Welcome to Mary Connolly Counseling Services! I am dedicated to providing compassionate and effective therapy services to help individuals navigate life's challenges. I am a licensed therapist with 3 1/2 years of experience, I offer a safe, confidential space to explore your emotions, build resilience, and cultivate well-being. I am a licensed professional counselor with a focus in anxiety, depression, and trauma. I hold a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
"The Therapy Process" is Peeling Back the Layers to Heal at the Core. Think of the therapeutic process like peeling an onion. At first, we work through the outer layers of your experience—your current challenges, behaviors, and emotions. These are often the things that bring you into therapy in the first place: stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, or feelings of sadness.
As we continue working together, we start to peel back those outer layers, exploring deeper parts of your inner world—patterns of thought, past experiences, and old wounds that may be contributing to your struggles. Each layer we uncover brings new insight, helping you better understand the root causes of the issues you're facing.
Eventually, through this process, we may uncover the core wound—the source of the pain or unresolved emotions that have been at the heart of your challenges. This is the most vulnerable, often painful, but deeply transformative part of healing. By acknowledging, processing, and ultimately healing this core wound, you can begin to break free from old patterns and move toward lasting peace, self-acceptance, and personal growth.
What to Expect in Therapy
1. Working Through the Outer Layers - We begin by exploring the immediate issues that brought you to therapy—anxiety, stress, relationship conflicts, or negative thought patterns.
2. Exploring Deeper Layers - As we work together, we begin to examine the underlying causes of these issues, including past experiences, childhood influences, and core beliefs that may have shaped your present challenges.
3. Uncovering the Core Wound - In the deeper layers, we may uncover emotional wounds, unresolved trauma, or hidden fears that have been affecting your well-being. This can be an intense and emotional part of the process, but it's essential for true healing.
4. Healing and Integration - By addressing and healing this core wound, we work to release old patterns and begin to integrate healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. With time, you can experience a deeper sense of freedom, self-compassion, and empowerment.
5. Why This Matters - Therapy isn't just about managing symptoms or coping with life’s challenges—it's about peeling back the layers to reach the root cause of your struggles. By working together to heal from the inside out, we can help you develop a more authentic and fulfilling life.
How It Can Help You
- Acknowledge and release past trauma
- Break free from limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging patterns
- Build deeper emotional resilience
- Cultivate lasting self-acceptance and peace
A Note on the Process
Just like peeling an onion, the therapeutic process can be gradual and sometimes emotionally intense. It's normal to feel vulnerable at times, but rest assured, each layer you uncover brings you closer to healing. As your therapist, I will be here to support you every step of the way, creating a safe space where we can explore and heal at your pace.
Mary Connolly
Licensed Professional Counselor
