
Mackenzie Fedota
“We are shaped the most by the people we have in our lives.” -My Nana
She/Her/Hers
Currently in school at Loyola University Maryland – M.S. Clinical Professional Counseling, Projected Graduation, December 2023
Currently accepting new clients for a waitlist.
Why work with a clinician in training?
What’s therapy with me like? I focus on women’s issues, queer issues, sports and performance issues, utilizing mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a Person-Centered approach, and Sports Psychology.
I prefer to use a blend of therapeutic interventions and adapt my treatment modalities to best fit my client’s needs. I hold a lot of value in cultivating a strong therapeutic relationship through empathy and genuineness, which is why I like taking a person-centered approach. I believe the clients should have the autonomy to determine their own goals of therapy. The structure of CBT allows us to collaborate and create agendas together. It also equips the client with the skills to identify and react to their own dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I am a huge fan of incorporating mindfulness coping and stress reduction techniques into therapy.
Sports psychology aims to optimize your performance, increase enjoyment and achieve more self-satisfaction. It focuses on issues such as motivation, performance anxiety, goal setting, competition mentality, injuries, team cohesion etc. that are specific to athletes. Many coaches do not incorporate psychological training into practice and neglect the importance of the mental game.
How I’ve kept learning… The courses in my graduate program: diversity issues, psychopathology, theories of counseling, lifespan development, group therapy and many more!
Who do I work with? I prefer to work with adolescents over 13 and young adults. I love working in groups and with individuals.
My impacting identities are… I am an openly queer cis woman with a special interest in queer issues. I consider myself an intersectional feminist, and I wish I had an LGBTQ+ counselor when I was coming out. I also have coaching experience and have played both team and individual sports my whole life.
I feel allied/aware/part of/informed/knowledgeable about… LGTBQ+ community (part of/knowledgeable), student-athlete (part of/knowledgeable), BIPOC (allied/knowledgeable), and neurodivergent (allied/knowledgeable).
I am the best fit for a client who… needs a space to be heard and listened to. I am a good fit to those who want to explore their identity authentically in a safe environment. I believe in meeting the client where they are and I love the collaborative part of therapy. Let’s find comfort in discomfort and laugh along the way together.
I am not a good fit for a client who… is not ready to put in the work to make change, therapy isn’t supposed to be an easy fix. I am not a good fit for those who have prejudices towards queer people or people of color.
What makes me unique? As a former division one collegiate athlete, I know how difficult it can be to navigate athletics with a mental illness. For thirteen years I played competitive volleyball and never thought that I would struggle with my own mental health. The competitive culture athletes perform in views needing help as a weakness and prioritize physical over mental health. My own time with therapists allowed me to assign language to my experiences with depression and anxiety and I hope to be that person for others.
The Practical Stuff
What insurances do I accept? I am currently not in network with any insurances, but I offer therapy for a sliding scale between $30-70, based on what the client can afford.
Do I offer telehealth or in person sessions? I offer both in person and teletherapy. Whatever the client prefers.
Am I taking on new clients? Yes! I start in January 2023!
The Fun Stuff
Did you know… I feel the most myself when I am adventuring in the outdoors whether that is hiking, camping or paddle boarding. I want to visit every national park!
Any pets? I have a goldendoodle named Sahalie.
What I’ve Learned Lately
- NCAA Career In Sports Forum, May 27-29, 2020
- Finding Identity Inside and Outside of Sport, Jonathan Orr, May 27th 2020
- Know Your Strengths: Strength Finders, Davonte Anderson, May 27th 2020
- The Power of Sport: Why We Play, Dr. Ashleigh Huffman, May 27th 2020
- How the NCAA Works, Dan Gavitt, May 28th 2020
- Becoming the Play Caller, Meg Stevens, May 28th 2020
- Finding Your “Why” In Sports, Yolette McPhee-McCuin, May 28th 2020
- Keys to a Successful Game Plan, Felicia Martin, May 29th, 2020
- -Executing the Game Plan, Marissa Robinson, May 29th, 2020
- How to Be Great in the Off-season, Mark Trumbo, May 29th, 2020
- Let’s Talk About Burnout, Dr. Lisa Coyne, July, 9 2020
- Psychology First Aid, Dr. Jeff Lating, October 1, 2022
- Intersectionality in the Bisexual+ Community, Dr. Christina Dyar &. Ms. Marian Hernandez, November 30th, 2022
- Cultural Humility Series, Part IV: Critical Issues in LGBTQIA Patient Care, NAADAC The Association for Addiction Professionals, January 2023
- Counseling Center Seminars: Sports Psychology, Dr. Jessica David, March 2023
- Understanding Autism through the Actually Autistic Lens: Autistic Communication and Masking, Maise Soetantyo, Tee, Tiffany Joseph, March 2023
- Psychological Preparation for Medical Transition; Cadyn Cathers, PsyD; August 2023
- The occurrence of ADHD in Adulthood; Craig Surman, MD; August 2023
- Behavioral Interventions for ADHD; Margaret H. Sibley, PhD; August 2023
- Providing Effective Therapy for Adult ADHD; Janet Niederman, PhD; September 2023
How to Give me A Buzz
The best way to contact me is…by email at m.fedota@honeybwellness.com.
Supervised By: