Mary Tipton, PhD

Practice Philosophy:

Dr. Tipton is a Postdoctoral Fellow specializing in evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, and adults. Guided in culturally sensitive and affirming care, Dr. Tipton works collaboratively with clients to develop practical skills while fostering insight into their unique strengths, challenges, and personal patterns. She brings empathy, humor, and genuine curiosity to the therapeutic process of self-understanding and growth. Dr. Tipton helps clients explore the values that shape their identities and decisions, empowering them to make choices aligned with what matters most and build lives that feel authentic and fulfilling. Above all, she prioritizes strong therapeutic relationships grounded in trust, respect, and collaboration.

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. Tipton specializes in working with pre-teens, adolescents, and adults. She has significant experience treating depression, anxiety, obsessions and compulsions, trauma, ADHD, autism, relationship challenges, life transitions, and significant stressors. She also has extensive training in comprehensive psychological assessment to clarify diagnoses and guide treatment, academic, and other supports. Her clinical style is integrative, drawing on evidence-based cognitive and behavioral approaches, values clarification, acceptance-based interventions, and strengths-based practices. Dr. Tipton also has expertise in suicide-focused assessment and treatment and is trained in the Comprehensive Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) approach, supporting individuals through periods of acute distress while addressing the factors contributing to suicidal thought.

Experience and Training:

Dr. Tipton earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and completed her APA-accredited internship at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and obtained a master’s degree in Psychological Science during her graduate education at Catholic University. She has completed clinical placements in outpatient clinics, college counseling centers, community mental health, psychiatric inpatient units, and medical clinics (primary care, diabetes, rehabilitation medicine), giving her a broad range of experience. She has received extensive training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children, adolescents, and adults, as well as experience with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). She has also conducted numerous psychological evaluations in outpatient and hospital settings to assess cognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

Dr. Tipton completed her PhD and is being mentored by Phoebe Long, PhD throughout her fellowship.