Mary Durning in Baltimore: Therapy-Informed Coaching and Counseling

Mary Durning operates a solo counseling practice in Baltimore focused on individual therapy, particularly for adults navigating career transitions, life changes, and relationship concerns. She combines clinical training with coaching methods, setting her apart from traditional therapists who work primarily within a diagnostic framework.

What Mary Durning actually is

Durning is a licensed counselor and coach who sees clients for one-on-one sessions in a private practice setting. Unlike large group practices or community mental health agencies that triage by insurance panels and present options to new clients, Durning's approach is direct and personalized. She works with individuals who want both therapeutic support and forward-looking coaching, particularly around professional development, identity questions, and life transitions. This hybrid model fits adults who need existing mental health work combined with practical goal-setting, rather than purely clinical treatment or purely executive coaching.

Services and pricing

Durning charges $150 to $200 per session depending on engagement; verification of current rates is recommended through direct contact. She works primarily with individual clients on a weekly or biweekly basis. Standard sessions are 50 minutes. New clients typically commit to a six-to-eight-week exploratory period before making longer-term decisions about ongoing work.

Insurance coverage is limited; Durning is out-of-network for most major carriers, meaning clients pay out-of-pocket and may seek reimbursement from their insurer. This out-of-network model is common among solo practitioners and coaches in Baltimore but is a key difference from agency-based counselors who accept in-network plans directly. Clients who use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) can apply those funds to counseling fees.

How this compares to other Baltimore counseling options

Baltimore hosts both agency-based counseling and solo practitioners. Large providers like Sheppard Pratt and Kennedy Krieger operate as systems with team-based intake, standardized protocols, and in-network insurance processing. Those settings prioritize clinical diagnosis, crisis assessment, and treatment planning for serious mental illness or childhood and adolescent issues. Durning's solo practice is the inverse: longer relationships with individual therapists, flexible formats mixing therapy and coaching language, and out-of-pocket cost. Clients choosing Sheppard Pratt should expect structured assessment, insurance navigation, and potentially faster first-appointment availability; clients choosing Durning should expect deeper continuity with one person and a focus on growth rather than symptom management.

Group coaching practices in Baltimore (often staffed by non-licensed coaches) offer similar forward-focused goal work but without mental health training. Durning's distinction is her ability to work with the emotional and relational foundations beneath career or life goals.

Who this suits and who it does not

Durning is well-suited for employed adults navigating professional change (job transitions, leadership questions, burnout), relationship challenges in the context of personal growth, and identity or life-stage questions. She is effective for people who have existing self-awareness and are motivated by reflection and action, not crisis or acute distress.

Durning does not provide psychiatric medication evaluation, and she is not positioned for high-crisis work or clients with active suicidal ideation. People needing immediate crisis support or hospitalization-level care require an emergency room or crisis line. She is not specialized in trauma-focused therapy, though she may recognize and refer when appropriate. Adults without some means to pay out-of-pocket or access to HSA/FSA funds will face cost barriers.

What the first visit involves

New clients typically schedule a 30-minute discovery call to discuss presenting concerns, Durning's approach, and fit. This call is usually complimentary and gives both parties a sense of whether ongoing work makes sense. If both agree to proceed, the first full session is 50 minutes, covering basic history, current situation, and initial goals or questions. Clients should bring a list of what they hope to explore or any specific concerns they want to address in early sessions.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Durning's office is located in Baltimore and operates by appointment only; walk-in sessions are not available. Hours are typically Monday through Thursday, with some Friday availability; confirmation is necessary as scheduling adjusts seasonally. Street parking is available in most Baltimore neighborhoods, though lot and garage availability varies by office location. Telehealth sessions are available as an alternative for clients unable to travel.

Mary Durning fills a gap between traditional talk therapy and executive coaching, making her practice relevant for Baltimore professionals and adults in transition who want sustained, relationship-based support without the structure of a formal agency or the purely skill-based format of group coaching.