01 · Who Mary-Suzanne works with

Mary-Suzanne works with self esteem, depression and coping with life changes

Mary-Suzanne lists 5 specialisms and 22 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Mary-Suzanne chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Mary-Suzanne's own words

What Mary-Suzanne says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

As a licensed therapist in Michigan with over 25 years of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals through life's complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on helping clients navigate challenges related to self-esteem, depression, life transitions, and personal growth.

I offer a compassionate, inclusive approach that honors each person's unique journey. My expertise spans diverse areas including women's issues, young adult challenges, couples counseling, communication difficulties, and experiences of isolation. I'm particularly committed to supporting individuals working through body image concerns, attachment issues, workplace dynamics, and personal transformation.

My therapeutic style is warm and collaborative, designed to help clients develop deeper self-understanding and resilience. Whether you're struggling with chronic health challenges, seeking to improve relationships, or exploring personal identity, I provide a supportive space for meaningful healing and personal development. I am available for weekend and late night sessions upon request.

I welcome individuals from all backgrounds and believe in creating a non-judgmental environment where every person can explore their authentic self and potential for growth.

I have served on the Board of Directors of the Michigan AIDS Coalition, and worked at a variety of universities and non-profit agencies. I am a volunteer within the Girl Scout Movement on a local, national and international level.

Mary-Suzanne Bante, on the BetterHelp listing · read 7 Oct 2026

03 · How Mary-Suzanne works

The 4 approaches Mary-Suzanne lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Mary-Suzanne lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Mary-Suzanne's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Mary-Suzanne runs a session.

Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT

Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.

Mindfulness-Based TherapyMBCT

Trains attention on what is happening right now - body, breath, the thought as it arrives - so distress can be observed rather than automatically acted on. Strongest evidence is in preventing depression from recurring, and it is usually taught as a practice you keep doing outside the session.

Motivational InterviewingMI

A way of talking about change with somebody who is genuinely in two minds about it. The therapist does not argue for the change; they help you say your own reasons out loud, which is the part that predicts whether it happens. Common around substance use and health behaviour.

Solution-Focused Brief TherapySFBT

Starts from where you want to end up rather than from how you got here. Sessions look for the times the problem is already smaller and work out what is different about those, so the number of sessions tends to be short and the work concrete.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Mary-Suzanne practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Mary-Suzanne's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Mary-Suzanne at this point.

2. Naming Mary-Suzanne specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Mary-Suzanne is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Mary-Suzanne.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

2 questions worth asking Mary-Suzanne

Built from what Mary-Suzanne actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Mary-Suzanne's - Mary-Suzanne has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “With 30 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”

  Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LPC

Licensed in

Michigan

Licence

MI LPC 6401004941

Licence number

6401004941

Licence expires

1 Nov 2027

NPI

1427914431

Years in practice

30

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

12 Jun 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Mary-Suzanne's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 7 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Mary-Suzanne. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.