Mary Mcfarland-Norris, LICSW

Mary Mcfarland-Norris is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in Alabama with 20 years of experience. She offers telehealth sessions across the state and aims to help adults who are facing anxiety, stress, depression, and life transitions. Mary keeps conversations calm and straightforward so people can talk honestly about what matters to them.

She blends practical methods to help clients notice unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors. Sessions often focus on setting small, doable goals and tracking progress over time. Mary listens first, asks questions to understand how someone feels, and then works with them to choose the next steps.

Her practice commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy alongside attachment-based and client-centered ideas. These approaches are used to help people manage mood, improve coping, and rebuild a more hopeful outlook. Mary adapts her style to each person rather than following a single script.

Mary has long been drawn to helping others, from volunteer work to a career in social work. She emphasizes a nonjudgmental, personable communication style and focuses on building trust in early sessions. That rapport helps shape realistic goals and practical strategies that fit each person’s life.

In sessions people can expect question-based conversation about current feelings and recent events. Early meetings are about understanding concerns and creating a shared plan. Over time the focus shifts toward skills, behavior changes, and tracking small wins.

Practical approaches for online therapy and coping

Mary commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors; this approach often targets anxiety, depression, sleep, and mood-related patterns. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is also part of her work and focuses on noticing hard emotions, clarifying values, and taking meaningful action even when feelings are uncomfortable.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. She will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and daily life, then try methods that fit those needs. Together they decide which strategies to keep and which to adjust as progress is tracked.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video lets people use face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit a short break at work or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text are useful for brief check-ins, skill practice, or when writing feels easier than speaking. These options let people work with a licensed professional in ways that match their schedule and comfort.