Community Highlights: Meet Mary Kay Cocharo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Kay Cocharo.

Mary Kay, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for about 33 years. Although I received my graduate degree at California Lutheran University, I moved to Houston, Texas for four years to pursue an Internship at Galveston Family Institute and then a Fellowship at Houston Child Guidance Center. There, I worked with children and their families. I quickly realized that children often presented with symptoms due to the instability and challenges between their primary caretakers. I decided that I most wanted to work with the adults. Once I moved back to Southern California, I started a private practice and began my journey in working with couples. I received advanced training and became certified in Imago Relationship Therapy. This is a powerful model which allowed me to help couples learn effective communication, deepen their emotional connection, resolve conflict and find joy with one another. This work really helped those couples who were parents become more loving, available, and attuned to their children. A few years later, I participated in a three-year Master Class training in Encounter-centered Couples Therapy with Hedy Schleifer, a leading international figure in the Power of Connection. Both of these advanced certifications have shaped my passion and competency as a Relationship Therapist.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think it is my interest and drive toward relational transformation which has made my journey relatively smooth. The biggest obstacle came when Covid-19 hit, forcing my practice online. While therapy can be quite effective as telehealth, I missed the in-person, intimate connection I had with couples in my office, my workshops, and my retreats. After a challenging two years, I am in new offices and primarily working in person again.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
In addition to week-to-week sessions with couples in my office, I offer Private Intensives and Weekend Couples Retreats. An Intensive is where a couple comes to work with me privately for anywhere from four hours to two eight-hour days. This allows for a profound experience. Each hour builds on the one before until we arrive at a transformation in the relationship. These are booked by mutual availability. Often, other couples therapists will refer a couple for an Intensive when they notice that the work with the couple has plateaued or needs something extra. In those cases, I always welcome the referring therapist to join us for the Intensive.

The Weekend Couples Retreats are similar to the Private Intensives but take place with five to six couples simultaneously. Retreats are held in beautiful locations. Each couple has private, luxurious accommodations and we take care of everything, including chef-prepared meals. This allows the couple to relax, enjoy, and focus on one another to improve their relationship. These weekends are truly transformational!

In addition, a sub-specialty of mine that I enjoy is Premarital Counseling. For 30 years, I have been helping couples to build a strong foundation for their upcoming marriages. This work is done in four session packages or a one-day workshop called Start Right, Stay Connected. Research shows that couples who engage in this type of counseling before marrying experience about 30% less divorce. This work feels important and I enjoy working with people at this stage of their relationship.

How do you think about happiness?
I feel so happy and fulfilled when I can create a safe space for couples to connect and experience their love and commitment.

I am also happy to have had the opportunity to teach, train, and mentor many new therapists into the field. It’s exciting to be a part of their growth and development and I learn so much from them.

Personally, I am happy to be outdoors in nature, to have the opportunity to play with my grandchildren, to spend time with my husband and children, to be with friends, and to cuddle with my little Labradoodle, Luna!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mkcocharo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marycocharo/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/MaryKayMFT
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mkcocharo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJEundL11HGGRQlyK3spQ1w
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mary-kay-cocharo-lmft-los-angeles