Ms Richards is a positive, supportive and genuine person by nature, which probably led her to choose a social work career.  She is a University of Michigan graduate with many years (30 plus) of experience working mainly with families, children and staff to help students be successful in school. Aside from many years of experience and continued enthusiasm for the profession, she values the client-therapist connection. Mary sees this connection as the most powerful dynamic to help people improve their situations by gaining skills and learning insights that bring them in and move them into being able to find more joy in themselves and their lives.

Her educational foundation has been a family systemic approach and she loves the many pioneers whose work with families paved the way for us in our graduate programs. Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Trauma informed sensitivities and strategies have shaped her service delivery interventions. She is excited to continue to learn from professional icons while also valuing her colleagues and clients as an avenue to hone her skills and become a better clinician.