An expert in the field of narrative therapy, Mary has used the creative arts as adjunctive treatment tools for over forty years. Their proven ability to provide depth, insight and healing for her clients prompted her to earn a second Master’s degree in narrative medicine from Columbia University. Complementing her Master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Minnesota, her expertise then widened to include teaching medical students, presenting at international conferences, and developing expressive art and reflective writing programs.

Her art has appeared in the LA Times, The Permanente Journal (a Kaiser Permanente publication), an “Oncology on Canvas National Exhibition” of art and narrative, among others. Her publications have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Sun Magazine, JAMA, The Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine, a book chapter by PCCS Books Ltd., the United Kingdom, The Journal of Academic Medicine, as well as many others.

Excerpts from Mary’s novel have been used in a number of educational curricula – from Drexel University’s Creative Arts in Therapy doctoral program in Philadelphia, to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.  Mary is currently working on a collection of essays, titled Escape From Normal.