Mary Belote, MS, LCPC, NCC

Life might be likened to a dance. In the counseling relationship, the client meets new dance partners - the counselor and God - that help facilitate the steps that will help bring the “dance” into more effective and harmonious step with life’s music. Through the lyrics of Lee Ann Womac’s song and book entitled “I hope you dance,” one is invited to participate fully in the life one has been given.

Human beings do not effectively dance when they are “sleep-walking;” stuck in behaviors and thought patterns that prevent their effective participation in life. Through the therapy process, unconscious patterns are brought to awareness so that a conscious choice of action can be made. This I believe is growth toward the abundant life offered in the gospels. “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Saint Irenaeus.

Jesus calls us to do two things: come and go. We are to COME into full relationship with Him and then GO into the world to be messengers of the gospel. The Apostle Paul, in Hebrews 12:1, mentions obstacles to our doing these two things. He calls some of these impediments weights, and some sins. The counseling process is a vehicle for examining these obstacles.

As you can see, my approach to therapy is very pastoral. I hold an MS in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College in MD. Additional training in the area of attachment theory is utilized for couples counseling and counseling for trauma recovery. I presently practice as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, working with teens, individual adults and couples. I am a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Married, to my soldier husband, for 32 years in June, we have three children. Our oldest son (32) copes with severe mental and physical challenges. We also have two daughters, 29 and 22 years of age.

Counsels: ages 18+, premarital, individual males, individual females, parenting, couples, marriage, family.

Works with: Blended families, adoption, foster parenting, domestic violence - victim (current), domestic violence - survivor (past), trauma, PTSD, sex abuse - survivor, childhood sex abuse - adult survivor, sex addiction - addict, sex addiction - partner, gender identity, depression/anxiety, pornography use, infidelity, ADD/ADHD, grief/loss, anger, divorce, post-abortion, mood disorders, military, terminal illness, end of life issues, Asperger's/Autism, Gestalt therapy, CBT, OCD, working with IEPs, narcissistic personality - partner of, children with disabilities, learning disabilities, life coaching.

Specializes in: Couples, marriage.