I’m Mary Maraventano‑Stried, MS, LPC, a therapist and chronic illness professional with several decades of experience in healthcare. I specialize in helping adults and older adults manage anxiety, ADHD, depression, and trauma—especially when these concerns are intertwined with complex medical issues.

My career began in respiratory therapy, working directly with patients in hospital settings. I spent years at the bedside supporting people who were struggling to breathe, recovering from serious illness, or facing frightening diagnoses. That experience gave me a deep understanding of what it’s like to be a patient in the medical system: the alarms, the rushed explanations, the unfamiliar terms, and the very real fear that comes with not knowing what will happen next.

Over time, I realized that while medical care can treat the body, many people leave the hospital or doctor’s office carrying emotional scars—anxiety, hypervigilance, grief, and a sense of being overwhelmed. This led me to pursue my Master’s degree in counseling and become a Licensed Professional Counselor so I could support the emotional side of living with health challenges.

Today, I work with adults and members of the geriatric community who are navigating:

• Ongoing health concerns and chronic illness

• Anxiety related to symptoms, tests, or medical appointments

• Depression connected to changes in independence, mobility, or identity

• ADHD and executive functioning challenges that make managing healthcare tasks harder

• Trauma histories, including past medical trauma or difficult caregiving experiences

My style is collaborative, warm, and practical. I see therapy as a partnership: you bring your lived experience, and I bring clinical training and years inside the healthcare system. Together, we work to make sense of what you’re going through and develop tools that actually fit your life, health, and energy level.

Because of my background in respiratory therapy and medical environments, I can help you:

• Prepare for and decompress after appointments or procedures

• Understand and advocate for your needs in medical settings

• Navigate conversations with doctors and specialists

• Cope with uncertainty around diagnoses, test results, or disease progression

• Balance self‑care with the realities of aging, caregiving, or chronic symptoms

I use evidence‑based approaches tailored to your needs, drawing from cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, and trauma‑informed care. We might work on calming the nervous system, challenging unhelpful thought patterns, building routines that support attention and organization, or finding ways to bring more meaning and comfort into your daily life—even when health issues are front and center.

My goal is not to tell you how you “should” feel or function, but to offer a supportive, non‑judgmental space where you can:

• Feel heard and believed about your symptoms and experiences

• Learn new ways to manage worry, low mood, or overwhelm

• Build confidence in navigating a complex and often confusing medical landscape

• Reconnect with parts of your identity and life that matter to you beyond illness

If you’re feeling worn down by appointments, frustrated by being misunderstood, or unsure how to cope with the emotional toll of health challenges, you don’t have to handle it alone. I’m here to walk alongside you as you find steadier footing—emotionally, mentally, and within the healthcare system itself.