Mary​ ​received​ ​her​ ​B.A.​ ​in​ ​sociology​ ​from​ ​Emory​ ​University​ ​and​ ​her​ ​M.A. ​in Clinical-Community​ Mental​ ​Health​ ​counseling​ ​from​ ​the​
University ​of​​ ​Akron.

She​ ​has​ ​had​ ​experience working ​in​ both community-based agencies​ and private practices. Mary has​ worked with​ ​survivors of​ ​​sexual​ ​assault ​​and​ provided ​academic​ and​ emotional​ ​support​ ​to​ ​children​ ​in​ ​metro​ ​Atlanta.​

She ​believes​ in a​​ ​strength-based​ ​perspective ​​and sees ​ counseling​ ​ as​ ​ a​ ​ tool​ ​ by​​ which​ ​ empowerment,​ ​ insight,​​ ​and ​skills​​ ​can ​​be​ ​gained ​​to​ ​improve self, relationships, and​ ​​overall ​ quality​ ​​of​ ​life.​

​Mary ​​has ​​experience​ ​working​ ​in​ ​groups, ​ with​ couples, and​ ​ with​ ​ individuals​ ​ and​ ​ primarily​ ​ utilizes​ ​ Dialectical​ ​ ​Behavior ​ therapy​ ​ ​and Cognitive-Behavioral​ ​therapy​ and mindfulness-based approaches​, ​and​ ​expressive techniques.​

Mary​ ​enjoys​ ​working​ ​with​ ​clients​ to strengthen​ ​their​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​decrease​ ​anxiety and ​ manage​ ​ depressive​ ​ symptoms and​ ​ ​is experienced working​ ​ with​ ​survivors​ ​of ​​trauma, and ​has a​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​women’s​ ​issues ​and​ relationship-building skills.​ ​She ​has​ ​​experience working ​ with​ ​ adults​ ​ with​ ​ ADHD,​ ​ individual​ ​ ​and ​ couples​​ LGBTQ​ ​​concerns, ​​issues​ related​ ​ ​to body ​ image​ ​ and​ ​ self-esteem​ ​, and​​ addiction.​ ​She​ ​​is​ ​currently completing the requirements​ ​ to​ ​ become​ ​ a​ ​ supervising​ ​ counselor.​

Mercedes Bryjak received her bachelor’s degree in Language Arts and Psychology from Cleveland State University in 2010. She obtained her master’s degree in counseling as well as in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Akron in 2014. She became a Certified Sex Therapist in August 2024 and is currently credentialed with the AASECT Board.

Mercedes Bryjak is proficient in the implementation of Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), trauma-informed techniques as well as family therapy modalities to address the needs of individual clients including teens and adults.

Mercedes specializes in utilizing systemic approaches including Gottman level I and II, Emotionally Focused therapy, Integrative Behavioral Couple therapy as well as various sex therapy modalities in conceptualization and treatment of the complex needs of couples. She is passionate about working with those struggling with mood disorders, adolescent services, couples therapy, family therapy, grief counseling, men’s issues, women’s issues, sex/intimacy issues, parenting, stress management, life transitions.