M. McRae, our newest therapist, has telehealth openings! He works with LGBTQIA+ adults, neurodivergent clients, trauma survivors, and high-achieving professionals.

Meet Mars

Mary “Mars” McRae, MA

he/they

Psychological Associate PSB94028
Supervised by Cadyn Cathers, PsyD, MBA; Licensed Psychologist PSY 32839

Available for Telehealth Therapy in California

Schedule a Free 15 Minute Call

Identities:

  • Genderful transgender man
  • Queer
  • Ambiamorous
  • Allistic
  • Parent to neurodivergent child
  • Cancer survivor
M. McRae photo. He is holding his arms crossed and smiling in a forest with the sun shining through the trees.

What it’s like working with me:

You might be here because something in your life feels off-or because you’re in crisis and need support now.
Maybe you’re stuck in patterns that no longer serve you—repeating the same conflicts in relationships, overwhelmed by burnout, navigating identity questions, or trying to support a neurodivergent child and feeling unsure how. You might be a high-functioning adult on the outside, but feel disconnected, exhausted, or even lost inside. You may be carrying trauma, facing a serious illness, or simply craving a space to be fully yourself and feel deeply understood.

Therapy with me offers space to slow down and listen to what your deeper self is trying to say.
My approach is psychoanalytic, relational, and trauma-informed. That means we’ll work together to explore unconscious dynamics, relational patterns, and emotionally charged memories that may be influencing your present. Sessions are uniquely tailored to you, rooted in a collaborative and trusting relationship where insight and growth can unfold. I listen closely for metaphors, dreams, and language that offer symbolic meaning and emotional truth.

What can therapy help you discover or change?
Together, we can uncover what’s beneath your current struggles—whether that’s unresolved trauma, internalized messages, or unmet needs—and help you move toward self-understanding, greater emotional freedom, and more meaningful relationships. This is a space to be witnessed and challenged, to feel safe and seen, and to begin reimagining your life from a place of agency and connection.

My community and clinical work leaves me especially attuned to working with:

  • Adults navigating career pressures, family dynamics, and personal growth
  • Older adults exploring the meaning of their life experiences and preparing for their final chapter of life
  • LGBTQIA+ individuals, including transgender people, navigating the complexities of transitioning and coming out
  • Neurodivergent clients (autism and ADHD), including helping parents understand and support their neurodivergent children
  • Trauma survivors seeking to process and heal in a safe and supportive environment
  • High-achieving professionals striving to avoid or recover from burnout and create balance in their lives
  • Clients navigating relationship challenges—whether struggling with communication, emotional connection, or patterns of conflict
  • Clients diagnosed with cancer navigating the emotional and psychological challenges of treatment and recovery

I’m particularly passionate about supporting transgender clients as they navigate identity and life transitions, helping parents understand and support their LGBTQIA+ or neurodivergent children, and guiding clients toward healing from trauma in a secure and compassionate space.

My Clinical Training and Education

  • MA in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpenteria
  • PhD in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpenteria (Expected Graduation: Summer 2025)
  • 1 year Clinical Practicum at Valley Community Counseling Clinic
  • 7 month Advanced Clinical Practicum at Community Research Foundation
  • 1.5 year Pre-doctoral Internship with Willowbrooks Behavioral Health

Available for Telehealth Therapy for California Residents

Schedule a Free 15 Minute Call