About Mary

Mary Rastetter is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) who works with adults navigating grief, anxiety, life transitions, chronic health concerns, relationship challenges, and experiences of loss across the lifespan.

Her work is especially centered around supporting individuals moving through major life changes, including the death of a loved one, identity shifts, significant medical diagnoses, career transitions, and other deeply personal forms of grief that can feel isolating or difficult to process alone.

Mary believes therapy should be a collaborative and compassionate space where clients feel safe enough to reconnect with their strengths, process difficult emotions, and move toward a greater sense of clarity and quality of life.

She views accompanying someone through grief and loss as a meaningful privilege and approaches this work with deep care, gentleness, and respect.

Training & Credentials

• LISW | Licensed Independent Social Worker

• Master of Social Work — Loyola University Chicago

• Bachelor of Arts — University of Dayton

• Experience across private practice, hospitals/medical settings, and nonprofit organizations

Approach

Mary takes a person-centered and strengths-based approach to therapy, focusing first on building trust, safety, and genuine connection within the therapeutic relationship.

She believes that more than any single modality or technique, healing happens through feeling seen, supported, and understood. Her work combines active listening, gentle challenge, and reflective insight to help clients better understand themselves and move through difficult experiences with greater compassion and resilience.

Mary also supports clients in building coping skills and emotional tools during seasons of uncertainty, grief, transition, and adjustment.

What to Expect

Early sessions with Mary focus on building rapport, understanding what brought you to therapy, and creating a space where you feel comfortable being yourself.

Her style is warm, grounded, and collaborative, allowing therapy to move at a pace that feels supportive and manageable while encouraging curiosity and self-reflection along the way.

A Bit Outside the Office

Outside of therapy, Mary enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, reading, paying attention to the small moments in life, and exploring new places.

A Note from Mary

“I’m so glad you are showing up for yourself, and no matter how you arrived, you are welcome here.”