Mary Buntin

Mary Buntin is a licensed clinical social worker with 40 years of professional experience in Virginia. She focuses on helping people manage grief, depression, anxiety, and stress. Mary also supports folks facing life changes and compassion fatigue. She emphasizes building a stronger relationship with oneself and finding personal strengths.

Mary has a long history of working with people approaching retirement and adapting to older adulthood. She helps caregivers who are managing the demands of degenerative illness and the stresses that come with that role. Her work also addresses chronic pain, illness, and disability from the perspective of everyday coping skills.

In sessions Mary looks for practical ways to bolster self-worth and resilience. She helps clients notice positive traits and use them to move through shame, guilt, and forgiveness work. She frames progress as a series of small, manageable steps that add up over time.

Mary makes space for conversations about isolation and loneliness and how those feelings connect to other concerns. She encourages compassion for oneself while developing routines and choices that reduce overwhelm. The goal is clearer direction and steadier coping in daily life.

People who choose Mary can expect calm, steady guidance and an emphasis on empowerment. She describes therapy as a collaborative effort where the client’s goals guide each step. The first meeting focuses on listening, clarifying needs, and planning next steps.

Evidence-based techniques and online support

Mary describes her work as grounded in evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical coping and personal strengths. One approach she commonly uses helps people break down overwhelming problems into small, concrete steps so they can make steady progress toward daily goals. Another approach centers on building self-compassion and reducing harsh self-judgment, which can be useful for grief, shame, and caregiver stress.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. Mary will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and together decide which techniques to try. She adapts methods over time and checks in regularly to see what is helping.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, shorten check-in times between appointments, and reduce travel time. It also lets people connect with a licensed professional from different locations while still focusing on practical goals and steady coping strategies.