Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Eber.
Hi Mary, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and throughout my childhood witnessed my father struggle with addiction issues and my mother deal with many mental health crises. In order to cope with this family trauma that riddled my upbringing, I developed disordered eating habits and a toxic relationship with exercise and achievement. As I embraced my own recovery journey, I also began studying Psychology and childhood and family development at The University of Georgia. Having a passion for helping others, and providing the care and support I was given, I attended Vanderbilt’s Human Development Counseling program and graduated in 2014. I have completed additional trauma training and am a CSAT therapist.
In my therapeutic work, I embrace the whole person by meeting a client where they are and providing direct feedback in order to push clients into their work and aid in the development of a connection to the most authentic part of self. After completing my pre-licensure work at a residential treatment center working with trauma, eating disorders, and addiction, I began my own practice. My practice serves this population on the outpatient level of care. I have also become passionate about providing this training and development to other counselors. I employ three other therapists, a dietitian, and supervise both interns and pre-licensed clinicians. The mentorship process is a special part of being a business owner, as it allows me to “give back” and pour into new professionals as they develop their professional identities, as was given to me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As a clinician, I have many passions and ideas. A lot of the time being a passionate person does not translate to the organization, financial/business understanding, and planning. I have been able to seek guidance from financial advisors, and learning how to delegate and “ask for help,” has been its own process for me. I also believe that as a therapist we can only take our clients as far as we are willing to take ourselves. This has translated into me doing a lot of my own therapy/healing work ongoing and seeking training that allows me to continue to grow as a clinician and allow for growth within my team.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The practice was established in 2016 and began with myself as a sole proprietor and single clinician. I now employ three other therapists, a dietitian, and supervise clinical interns. We offer counseling and dietetic services to clients struggling with eating disorders, intimacy issues, and trauma/PTSD. Additionally, we can support and have experience in working with addiction issues, OCD, anxiety, depression, and life transition issues. We are known for providing quality care to our clients and families. I foster a working environment that allows all of my team to show up non-judgmentally and with a human presence. We balance stepping into the shadow and providing empathy with a sense of humor to bring some light into difficult scenarios in individual, family, and group therapy sessions. Additionally, we offer supportive meal sessions to help facilitate experiential support surrounding our client’s relationship with food and their bodies. What sets us apart is our ability to work with a variety of clients and provide quality care that helps save lives, prevent the need for a higher level of care, and collaborate with many other professionals in the community to advocate for the best professionals and services for each individual’s needs.
I have a joke that “I am too much of a control freak to have to micromanage, so I only hire excellent clinicians that I can trust implicitly.” While this is a joke about the controlling nature I work hard to shed, I truly believe my team is excellent, and trust in what each of them brings individually to the overall brand. I never question their integrity, decision-making, or ability to help each and every client we see.
We offer individual, group, and family counseling services. We also offer small group and individual meal support sessions and yoga therapy sessions, with the goal of promoting embodiment and healing one’s relationship with food and their body.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to move into my own office suite next year (2023), and continue to expand as I provide quality training and supervision to interns and pre-licensed clinicians. I hope to expand upon our current services offerings and gain feedback from the community on what is needed and what can help people truly find recovery for themselves.
Pricing:
- $175/clinical hour for individual therapy sessions
- $50/clinical hour for individual therapy sessions with a clinical intern
- $100/2 hour group therapy session
- $50/supportive meal session with clinical intern
- $175/clinical hour for an individual session with a registered CEDS dietician
Contact Info:
- Website: Maryebercounseling.com
Image Credits
Sarah Mackenzie Photography, Sarah Bishop
