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Mary Pollaro(She/They)

(She/They)
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, MA
California
Anxiety - Life transitions-Perfectionism-Shame-Self-esteem-Emotion regulation-
AboutSpecialtiesLocationsInsurance & Fees

Professional statement

Mollie Pollaro is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist located in Los Angeles and Long Beach, CA. She is passionate about supporting young adults, teens, and adults in identifying and navigating challenges in their life and in their relationships. Many of her clients come into therapy feeling stuck in ways of thinking, feeling, or being that no longer serve them.

Mollie’s approach to therapy is informed by Postmodern Therapies, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion. She believes therapy can be a deeply spiritual process informed by making and reclaiming meaning in one's life. Mollie works with clients to richly explore their hopes for healing and growth as well as evaluate what may be challenging their access to such change. Additionally, Mollie brings her expertise of somatic practice to her clients to further support mind and body healing. In addition to her education and vast skill set, Mollie’s clients also benefit from her kind and collaborative nature. She is dedicated to helping clients realize the change they want to see in their lives.

Mollie earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles. She also holds a Master’s degree in Education from Concordia University, Portland, Oregon. She currently facilitates an in-person support group for teens & young adults and sees a wide range of other clients virtually from her home office in Long Beach, California.


Message to clients

I earnestly believe the most important relationship we have is the one we have with ourselves. At the start of therapy, many of the clients I work with tend to believe that they ARE the problem. From this standpoint, I think it's really difficult to have a clear perspective on the challenges impacting their life as well as a friendly relationship to self. When clients learn to separate who they are from the challenges they are facing, it can provide some real clarity and inner peace.

Most of us have been impacted by the beliefs of our families and the dominant messages from the world we live in. Oftentimes, these messages can separate us from our own truths and unique identities. When we feel misaligned with ourselves it can make life so much more difficult and cause feelings of stuckness, anxiety, overwhelm, and depression

Whether or not you have learned to tap into your own unique inner wisdom, I regard you as the expert of your lived experience. Helping you reclaim this wisdom and develop trust in yourself lies at the heart of my practice. It is my passion to support you in exploring and redefining how ideas and life events have influenced the ways you understand yourself and your life. It is my goal to support you in developing new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that bring you more alignment and greater peace in your life.


Work and Education

Years of Experience: 3 years

Gali Barak Individual & Family Therapy Professional Corp, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Long Beach, Clinical Trainee

Antioch University of Los Angeles, MA in Clinical Psychology, 2022
Concordia University , MA in Education, 2011

Licensure

California: 136943

Supervisor: Gali Barak (LMFT #87279)


Languages

English

Specialties

Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)

Life transitions - Coping with difficult or impactful life changes, such as moving to a new area, relationship transitions, child rearing, or career changes; learning self-care to better manage resulting stress

Perfectionism - Coping with feelings of anxiety, stress, self-criticism, and procrastination; addressing unrealistic expectations of one’s self and negatively comparing self to others

Shame - Exploring how shame shows up in one’s life and the origins of this shame, especially in specific situations or environments; processing through this shame and developing an empowerment to feel less ashamed in daily life

Self-esteem - Cultivating self-compassion, assertiveness, and confidence; developing ways to reduce suffering, anxiety, social withdrawal, and self-neglect

Emotion regulation - Learning how to effectively manage the ups and downs of intense emotions; developing coping skills to use in a variety of settings to calm oneself and to give an appropriate amount of space to emotions




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Seniors (65+)
  • Teenagers (13-18)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Locations & Hours


Insurance

Mary Pollaro is not in-network with any insurances.

Read about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider here.


Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions:$140 (50min)
  • Sliding scale:$120 - $140
  • Couples sessions:$140 (50min)

Book a Free Initial Consultation

The practice will call you for a free 10min phone call to discuss your needs and ensure a match!

This provider has no upcoming call times available.