Mari Craig Counseling & Coaching in Baltimore: Individual Therapy and Executive Coaching Under One Roof

Mari Craig Counseling & Coaching is a solo practice offering both licensed mental health counseling and professional coaching from an office in Roland Park, combining individual therapy with business and life coaching in a model uncommon among Baltimore therapists who typically specialize in one or the other.

What Mari Craig Counseling & Coaching actually is

Mari Craig, MA, LPC (licensed professional counselor), operates as an independent practitioner serving adults seeking either therapy for mental health concerns or coaching for professional and personal development. The practice is small and appointment-based, not a group practice or clinic. It occupies Roland Park, a neighborhood in north-central Baltimore known for residential stability and professional services. The dual offering—therapy and coaching—matters because clients facing both clinical symptoms and career transitions can work with one provider, reducing the friction of coordinating multiple relationships and minimizing the learning curve a new therapist would require.

Services and fees

Therapy addresses clinical concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship strain, life transitions, and trauma recovery. Coaching focuses on executive development, career change, decision-making, and personal goal-setting. Sessions are 50 minutes and run weekly or biweekly; Craig works on a session-by-session basis without mandatory packages.

Rates are in the range typical for independent practitioners in Baltimore with graduate credentials: confirm current fees directly, as private practice rates adjust periodically. Insurance billing varies by plan; verify coverage before scheduling if you carry health insurance. Out-of-pocket clients should ask about the session rate and whether a sliding scale applies to specific circumstances.

How it compares to other Baltimore counseling options

Baltimore offers three broad tiers: large health systems (Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Medical Center) with integrated behavioral health and psychiatry but long wait times (often 6 to 12 weeks); mid-size group practices like Associates in Psychotherapy and Counseling (Fells Point, Canton area) with multiple therapists, faster availability, and group insurance billing; and solo practitioners like Craig distributed across neighborhoods. Solo practitioners typically offer shorter wait times (days to a few weeks) and continuity but limited evening hours and no group infrastructure. Group practices balance availability with team support but require matching to an assigned therapist rather than selecting one upfront. System-affiliated clinics offer integrated medical psychiatry but at the cost of longer intake waits and less therapeutic choice. Choose a solo practice if you value therapist continuity and shorter scheduling gaps over broader office amenities. Choose a group practice or system clinic if you anticipate needing psychiatric medication evaluation or prefer backup coverage.

The coaching component distinguishes this practice. Most Baltimore therapists offer therapy alone; separate executive coaches (business coaches, career counselors) operate outside the clinical framework. Craig's hybrid model suits adults for whom professional transition and emotional health are tangled—a job loss triggering depression, or anxiety sabotaging a promotion—and who prefer unified treatment over juggling providers.

Who this suits and who it doesn't

This practice works well for adult professionals (corporate, nonprofit, independent) seeking therapy, coaching, or both; individuals who have a reasonably clear sense of what they need and prefer a direct relationship over a large network; and those comfortable with a boutique, appointment-driven model. It works less well for families needing child or couple therapy (Craig's specialization appears to be individual adult work), for psychiatric medication management without a collaborating psychiatrist, for urgent or crisis presentations requiring same-day access, or for clients who value office amenities like a waiting area or reception staff (solo practices often have minimal front-end infrastructure).

What the first visit involves

Initial appointments typically last 50 to 75 minutes and include intake questions about presenting concerns, history, and goals. For therapy clients, Craig will assess symptom severity and functioning to determine whether treatment is appropriate and what frequency suits the situation. For coaching clients, the session establishes the specific goal and timeline. Insurance (if used) requires authorization; cash-pay clients arrange payment at the session. Craig's licensing and credentials are verifiable through the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists; look up any provider before committing.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Roland Park is accessible by car; street parking is available though often tight on weekday afternoons. Public transit (MTA bus lines) serves the neighborhood but not with high frequency. Confirm hours and appointment availability by phone or email; solo practices often maintain limited daily schedules (e.g., Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and may have a waiting list. Telehealth is increasingly standard post-2020; ask whether sessions can occur remotely.

Mari Craig Counseling & Coaching fills a gap for Baltimore adults who need both therapeutic and coaching support without department-store mental health infrastructure or therapist churn. It is not an alternative to crisis services, psychiatric hospitalization, or urgent psychiatric care.