Mary Donaldson
MS, LMFT #152742
Owner of Wit's End Therapy
Call or Text Me:
424 - 367 - 1538
Email Me:
Visit the Office:
136 Main Street, Suite F
El Segundo, CA 90245
Hi, I'm Mary
You may know exactly what you want, or you may have no idea what brings you here. All I know is that it feels really good to finally get help, and yet, it can still be hard to accept that you deserve it. Wherever you are in this process, I’ll meet you there. Bring your hopelessness, anger, anxiety, and questions, and we can take a closer look together.
I focus on relationships - the ones between you and the world, you and others, you and yourself, and even the one between you and me. Research has shown that the best predictor of positive outcomes in therapy is the relationship between therapist and client. With this at the center of our work, my hope is for you to feel safe, supported, and understood.
How I Work
I work mainly from Attachment-Based, Person-Centered, and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral frameworks, but I integrate interventions to meet your unique needs. I also use a multicultural lens; this means I attend to cultural and systemic factors, such as race, gender, class, size, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and contexts of power, oppression, privilege, and others. With a collaborative and authentic approach, I'll both challenge you and honor your pace. I’m not a fixer, but I will draw from evidence-based and trauma-informed care to help you help yourself.
I work with adults, romantic partnerships, families, and teens, and I specialize in relationships and trauma. Defining and advocating for your needs in relationships often begins with a conversation, so let's talk!
Where I've Been
July '22 - Present
South Bay Private Practice
Aug '21 - July '22
University of Southern California Counseling Center
Clinical Postgraduate Fellow
May '20 - May '21
New Opportunities Organization - Reentry Team
Therapist, Case Manager
University of Southern California
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M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
University of Oregon
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B.A. in Psychology with Honors
B.A. in English
I worked for multiple private practices across the South Bay of Los Angeles while gaining supervision as an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist. I simultaneously worked as a School-Based Counselor at Manhattan Beach Middle School. Over the years, I led workshops to various local middle and high schools, groups of clinicians, and universities. I also trained to become a Level I Gottman Method Couples Therapist. Once I became Licensed, I was eager to start my own Private Practice. Wit's End Therapy began in 2025, so while it's just a sapling, I'm excited to watch it grow.
I worked at USC Counseling and Mental Health as both a Graduate Assistant and a Clinical Fellow (in other words, a staff therapist in their training program). I gained extensive experience with crisis work and suicide prevention, and I especially enjoyed providing therapy to students as they navigated their identity, relationships, anxiety, and life transitions. Years working in different school settings fostered a passion for working with students and education.
At New Opportunities Organization (NOO), I worked with those navigating the transition out of prison and other system-impacted clients. This position challenged me to advocate for my clients across several systems, while recognizing the complex trauma these systems reinforce. I gained a greater awareness of the traces of family attachment across generations, and I learned how these traces reveal themselves in therapy. NOO made me a stronger advocate for antiracism, harm reduction, and social justice.
