Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Smith.
Hi Mary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From a young age, I sensed I experienced the emotional world differently. I was the intuitive, highly attuned kid who felt the emotional “weather” in a room before anyone spoke. That sensitivity often made me feel different, so I learned to mask it but it quietly shaped how I understood people and their inner worlds.
Growing up, I went through several personal losses. At the same time, the world around me was experiencing its own trauma. Events like Columbine and 9/11 weren’t just news stories. They were collective shocks that shaped my generation’s understanding of safety, fear, and the fragility of life. Even without clinical training, I felt pulled to soothe and support, long before I fully understood what therapy was.
Everything aligned when I took my first psychology class in high school. It was the first space where my empathy, curiosity, and intuition felt like strengths rather than quirks. I knew immediately: this is my work.
My professional journey began in trauma-focused settings at a local non-profit, where I developed a strong foundation in trauma-informed psychotherapy. Over time, I trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, ISTDP, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and existential approaches. I’ve always been intrigued by the intersection of psychology, philosophy, spirituality, science, consciousness and that layered curiosity continues to shape my approach.
A pivotal chapter came in 2018, when I had a true near-death experience. It was a profound moment that shifted the trajectory of my life. That experience brought my priorities into sharp focus and reminded me how meaningful and fragile being alive really is. I had just moved into my first real corner office and felt like everything was coming together and then life delivered a moment that changed me at the deepest level.
And then 2020 arrived.
The world shifted overnight. My office sat empty, and like many therapists, I transitioned to virtual work without a blueprint. Being a therapist during a global crisis meant holding space not just for individual pain, but for collective trauma, isolation, and disconnection. It was intense, humbling, and transformative.
That period also gave me my own internal recalibration and not a trendy “awakening,” but something quieter and deeper. I became acutely aware of how much healing our communities needed, especially in a world shaped by rapid technology, constant information, and widespread emotional exhaustion.
THIS is where The Crazy Therapist was born…
My creative brand is a blend of clinical depth, soulful curiosity, humor, and authentic human connection. My practice evolved into a space where evidence-based therapy meets meaning-making, embodied healing, and real conversations about being human.
Today, my work focuses on helping people reconnect with who they are beneath survival mode, burnout, and the noise of modern life. It feels like exactly the place I’m meant to be.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t been smooth and I’ve learned that the path isn’t supposed to be smooth. The challenges are often the parts that shape us most.
For years, I lived with undiagnosed ADHD, which came with a quiet and powerful undercurrent of shame. I spent a long time feeling like I was “not enough”; not focused enough, not organized enough, not consistent enough and I worked hard to mask it. When I finally worked with a therapist who understood ADHD, everything shifted. I gained clarity and compassion for myself, and that healing deeply influences how I support clients today.
Working in trauma settings early in my career was meaningful but emotionally demanding. Holding space for deep pain requires humility, boundaries, and continuous self-reflection.
Then came 2018 and my near-death experience which was a moment that forced me to rethink everything. It was one of those times when life becomes very clear, very quickly. Just as I was regaining my footing and settling into private practice, the pandemic hit. Transitioning my entire practice online overnight, supporting clients through a global crisis, and managing my own uncertainties tested every skill I had.
There were moments that felt like building a plane all while still flying it.
But these challenges also deepened me. They pushed me to redefine what kind of therapist I wanted to be and what kind of human I wanted to be. They taught me that authenticity matters far more than perfection and that being human is not a weakness in this profession. It’s the magic of the work.
Every obstacle has enriched the way I sit with clients: grounded, present, empathic, and real.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a trauma-informed psychotherapist who helps adults navigate trauma, attachment wounds, ADHD, and the emotional patterns that keep them stuck in survival mode. My work blends evidence-based modalities like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, ISTDP, and Emotionally Focused Therapy and Internal Family Systems with a deeply human, intuitive, and existential approach.
I’m known for my grounded, warm, and honest style. I bring depth and humor into the work, and I help people make sense of their inner world in a way that feels accessible and real. Clients often come to me when they feel disconnected from themselves, overwhelmed by life, or ready to understand their story on a deeper level.
My creative brand, The Crazy Therapist, grew out of my desire to talk about mental health with authenticity, soul, and a bit of playfulness without losing clinical integrity.
What sets me apart is the way I integrate psychology, embodiment, and meaning-making. I believe healing isn’t just about coping skills, it’s about reconnecting with who you are beneath shame, burnout, and survival patterns. Helping people find clarity, connection, and hope is the part of this work that inspires me every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Happiness, for me, is about alignment. The moments when my internal world and external life feel connected.
I find joy in nature, animals, and the quiet steadiness of slow mornings. I’m nourished by small, intentional moments: noticing flowers, connecting with strangers, allowing myself to be present. I love spaces filled with soul like antiques, objects with character, and pieces that carry stories. They remind me that beauty doesn’t require perfection.
Professionally, happiness shows up in the subtle shifts with clients, when something resonates, when they feel understood, and when they reconnect with themselves. Those moments feel meaningful in a way that stays with me long after the session ends.
Ultimately, happiness is living in harmony with my values, my intuition, and the life I’m intentionally creating.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marysmithcounseling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecrazytherapist/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Crazy-Therapist-100065278549262/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecrazytherapist
