Mary Thomason, Counseling Intern

Hi! I am Mary Sarah Thomason, a counseling intern with a specialization in art therapy from Pennsylvania Western University. I acknowledge that finding a good fit in therapy can be hard and the process can be overwhelming and challenging. Welcome, you are not alone.

I believe the space between us is sacred, and that  a safe container and relationship of witness  allows for deep healing, growth, and transformation to take place.

I take an integrated holistic approach to counseling, honoring each person’s unique journey through a blend of person-centered, mindfulness-based, trauma-informed, Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed, somatic, transpersonal, and expressive arts approaches. While art therapy can be a powerful avenue for healing and self-discovery, I recognize that each individual connects with the therapeutic process differently and tailor my approach to meet your unique needs, strengths, and goals.

I acknowledge that we are all raised within systems and cultures—from family to global—and that these systems influence how we develop and experience ourselves, others, and the world around us. I am not here to fix you, because I do not believe you are broken. I am here to help you cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and to mirror back the beauty, resilience, and intrinsic value you already possess.

I believe in the innate wisdom of the body and view emotions, thoughts, sensations, and creative expression as messengers—not problems to be fixed, but experiences to be honored, explored, and integrated into a deeper understanding of ourselves. Together, we can create space for greater self-awareness, self-compassion, meaning-making, and connection to the parts of yourself that may have been overlooked, wounded, or forgotten.

My work is particularly informed by an interest in trauma, attachment, identity, creativity, mindfulness, and the ways in which our experiences shape our relationship with ourselves and others. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel seen, heard, respected, and empowered to engage in their own healing process.

I have experience working with women navigating anxiety, depression, personality disorders, trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault, pregnancy and child loss, and the impacts of navigating mental health systems. My personal experiences, community involvement, and studies have made this work particularly meaningful to me.

I am Mary Sarah

A woman

Born of blood, of bone,

Of fire, water and breath

Through the depths of darkness

I have declared to the world

I am worthy to be here

I am worthy of life, of breath,

of presence, of joy, of love

And I am enough to receive it,

A big woven basket

holding all that life has to give

I am smart enough to be heard

good enough to take up space

Important enough to be seen

Creative enough to be an artist

I lived the labels

Mentally ill

Victim

Less than and not of value to the machine,

to the consumption of souls

I reclaim my name in sparkling gold

I am Mary Sarah

Mother, sister, daughter, friend,

Counselor, art therapy student, person,

Forever student of life and love

Digging out my meaning

from the scraps in the compost pile

Piecing together the lens through which I view life

Stories, systems, and skills

Mindful moments and meaning making

Unconditional positive regard for all of it,

The sticky bits in-between

Not knowing is full of juicy lessons

We are all people

Wounded and beautiful

Decomposing and blossoming

Dying and reborn again

All in a breath

The stroke of brush or pen

Catches a glimpse of the ever elusive now

A mirror, a reflection of life being lived

Capturing the flow of it on canvas