At Bridges, we believe that supporting the whole child—socially, emotionally, and academically—is at the heart of education. Our staff is committed to this mission, and we’re thrilled to introduce Mary Morris, our new school counselor, who embodies this approach through her diverse experiences and deep passion for supporting students.
From Hollywood to Helping Kids
Born in Burbank and raised in North Hollywood, California, the entertainment industry served as the backdrop for Mary’s early years—both of her parents worked in the television industry at Warner Bros. While her parents were focused on sound editing and post-production, Mary found her calling elsewhere: the inner workings of the human mind. She attended Los Angeles Valley Community College, where she fell in love with psychology, taking nearly every class offered. This passion eventually led her to Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, where she completed her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Kinesiology in 2022.
At Pacific, Mary embraced the small campus feel and close-knit learning environment, something she is excited to return to here at Bridges. In addition to her studies, Mary was actively involved in her sorority, Phi Lambda Omicron, where she volunteered with philanthropic organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the American Red Cross. While she initially considered pursuing occupational therapy, she quickly discovered her true interest lay in talk therapy and helping students navigate their emotional and social development.
Crafting a Career in Counseling
Mary’s first step in her professional career was in the field of applied behavioral analysis (ABA), where she worked one-on-one with children on the autism spectrum. The hands-on experience, working with kids to build life and emotional skills, cemented her desire to help students not just academically, but in all aspects of their lives. Her next role at Heron Creek, a therapeutic educational program in Clackamas County, greatly expanded her toolkit as she supported students with intellectual disabilities and emotional regulation challenges.
Mary’s role at Heron Creek evolved from working directly with students to supporting entire classrooms, implementing intervention strategies, and helping build individualized plans that enabled students to succeed both in school and in their communities. This experience deepened her belief in the importance of personalized approaches to education—something she is eager to continue fostering at Bridges.
Why Bridges?
When her time at Heron Creek came to an end, Mary began looking for new opportunities and was immediately drawn to the advertised counseling role at Bridges. The individualized approach to education that Bridges offers is exactly what she’s passionate about, and after learning that several of her former supervisors had studied under Dr. Hall, it felt like the perfect fit.
“I’m really looking forward to fully immersing myself in the Bridges community and getting to personally know all of the students. Bridges is such a special place with its commitment to individualized programs, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Counseling and Beyond
In her new role, Mary is eager to collaborate with the entire Bridges community—students, faculty, staff, and families. She’s excited to contribute her unique approach to counseling, which includes incorporating art therapy into her work with students. Whether it’s painting or working on puzzles, she believes that creative activities offer an excellent opportunity to build connections and help students express themselves.
Mary also plans to get involved with the school’s popular Dungeons & Dragons club—a new interest of hers. She will be leaning a bit on her stepdad, who is an experienced Dungeon Master, to quickly come up to speed. “I’ve already had 10 phone calls with him to get more information to help me relate with the kids!” she laughs.
Teaching Philosophy: A Bottomless Carpetbag
Mary’s approach to counseling is rooted in her diverse experiences and belief in meeting each student where they are. She compares her growing skill set to Mary Poppins’ carpet bag—there’s always something new to pull out, and she’s constantly learning new techniques and strategies.
“I’ve learned that every student is different, and individualized plans are essential. We need to address sensory, emotional, and communication needs to make sure that the strategies we implement really help our students succeed.”
Mary’s philosophy aligns perfectly with Bridges’ mission, and she is eager to continue growing and learning alongside her colleagues. She’s particularly excited to integrate mindfulness practices, another area of strong interest, into her work with students.
Outside of Work: A Love for Music and Family
When she’s not at Bridges, you might find Mary singing karaoke at The Alibi or spending time with her family. Music has always been a big part of her life, and she believes in its power to help students express themselves. She’s also a beginner skier—her latest hobby—which she says has taught her a lot about perseverance
Family is incredibly important to Mary, and she makes it a point to visit her grandmother at her assisted living facility in Gresham every week.
We’re excited to welcome Mary Morris to the Bridges team and look forward to seeing the positive impact she’ll have on our students and school community. Her dedication to individualized support, creative counseling techniques, and building strong relationships makes her a perfect fit.