We are pleased to announce
Mary Pottenger, LMHC-A
as the Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM)
Volunteer Highlight for October 2026!
MHAM’s volunteer highlight for October – Mary Pottenger – is being honored for her contributions volunteering with the Pro Bono Counseling Project.
Mary graduated in 2023 with a Master’s in Art Therapy with an emphasis in counseling from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute, IN. She’s been in private practice at Freedom Counseling since 2024, with experience working in school settings, residential treatment centers, and community mental health. She works with adults and children ages 5 and up, focusing on trauma, depression, and anxiety. Besides art therapy, she uses EMDR, IFS, and DBT as well as creative methods like music, writing, and sometimes drama.
“Accessibility to services is something important to me,” she says. “Everyone should be able to receive counseling regardless of their financial situation. The PBCP is a wonderful resource to get people in for therapy without having to worry about it impacting their finances.”
The goal of the Pro Bono Counseling Project (PBCP) is to increase access to mental health counseling for individuals, couples or families who do not have insurance or are otherwise unable to afford mental health counseling. This short- term counseling arrangement (up to 12 sessions within a 3-6 month period) with a volunteer licensed mental health professional is available at no cost to the client.
“Mary joined the Pro Bono Counseling Project in 2024 and is currently on her fifth client,” says Linda Raven, Pro Bono Counseling Project Manager. “She incorporates a lot of tools from art therapy in her counseling. A recent client provided this feedback on the post-therapy survey: “The therapy helped me work through my anxiety, stress, and made me feel comfortable to talk about issues that have bothered me.”
Mary explains her interest in volunteering Pro Bono Counseling Project:
“It’s a rewarding process to be a part of. PBCP does a great job connecting clients with appropriate therapists based on their unique needs. It is really nice to see what can be accomplished in 12 sessions. Helping clients find new ways to manage their stressors and have a weight lifted off of them is wonderful to experience. And this is something they might not have had the opportunity to do if they had not gone through the PBCP. ”
MHAM’s access to care initiatives reach marginalized and underserved individuals through the Pro Bono Counseling Project, Peer Support, and referral assistance. To learn more about these services, volunteering with the Pro Bono Counseling Project, or upcoming professional training opportunities with MHAM, contact us at info@mhamichiana.org.
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→ To learn more about the Pro Bono Counseling Project and Peer Support, click HERE!
→ Are you interested in volunteer opportunities? Send us an email:
info@mhamichiana.org
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