About Mary Saunders
Focus areas
Adult Psychotherapy
Couples Conflict Resolution
Relationship Struggles
Anxiety
Depression
Therapy
Bereavement / Grief Counseling
Postpartum Depression
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Couples
Seniors (65+)
Treatment approaches
Attachment-based
Culturally Sensitive
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Dialectical (DBT)
Compassion Focused
Emotionally Focused
Identity
Gender
FemaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know Mary Saunders
I’m a Marriage and Family Therapist with a Limited Permit (MFT-LP) and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University. I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating life’s challenges, transitions, and relationships.
I have a particular interest in supporting couples who want to improve communication, strengthen emotional connection, rebuild trust, and better understand the patterns that may be creating distance in their relationship. I also enjoy working with individuals and couples navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, grief, and the emotional complexities of family building.
With lived experience, I help women through seasons of life across adulthood, including motherhood, postpartum adjustment, identity changes, and perimenopause. My goal is to provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you can slow down, feel understood, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and reconnect with yourself and the people who matter most.
My approach is collaborative, systemic, and individualized. I draw from CBT, Narrative Therapy, Bowen Family Systems Theory, Solution-Focused Therapy, Attachment Theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and the Gottman Method. I also incorporate psychoeducation, mindfulness, and body-based techniques to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, relationships, and physical experiences.
Most importantly, I believe you are the expert on your own life. My role is to walk alongside you, help you recognize your strengths, and support you in creating meaningful and lasting change.
What should a new client know about working with you?
Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you come in, and you don’t need to know exactly what to talk about. We can start wherever you are.
I believe therapy should feel collaborative rather than like someone is simply telling you what to do. I’ll ask questions, offer perspective and psychoeducation, to help you explore patterns in your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behaviors. We’ll work together to identify what is most important to you and what you would like to change.
I feel strongly that therapy should make space for the whole person. Sometimes what we experience emotionally shows up in our bodies, relationships, or everyday lives. When appropriate, I incorporate somatic and mindfulness-based techniques to help clients develop greater awareness and emotional regulation.
Whether you’re coming to therapy because you’re struggling in your relationship, navigating a major life transition, processing grief or loss, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
You can expect warmth, curiosity, honesty, and a judgment-free environment. My hope is that you leave sessions feeling heard, understood, and more equipped to move toward the life and relationships you want.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
Our first few sessions are an opportunity for us to get to know one another and develop a shared understanding of what brings you to therapy. We’ll talk about your current concerns, your goals, important relationships and experiences, and the patterns you may be noticing in your life.
From there, we’ll work together to identify areas you would like to explore or change. I will develop a therapeutic approach that fits your needs. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, so the process may look different for every client.
Depending on your goals, therapy may include exploring attachment and relationship patterns, identifying unhelpful thought patterns, processing emotions and experiences, strengthening communication, stronger sense of identity, developing boundaries, practicing self compassion, building emotional regulation skills, or using body-based and mindfulness techniques to increase awareness and reduce stress.
For couples, we’ll also pay attention to the patterns that develop between people, not simply focusing on one person as “the problem.” We’ll work toward greater understanding, emotional safety, communication, and connection.
Throughout the process, we’ll regularly check in about your progress and make adjustments as needed. Therapy is a collaborative process, and your feedback matters. My goal is not simply to help you get through what brought you into therapy, but to help you develop insight, skills, and confidence that you can carry with you beyond our sessions.
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In-network insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
UnitedHealthcare
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Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Syracuse University, Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy
NPI number
1144154543
How soon can I make an appointment with Mary Saunders?
Generally, Mary Saunders has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Mary Saunders's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Mary Saunders accepting new patients?
Mary Saunders generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Mary Saunders's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Mary Saunders accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Mary Saunders is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Mary Saunders online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Mary Saunders using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Mary Saunders work with?
Mary Saunders works with Noble Therapy NY.
What are common reasons for patients to see Mary Saunders?
Mary Saunders frequently sees patients for New Patient Visit, Pain Management Consultation, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Mary Saunders on their profile.
What languages does Mary Saunders speak?
Mary Saunders speaks English.