Mari DeRienzo, LPC

Mari DeRienzo is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in New Jersey with 39 years of experience. She focuses on helping people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, parenting challenges, relationship and intimacy concerns, and major life changes. She aims to make starting therapy a manageable step and acknowledges the courage it takes to reach out.

She creates an open, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about difficult thoughts and feelings. Sessions are conversational and grounded in the client's goals. Mari listens closely and helps people name what matters most to them in work, family, and personal life.

Her work draws on several approaches, including Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to help people spot unhelpful patterns and try small changes. She also uses Solution-Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to set practical goals and build motivation. Internal Family Systems is part of her toolkit for understanding inner parts and their needs.

Across concerns such as grief, compassion fatigue, ADHD, substance issues, or communication problems, she emphasizes clear steps and real-world strategies. Mari supports people navigating commitment questions, codependency, or struggles related to kink and alternative sexual cultures with respect and direct talk.

Many clients find her straightforward style helpful when coping with anger, impulsivity, or family of origin issues. Her long experience includes work with first responder and fatherhood concerns, and she accepts clients internationally when arrangements permit.

How Mari’s approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and helping people feel understood so they can find their own solutions; it is useful when someone needs support to sort through emotions and values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and includes practical exercises to test new ways of thinking and acting, which can help with anxiety, mood, and stress. Motivational Interviewing is a short-term, collaborative way to strengthen motivation and commitment to change, and it can support steps like reducing substance use or improving self-care.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss needs, goals, and preferences and help pick methods that fit the person. That decision is collaborative and can change over time as progress is made.

The biography does not list specific online formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make scheduling easier and help sessions fit into a busy day, allow check-ins that are shorter when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people also find it easier to try practical homework exercises between meetings and bring real-life examples back to sessions for immediate discussion.