Meet Mary
Hi, I’m Mary VonO.
I’m a lifelong student of healing, recovery, and the human experience, with a deep curiosity about what helps us find our way back to ourselves and live with greater authenticity, purpose, and harmony.
My own path has taken some unexpected turns, and I’ve often found myself following a less conventional route—personally, professionally, and spiritually.
Those experiences, along with nearly three decades of working with others, have shaped both the person I am and the work I do today.
My Path…
That nontraditional journey began early.
I was first introduced to holistic approaches to health and wellness—including nutrition, applied kinesiology, and chiropractic care—at the age of 15, sparking a lifelong exploration that would eventually lead me into the fields of mind-body healing, energy medicine, and holistic coaching.
At 24, I entered recovery from alcoholism and have remained continuously sober ever since. That journey of learning, healing, and self-discovery continues to shape both my life and my work today.
Having grown up through the largely closeted culture of the 1980s and '90s, I also eventually had to find my own way toward living openly and authentically as a gay woman. That journey, like recovery, taught me something about questioning expectations, discovering who we are beneath them, and having the courage to live accordingly.
Alongside these personal journeys, my involvement in holistic health and healing continued to expand, and I found myself continually drawn toward ways of understanding these fields that existed outside the conventional mainstream—particularly the mind-body connection, energy awareness, and the ways our inner and outer environments affect how we feel and function. Curiosity led to study, study became practice, and these perspectives became an enduring part of both my personal life and professional work.
Life continued to bring its own challenges—and with them, new opportunities for deeper healing and growth. Navigating complex relationship and family dynamics, experiencing profound grief and loss, and moving through periods of transition and uncertainty have continued to deepen my understanding of what it means to heal, adapt, and find our way forward.
That perspective is central to the way I work today. I believe in meeting people where they are, honoring the individuality of their experience, and helping them discover the resources, understanding, and path that are right for them.
A Lifelong Student of Healing
My curiosity has led me to study many perspectives on healing, recovery, and personal growth.
My formal background includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, counseling and coaching experience, trauma-informed training, and decades of involvement in holistic health and mind-body practices. Along the way, I’ve studied disciplines ranging from nutrition, bodywork, nervous system regulation, and energy medicine to spirituality, consciousness, and a variety of recovery approaches.
While each has offered valuable insights, I have never believed that any single approach holds every answer.
Instead, I’ve spent decades asking a different question: How do these pieces fit together?
That question eventually gave rise to HARP™— my framework for understanding and supporting recovery, healing, and growth— and continues to shape the way I support clients today.
Education & Professional Background
B.S. in Psychology, cum laude; member of Psi Chi
Certificates in Professional Coaching and Addiction Recovery Coaching
Advanced EFT Practitioner, including trauma-informed applications
Former Licensed Massage Therapist
Certified ONDAMED Practitioner
ThetaHealing® Practitioner
Additional training and/or mentorships in nutrition, applied kinesiology, transgenerational therapy, reiki, qigong, meditation, spiritual development, and other holistic disciplines
More than 25 years of continuous sobriety, recovery involvement, and mentoring
More than 20 years of holistic coaching experience
Speaking and group facilitation in treatment settings, support groups, university classrooms, private medical practices, youth organizations, and community settings
Some of my greatest teachers have been recovery, grief, nature, my mentors, and the countless people I've had the privilege to walk alongside.
How I Work
Clients often tell me they feel genuinely seen, deeply listened to, and hopeful after our conversations. They describe my approach as calm, grounding, practical, intuitive, and compassionate.
I believe meaningful healing happens in relationship—not because someone else has all the answers, but because having a trusted witness and guide can help us recognize the answers that often already exist within.
I work collaboratively with each client to create a personalized path that reflects their unique story, strengths, goals, and values.
Who I Work With
Over the years, I've had the privilege of working with people from many walks of life. My clients have included Highly Sensitive People (HSPs), members of the LGBTQ+ community, students, professionals from many fields—including executives, artists, therapists, educators, healthcare providers, and caregivers; and individuals at different stages and on different paths of recovery.
I also work with people navigating life's many transitions, from early adulthood through midlife and beyond.
Outside The Office
Outside of my work, I love spending time in nature with my camera, cheering on my favorite sports teams, and attending live concerts whenever I can. Whether I'm watching an osprey soar overhead, singing along with thousands of people at a concert, or sharing the excitement of a close game, I'm continually reminded of the importance of connection, presence, and finding joy in everyday life.
I share my home with my wife and our beloved brother-and-sister polydactyl cats, who remind us to slow down, stretch often, play daily, and get plenty of rest.
My endless curiosity about the human experience and what helps people heal and grow has led me to explore everything from psychology, recovery, spirituality, astrology, and consciousness to epigenetics, celtic cosmology, geneology, writing, mysticism, and the symbolism found throughout nature. While not everyone shares these interests, they continue to inspire my own learning and deepen the perspective I bring to my work.
My blog is where I share more reflections, along with insights from my professional work, personal interests, and photography.
Looking Forward
The work I do today is rooted in one simple hope:
That each person who finds greater harmony within themselves contributes, in their own way, to greater harmony in their relationships, communities, and the world we share.
I believe in the power of individual change to ripple outward and serve the greater good.
That's the vision that continues to inspire me—and why I remain a lifelong student, continually learning, refining, and expanding my work.
If you're ready to begin, I'd love to explore whether we're a good fit.