Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Killmeyer.
Hi Mary, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been fascinated by people—our stories, relationships, and the ways our life experiences shape who we become. That curiosity guided me toward systems-informed therapy during my master’s and doctoral training, where I learned to look at individuals not in isolation, but in the full context of their families, identities, and environments.
Early in my graduate training, I began working with clients whose lives were impacted by significant medical events. Around that time I also served as a school counselor and supported a family navigating a cancer diagnosis. Those experiences stayed with me. I found myself drawn to the intersections of health, identity, and relationships. That led me to a nonprofit organization in cancer advocacy, where I helped build and manage patient support programs and community resources. Over my time there, I led numerous grant-funded initiatives that connected individuals and families searching for answers with the information, resources, and support they needed. It grounded my belief that healing isn’t just medical—it’s relational.
I began seeing clients in private practice in 2012 while finishing my doctoral work. In the beginning, I balanced multiple roles—school, clinical work, the nonprofit world, and later teaching as an adjunct faculty member. Mentorship has always mattered to me, so supporting students in finding their professional identity felt like a natural extension of the work. In 2017, I opened my own practice, Partners in Change, to continue supporting individuals, couples, and families in creating meaningful change in their lives. While Medical Family Therapy remains a core specialty, I also expanded into couples work and supporting high-performance collegiate and professional athletes navigating identity, pressure, and life beyond sport.
Today, the practice has grown into a small team of therapists, coaches, and a dietician, and we continue to expand our capacity to meet the needs of the community. Alongside that work, I’ve taken on an academic leadership role in higher education, where I support the development of future clinicians and advocate for learning environments that honor the whole person.
In recent years, my work has also extended into innovation in mental health and education. I’m currently developing an academic platform designed to bring greater integrity, clarity, and usability to how we learn and create knowledge. I’m also working on a preventative mental health app focused on reaching those with limited access, are uninsured or under-insured to support well-being before reaching a point of crisis. And because athletes, couples, and relational work remain close to my heart, I’m developing relational growth programs designed to make support more accessible outside the therapy room.
Across all of these roles, I’m driven by the realization that we don’t have to choose between the different parts of who we are. Our lives don’t have to be linear to be meaningful. Healing is deeply relational. And when we understand ourselves – our histories and our patterns – we gain the power to move with greater intention, connection, and compassion in our lives and relationships.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t been linear, and I don’t think it’s meant to be. Early in my career, I was balancing several roles at once—clinical work, nonprofit leadership, academic teaching, and building a private practice of my own. There were moments where I questioned whether I was “ready enough” or “experienced enough,” which I think is natural when you care deeply about doing the work well. As my practice grew, so did the need to learn how to lead and delegate, which is a shift from the very individualized nature of therapy work. Learning to trust others, build a team, and let people step into their own strengths was, and still is, a significant part of my growth.
At the same time, I have needed to navigate my own life transitions including my own health and fertility journey, starting a family, and learning what it means to care for others and for myself. Like many people in helping professions, I had to be intentional about how I managed my time, energy, and boundaries so that I could be present with the families and couples I work with, without losing myself in the process. I’ve learned that you can hold multiple identities and passions, but it requires discernment and self-awareness. And healing, whether individual or relational, is never a solo act. It happens in connection with oneself, with others, and with those who support and strengthen us.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Partners in Change?
I specialize in supporting families and couples whose lives have been shaped by illness, caregiving, or major life transitions. I also work closely with couples to strengthen communication and connection, and I support high-performance athletes in navigating identity, pressure, and life outside of sport. My approach is systems-oriented and collaborative. I don’t see people as isolated individuals; we are shaped by our relationships, histories, cultures, and environments. Therapy, for me, is a process of understanding patterns with curiosity, rather than prescribing solutions. When we understand the “how” beneath our experiences, the “how to change” becomes more accessible and sustainable.
I strive to use a creative lens in the therapy room and the systems around it. I’m drawn to noticing patterns – where things connect, where gaps exist, and where small shifts can create meaningful change. That creativity helps me support clients in uncovering new ways of relating to themselves and others. It also fuels the broader work I do in developing programs, tools, and systems that respond to needs I see in real time.
I am touched by the transformations I get to witness in sessions: moments where families move through illness with more compassion, where couples find their way back to one another, and where individuals reconnect with parts of themselves they thought they had lost. I’m honored that I get to play a part in shaping future clinicians through my work in higher education and mentorship. Beyond therapeutic work, I’m equally proud and excited that I have opportunities to develop solutions to real-world challenges.
Across all of my work, the common thread is that growth and healing happens in relationship, identity is multi-faceted, and change is not linear. Realizing this gives us the freedom to grow in a multitude of ways and in a multitude of directions. Embracing this freedom is what sets me and my work apart.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
In my clinical practice, we are currently accepting new clients through our team of therapists, coaches, and our dietician. I take on a limited number of clients myself, typically in areas aligned with my core specialties. Anyone interested in therapy services can reach out through the practice website and phone number to explore availability and fit.
Beyond my clinical work, much of my professional focus is on building resources and systems that expand access to meaningful support. For those interested in collaboration, strategic partnership, or aligned support—particularly in academic spaces, relational health programming, or mental health innovation—connection is always welcome. My work is grounded in intention, alignment, and impact—so I value connections with individuals, organizations, and communities who share those values.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.partnersinchange.info
Image Credits
Nichole Lee Photography
