Welcome

Downeast Counseling and Expressive Therapy Services provides counseling and therapy services to women, children, adolescents, couples and families. Mary Okin holds a Masters degree in Expressive Therapy with a concentration in Dance Therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a PhD in History and Women's Studies from The University of Maine at Orono. Mary a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), and has over ten years experience treating adults, children, couples, and families.

Mary specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, childhood abuse issues, eating disorders, body image and self-esteem concerns, anger management for adults and children, and has worked with children with a wide variety of diagnoses, including ADD, ADHD, and oppositional-defiant disorder. Mary has also been trained in the use of expressive therapy in treating adults and children, specifically in dance/ movement and art therapy, which can be powerful and effective ways to help people express emotions when they have a hard time expressing them verbally. She uses art therapy in her individual work primarily with child clients, but occasionally with adults, and runs expressive dance/ movement groups for both adults and children.

Work Experience:
Mary worked for five years in the Boston area, on both inpatient and outpatient hospital units running therapeutic groups for eating disorder patients, including art therapy groups, and later at an outpatient clinic where she conducted individual therapy with adults, children, and adolescents, as well as some couples therapy. After moving back to Maine, Mary worked as a family therapist on the home-based family preservation program at St. Michael's Center in Bangor. She also worked as a school counselor for one year in Steuben, Maine and ran a private practice for several years in Winter Harbor, Maine.

Philosophy:
My philosophy about therapy is that the solution to problems lies within the individual and that the therapist is primarily a sensitive and caring guide who can help clients to find the solutions they seek, the resolution to painful situations, or the acceptance to feel painful emotions. I use a variety of therapeutic techniques, including a belief in the power of expression of feelings as a way to help them transform. My goal is to create a safe, nurturing environment for clients where they can face the painful issues in their lives about which they seek guidance.