About Mary Kuepper, LPC-S

Mary has over a decade of experience working in community based mental health. Though she has worked with people across the lifespan, she specializes in work with kids, teens and families, as well as in maternal mental health. Mary is passionate about giving people the tools they need to not only function well, but to thrive in their everyday life. Though not native to Alaska, she has fallen in love with the abundant resources of this beautiful place. When not working with clients, Mary can be found adventuring, hiking and exploring. She loves to fly fish our local creeks, dig in the dirt of her backyard garden, and get in quality time with her friends, family, and beloved old pup, Drake.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Mary trained as a mental health counselor at MarsHill Graduate School, now known as the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, in Seattle, WA, where she earned her Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology. She completed her graduate school internship at the Seattle Union Gospel Mission, working with significantly emotionally disturbed youths and their families. Mary earned her Bachelor's degree at Anderson University, in Anderson, IN, where she studied Psychology and Family Science. In accordance with AK state law, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #760).

Mary is also certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor- Supervisor in the state of Alaska, which allows her to provide supervision to other professionals in the field who have also chosen to work with kids and families, and are seeking licensure as professional counselors.

EXPEREINCE

Mary holds a license as a professional counselor in the state of Alaska, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor- Supervisor. She has been practicing since 2009, and her scope of experience has been largely with kids, families and young adults. Mary's professional career began working with youth in a residential treatment facility. In that setting she worked with adolescent boys and girls, adjudicated sex offenders, and substance abuse clients. Mary has experience working in outpatient mental health clinics, where she has supported children and their families with significant mental health challenges since 2012. Mary also has extensive experience working collaboratively in the public school system, providing clinical support to children struggling with significant emotional and behavioral issues. Mary has experience working with children and adolescents from 2-18 years old, their families, as well as young adults. She is also holds a certificate as a maternal mental health specialist, and is passionate about serving Mamas in all stages of motherhood.

COUNSELING PERSPECTIVE

Mary's therapeutic framework is shaped by attachment theory and the belief that we all seek connection with others. She believes that experiences, especially formative ones that happen early in childhood, can create maladaptive behaviors that make it difficult to establish and maintain that which we most truly desire, connection. Behaviors and feelings can at times feel unmanageable and out of control. Mary uses brain based science to provide education and tools to her clients around how to regulate emotions, cope effectively and learn more healthy ways of getting one’s needs met. Mary believes that therapy is not a one size fits all template, and therefore utilizes an integrative and multifaceted approach to best meet the needs of each individual client she serves. Interventions may include psychoeducation, talk therapy, havening, art, movement, writing, sand tray, play, music, mindfulness, meditation and yoga, to name a few. Additionally, Mary is a Certified Advanced Trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach, a powerful and transformative framework for parenting that integrates neurobiology, attachment, regulation discipline and learning. Mary is trained in both EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, two powerful therapeutic modalities used to address trauma on a physiological and neurobiological level.