Rate Mary Wheeler

Our lives are not always a smooth path without obstacles, suffering, setbacks. However, as it has been said, "Smooth seas have never made a skilled sailor."

When we are struggling, in pain, and feeling lost, it may seem impossible that our lot in life could improve significantly! We dream of developing the skill the Queen in Alice in Wonderland expressed: "Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." The therapeutic process has moments like this, when what we desire in life seems impossibly out of our reach.. We have times when we recognize that we cannot go it alone, that we need support, understanding, a little guidance, and ways to think differently (and more positively and confidently about ourselves. I have dedicated my life to learning not only how to listen with my heart, and respond with gentleness, compassion and empathy--as well as honesty--but also how to approach every person I meet in a session with respect, with the promise of safety in vulnerability and unconditional, non-judgmental acceptance.

I have been a therapist for 30+ years, treating child victims of sexual abuse in private practice, working with Veterans (especially in relation to PTSD/Trauma, with inpatients of psychiatric facilities, in prisons, and in community mental health. I obtained a MA from NYU, a MSW from Michigan State University, and a Vor-Diplom and Diplom in Clinical Psychology from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and an approved Supervisor in the State of Florida. I also worked as a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP) with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

My treatment approach is humanistic, holistic, integrative, and eclectic. I utilize among other theories Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Psychodynamic and Interpersonal Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, Solution Focused Brief therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Based therapy, and Transactional Analysis. I believe that a healthy therapeutic alliance is founded upon mutual contributions by client and therapist where the client "drives" the therapeutic process. My hope is always to give a client the tools that will make the period of therapy time limited, and not a "forever" reality! I am dedicated to client empowerment and encourage clients to set and successfully reach their personal goals--and then leave the therapist, rather than becoming dependent on the therapist.

I incorporate my roots in Western and Eastern traditions, as well as in Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism (Tibetan) in my therapeutic practice. However, always I invite and honor the client's personal beliefs and never impose my own on the client.

I believe that my own life experiences, struggles, achievements, and relationships have nurtured in me the mission to "pay it forward," giving to others what has been given to me, as well as receiving the unique gifts of every person I meet in the therapy sessions.

Reaching out for support when the going is rough, takes vulnerability, courage, patience and perseverance. You have these qualities, otherwise you would not be searching in places like this! I ask that you be gentle with yourself, with your struggles, pain, emotions, and relationships. Our wounds are important. As the Sufi mystic and poet Rumi so beautifully expressed: "The wound is the place where the Light enters you."