Mary Beth Ritchie, LCSW

Mary Beth Ritchie is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. She offers straightforward support and focuses on practical steps people can use between sessions. Mary Beth values honest conversation and brings a warm, down-to-earth approach to therapy.

Her work emphasizes collaboration. She and the person she sees set clear goals and try methods that fit that person’s life. Sessions often focus on changing unhelpful thinking, building coping skills, and improving communication. Mary Beth uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness to shape the work.

She blends live sessions with a strong emphasis on asynchronous messaging. That messaging style gives both parties time to reflect and respond without needing to coordinate a live meeting. Many clients find it useful for short check-ins, homework notes, and thoughtful follow-ups between calls.

Mary Beth aims to make therapy relatable and practical. She explains tools in plain language and shows how to use them in daily routines. This helps people try small changes that add up over time.

Her background includes broad experience across mood, trauma, identity, and life-stage issues. She is licensed as an LCSW in Oklahoma and Texas and works with adults on concerns like grief, parenting stress, identity and sexual orientation questions, substance of relationships, and coping with change.

If someone prefers flexible contact styles and a collaborative, problem-solving focus, Mary Beth’s blend of live and messaging work may be a good match.

Practical approaches for online therapy

Mary Beth uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; this approach is often useful for anxiety, low mood, and sleep or eating concerns. Acceptance and commitment therapy is part of her work too, teaching people how to accept difficult feelings while committing to values-based action. Client-centered therapy guides the relationship itself, with the therapist offering empathy and support while the person sets the pace and goals.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Mary Beth will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what felt helpful in the past. Together they try methods and adjust the plan based on what actually works for daily life.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for in-depth conversations and teaching skills. Phone calls can fit a break at work and take less bandwidth. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief check-ins, homework notes, and thoughtful reflection over time. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to keep momentum between live sessions.