- CBT techniques
- Solution focused work
- Client centered care
About Mary
Mary Jo Brill is an LCSW licensed in Illinois with five years of clinical experience. She works with adults on relationship concerns, anger, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Mary Jo also addresses body image, communication problems, control issues, life purpose, and midlife crisis.
She uses clear, practical conversations to help people notice patterns that keep them stuck. Sessions focus on identifying what matters to the client and on small, doable changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools are used to spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. Solution-Focused methods help set short-term goals and track progress.
Mary Jo also draws on Client-Centered Therapy to keep sessions collaborative and respectful of each person’s pace. Psychodynamic ideas are used when looking at recurring themes that arise from past relationships or patterns. Treatment plans are created with the client and adjusted over time rather than following a fixed script.
In sessions she pays attention to how communication and control issues show up in daily life. Work might include role-playing conversations, practicing boundary language, or developing concrete routines to manage strong feelings. The approach balances problem solving with understanding where patterns started.
To begin she asks about current concerns and what the client wants to change. The first meetings are practical - clarifying goals and deciding on a plan. Mary Jo encourages straightforward steps that fit into the person’s everyday life.
How approach and online sessions work together
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the client. It helps when someone wants a collaborative space to sort priorities and make decisions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers practical exercises to test new ways of thinking. That method is useful for managing anger and improving day-to-day coping. Motivational Interviewing helps people move through ambivalence and commit to small changes by clarifying personal values and goals.Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the work. The therapist will work with the client to choose methods that match their goals and preferences. That means deciding together whether to focus on skill-building, examining patterns from the past, or setting short-term measurable goals.
The original biography did not specify which session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also allow practicing communication or emotion-management skills in the settings where they actually happen. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises used in person for a remote meeting so progress continues even when schedules are tight.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with relationship issues, anger, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include body image, communication problems, control issues, life purpose, and midlife crisis.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is open and collaborative, using practical conversation and a strengths perspective. Sessions focus on setting goals and working on concrete steps between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of clinical experience as an LCSW. That experience has included work with relationship and motivational concerns.
Is she licensed and where does she practice?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and practices in that state.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Please check the platform details when you schedule.
How are costs handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact fees are provided during the scheduling process.
What do I do to get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to begin.