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New counseling service opens downtown

Frederick News-Post - 4/22/2019

April 22-- Apr. 22--Mary Ellen Shea Byrne is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and opened a private counseling practice in downtown Frederick in November. Byrne recently spoke to the News Post about her business, Mary Ellen Shea Byrne, LCPC, and what clients can expect.

How long have you been a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor?

I got my LCPC in 2017 and I had just great training at the Mental Health Center in Hagerstown. It was there that I was able to work with children, adolescence, adults, couples and that's basically what i'm doing today and i'm really enjoying private practice very much.

What made you open the business downtown?

I just felt that working on my own would give me greater flexibility and autonomy. I do have a lot of colleagues I can depend on for support.

Do you specialize in any type of counseling?

I'm actually fluent in ASL -- American Sign Language -- and I was a teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf so I am an interpreter still today. I have deaf clients who I see, and that's very exciting to me to have those clients. I see children, adolescence, young adults, couples. I know other therapists usually have their specific niche but I do it all, and I enjoy every age group that I get to work with.

What made you want to be a counselor and what were your previous positions?

I was a teacher, initially, at the Maryland School for the Deaf and I've really been an interpreter since 1985. I'm also a faith-based clinician so if people come in and have a faith-based focus, I can supply that as well. My third profession was a minister with my former husband. Even through my own life of serving people in a faith-based community it always involves counseling and encouraging people.

Are your services covered by insurance?

I take Medicaid, Blue Cross, Signa and Johns Hopkins.

What do you love about your job?

I love people, I love hearing their stories and kind of walking with them through their journey of heart ache to healing. I do feel like I provide a safe place for people who don't really have anybody to honestly vent to. What I love about it is just seeing people come into healing and recovery.

Follow CJ Fairfield on Twitter @FairfieldCj

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