About
Mary Elston, MA, LCPC
Who I Work With
*Accepting New Clients- Daytime & Evening*
Bilingual: English & Assyrian
​
Children (5+), Young Adolescents (11-14), Middle Adolescents (15-17), College Students (18-22), Young Adults, Adults, Women, Men, Couples, Families, Athletes
Specialties
Anxiety, Depression, Behavioral Issues, OCD, Stressful Life Transitions (school, career, family, friendship, marriage, parenting, etc), Social Anxiety, Trauma, Multicultural Issues, Self Esteem, Family Conflict, Relationship Issues (communication skills, conflict management, etc), Performance Anxiety (problem solving, decision making, commitment, performing under pressure), Stress Management, Perfectionism
About Mary Elston
Do you feel overwhelmed and anxious? Have you been experiencing burnout? Are you ready to receive support to work through life’s challenges and learn new skills? Mary is ready to support you and your goals!
Mary grew up in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago, and understands the weight expectations and responsibilities can place on children and adults.
Mary is passionate about working with all age groups who are looking for a safe space to learn coping skills, improve behavioral issues, develop communication skills, improve relationships, and learn how to better manage their time and energy.
Mary specializes in sport and health psychology, and understands the stressful demands of being an athlete. Mary understands it can be hard asking for help, especially seeking services the first time. She is driven to provide a trusting and safe environment for her clients so that they may feel supported as they work on their personal goals.
Mary has worked with children, teens, young adults, adults, athletes, couples, families and parents who present with a range of struggles such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, performance anxiety, burnout, intimacy issues, and social anxiety. Mary began her career after she obtained her Master’s Degree in Counseling with a specialization in sport and health psychology at Adler School of Professional Psychology. She has provided behavioral health services at Metropolitan Family Services in and around Chicago.
As a figure skating coach going on thirteen years, Mary has helped children and teens reduce performance anxiety and utilize visualization to improve their skills. In her role as a figure skating coach, she understands that the mind of an athlete can feel clouded with the anxiety and worry around meeting performance expectations. She has also led mental health skills workshops for athletes to build confidence, learn positive self-talk and develop grounding techniques to maintain focus in sport.
Mary is skilled and trained in providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well as Motivational Interviewing. She has been able to use these therapeutic approaches to help people navigate their way through the challenges they face in life.
​
Taking the step to gain support in working through your goals can be intimidating, especially if it’s the first time seeking services. Mary strives to provide a safe and trusting space for her clients to work on their goals without the worry of judgement.
She practices from a multicultural perspective, and she provides services in both English and Assyrian.
​
Mary's personal faith and spiritual journey also allows her to provide faith-based counseling to clients. (Note: We are proud to serve ALL faiths at Nikkie Evans PLLC. We respect all beliefs and only offer faith-based counseling upon request.)
​
In her spare time, Mary enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends. Mary enjoys reading, painting, cooking, and trying DIY home projects.
