757-296-8794
Hi, I'm Mary Willoughby (Romm) Prentiss
If you’ve been looking through a sea of therapists and are trying to find the right one, I’d like you to take a moment to pause and give yourself praise for not giving up.
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Finding a therapist who is the right fit for you and your loved ones is one of the most important decisions you can make. This decision can feel overwhelming and scary but keep the momentum going, change is right around the corner.
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You deserve to experience greater happiness and fulfillment in your life and relationships. Let me help.
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I transform the lives of anyone from age 2 to age 90, including kids, teens, college students, women, and moms. I specialize in families in conflict, treating trauma, and teenage/adult substance abuse.
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My mission is to give you the tools for you and your family to have a happier, healthier life.
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My favorite part of my job is when a client tells me that the tool I gave them is helping them to feel calmer in an anxiety-producing situation, set boundaries with others, or that they are learning to tackle their negative thoughts and are feeling happier. Clients tell me I helped them "build the confidence to have the life they wanted."
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I also love when parents report that their child or teen is calmer, listens to them the first time they ask them to do something, and is talking and sharing feelings with them again.
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Take a minute to imagine how good it will feel to become a happier, healthier you.
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If you aren’t quite certain yet about choosing me, I encourage you to read my blog or check out our frequently asked questions to learn more about my approach and how I can help you.
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If you are ready to get started on achieving your dreams, call me today at 757-296-8794 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
My Story
As a child, I loved babysitting and working with children. I always had a large group of friends who came to me when they had challenges. When I went off to college, I knew I wanted a career where I got to help people.
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Thus, I became a therapist where I could listen to the challenges of young children, college students, and women and work with them to improve their lives through real strategies and a place where they felt seen and heard.
In my career, I have helped countless kids, families, and women. My favorite part is when people realize they love therapy, and how much progress they have made. Suddenly their kid listens and responds to commands. They feel more confident setting boundaries or more happier overall. Their coping skills are working and their anxiety has decreased significantly. My clients always leave with a good skill from therapy and new knowledge to take into their daily lives.
My Background
I hold an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Child Development and Family Studies, and a license to teach birth-6th grade in VA. My undergraduate degree helped me to understand diverse families, different stages in children, and how to approach development. My master's degree is from William & Mary in Couples, Marriage, and Family Therapy.
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I have been working as a therapist since 2017. I started my career working with children who were at risk of being removed from the home. Later I went into outpatient therapy working with many diverse kids, families, and adults.
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I specialize in working with behaviorally challenging kids, trauma in kids and adults, and anxiety/depression in teens and women.
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I am certified in:
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Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (Substance Abuse Treatment)
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Community Reinforcement Approach (Substance Abuse Treatment)
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Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Children With Trauma Ages 2-18)
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200-Hour Yoga Teacher Trained (Mindfulness, Coping Skills, Etc.)
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I Am Trained In
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Brainspotting
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Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Provider Training (For Expecting And New Birthing People, Postpartum Challenges)
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Internal Family Systems (IFS) (Treats Trauma)
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Supportive Parenting For Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) (parent-based program that treats anxiety, OCD, and other related problems in children and teens)
Get in touch to learn more.
Fun Facts About Me
1: I am originally from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I moved to Suffolk, Virginia after I graduated from college for a teaching position and then did my master's at William & Mary and now still live in Virginia. I have fallen in love with my area and have no plans to leave.
2: I have a teacup Yorkie puppy who believes he can eat anything, climb anything, and loves every animal and person. We enjoy long walks, especially in the fall.Â
3: I am pretty funny and often infuse humor (when appropriate!) into my sessions.
4: I am 200-hour Yoga Teacher Trained and love involving the mind and the body in my sessions.
5: I love to travel and have been to Mexico, Thailand, Japan, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. I especially love being on the water.Â
6: I love to support local restaurants. My favorite foods are sushi, nachos, BBQ, fried chicken, or seafood. I’ll eat just about anything though.
Why Choose Me?
If you are looking for a therapist who will provide therapy around your busy schedule, that’s me. I will do my best to meet your needs. I offer online counseling and mix it up with helpful YouTube videos that you can use outside of session and utilize the whiteboard for interactive therapy sessions. As a former teacher who is trained in child development and has worked with many kids/adults, I understand how to teach and relate to others so you feel comfortable, seen, and moving forward in your therapy.
If you are tired of therapy where you come in and vent every week but never leave with any real help or ideas of what to do outside of the session, then you need to work with me. I am passionate about the field of therapy so in therapy with me, you will get evidence-based approaches. These approaches have been shown to WORK and reduce symptoms so you are happier and healthier. I have worked on intense cases before and am not scared of a challenge.
Reach out to schedule a complimentary consultation to find out more of how I can help you at 757-296-8794
Schedule a Session
6699 Fox Centre Parkway #223 Gloucester, Va 23061
757-296-8794