Mary Lee Palmer , LCSW, CSW

Mary Lee Palmer is a licensed clinical social worker based in Georgia with 41 years of experience addressing a broad range of life challenges including relationships, depression, anxiety, addictions, trauma and sexual concerns such as infidelity. She brings substantial specialized training and hands-on experience in working with infidelity and intimacy-related issues.

Her background includes leading parent and adolescent groups and conducting family therapy on a child and adolescent unit at Peachford Hospital in Atlanta, and serving as Director of Child and Adolescent Services at Brawner Hospital in Atlanta. She has worked in psychiatric hospitals and in private practice, supporting people across the lifespan from age 4 to 96. Her clinical work has included helping individuals who have experienced physical trauma, emotional abuse, severe chronic conditions including bipolar disorders, and substance use concerns.

Palmer describes her therapeutic manner as warm, interactive, and often playful, and she emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion while avoiding reductive labels. She holds the credentials LCSW and CSW - LCSW indicating Licensed Clinical Social Worker and CSW denoting an additional social work credential - and she tailors treatment plans to each person’s needs. Her methods draw on client-centered, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness, emotionally-focused, and psychodynamic approaches, and she partners with clients to support meaningful change and improved well-being.

If someone is ready to take steps toward a more fulfilling life, she offers guidance and support to begin that process and is available to meet and work with new clients.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Mary Lee Palmer integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and emotionally-focused therapy into her online practice. Client-centered therapy emphasizes a compassionate, nonjudgmental listening stance that helps people explore their values and feelings and supports growth in relationships and self-understanding. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress and to develop practical coping skills. Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) helps partners and family members recognize patterns of interaction and underlying emotions so they can build stronger, more secure connections.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Mary Lee Palmer works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their goals, preferences, and needs. She combines techniques as appropriate and adjusts the plan over time based on progress and feedback.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - so people can access care from home or while traveling, fit sessions into busy schedules, and choose the format that feels most comfortable. These options can make it easier to maintain consistency and to continue therapy through life transitions and changing circumstances.