About Mary
Mary Bufford is a Tennessee-based licensed clinical social worker with 13 years of experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. She emphasizes a respectful, down-to-earth approach and encourages people to recognize their own strengths. Mary aims to make the first step feel doable for someone who is worried or unsure about starting therapy.
She listens for the practical problems behind feelings and helps people set small, manageable goals.
How Mary works
Sessions focus on real-life changes such as building confidence, improving communication, and coping with upsetting memories. Mary works to make conversations straightforward and useful rather than full of jargon. Her practice centers on partnership - she treats the person as the expert in their life and offers tools tailored to each situation.
She helps people try different strategies and notices what works and what needs adjusting. Over time, this makes progress easier to see. Mary’s style is encouraging and goal-oriented.
She helps people break big problems into smaller steps and celebrates progress along the way. This practical focus is intended to reduce overwhelm and build momentum. For someone taking a first step, Mary emphasizes that courage matters more than knowing exactly what to say.
She supports people through the scheduling and matching process and then works with them to set clear, achievable goals during sessions.
What Mary works with
The areas below are the ones Mary selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 13 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Tennessee |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches that guide remote sessions
Mary uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change. One common method helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and replace them with more balanced thoughts to reduce anxiety and low mood. Another approach emphasizes skills for coping with stress and regulating intense emotions, which can be useful after trauma or during relationship conflict.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the person to understand their goals, try methods that fit their needs, and adjust strategies based on what helps most. This means the plan can change as progress is made and new challenges appear.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for in-depth work, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or during a short break. Live chat and text messaging provide quick check-ins and ongoing support between longer sessions. These options help people fit therapy into busy lives and maintain continuity of care.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Explore online therapy optionsWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What concerns does Mary usually help with?
What is her general therapy approach and style?
How much clinical experience does she have?
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
What session formats does she provide?
How is cost handled for sessions?
How do I begin if I want to work with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions