care approach and recognize that trauma can impact everything. Trauma-informed care asks "what happened to you?" instead of "what is wrong with you?" Your trauma doesn't have to define you, you can define your own trauma story. I've worked with many unhoused people experiencing PTSD and helped them work through their trauma.

I recognize and affirm that your experience as an LGBT person is not like everyone else’s. We live in a heteronormative cisgendered monogamous dominate culture. Being LGBT might include facing issues like "coming out," family acceptance issues, and everyday cultural issues. Coming out might not be a safe or positive experience for everyone, but there is room for hope and healing. Family of origin might not be the place where you receive love and acceptance, and there is some grief to process.

As Carl Rogers taught, I believe in every person’s autonomy and inherent capacity for self-actualization and support you with unconditional positive regard. What this looks like in the therapy room is me being present with your experience, being very curious and reflective about what you say so that I fully understand, and reinforcing your strengths that you may or may not see. I focus on building a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe, supported, seen, and valued no matter what you say

The core principle of existential therapy is it’s a person’s responsibility to find their own meaning in life which can come from three possible ways: creating or doing something, experiencing something or someone, or finding meaning in unavoidable suffering.​ I have taken a course exclusively on existential therapy. We will explore questions about life and your beliefs. Identify your values and how you feel they are incorporated in your life. Talk about your identity and purpose. What matters?

The core principle of existential therapy is it’s a person’s responsibility to find their own meaning in life which can come from three possible ways: creating or doing something, experiencing something or someone, or finding meaning in unavoidable suffering.​ I have taken a course exclusively on existential therapy. We will explore questions about life and your beliefs. Identify your values and how you feel they are incorporated in your life. Talk about your identity and purpose. What matters?

The core principle of narrative therapy is the healing power of our stories. We gain meaning through the stories we tell about our lives and that these stories are influenced by the culture we live in. I believe everyone has a story to be told and that the words we use to tell these stories are important, and that each time we tell our story we learn something new about ourselves. I have taken a course exclusively on narrative therapy and attended a narrative 3-day conference. Your story matters