1. Free 15-minute call
A no-pressure conversation. You share what's going on, I share how I work, and we figure out together if this feels like the right fit.
Therapy in Maine — telehealth where specialists are hard to find
Maine has fewer therapists per capita than most of the country, and most of them are clustered in greater Portland. If you’re anywhere else in the state — coastal, inland, far north — finding a CBT-trained therapist within driving distance can be its own full-time job. Telehealth fixes that.
Rose Markotic, LMFT — licensed in California, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Why telehealth matters in Maine
Maine has the geography of a much larger state with the population of a much smaller one. Outside of Portland, Bangor, and a handful of other hubs, there are towns where the nearest licensed therapist is 60 to 90 minutes away — and the nearest CBT-trained therapist might be considerably further. The provider shortage is documented, persistent, and a primary reason therapy goes unsought in rural Maine.
I see Maine clients across the state by secure video. The work is the same evidence-based TEAM-CBT regardless of where you live — Portland’s East End, a year-round home in Camden, a town in Aroostook County, a winter rental in Bar Harbor, or wherever else. What changes is access: when in-person therapy means a 90-minute drive each way, telehealth is sometimes the only realistic way for therapy to actually happen weekly.
Common things Maine clients work on: anxiety and depression that have been workable but unaddressed for years because of access; seasonal patterns that worsen in the winter; social isolation in low-population areas; perfectionism that runs quietly through high-functioning Maine professionals.
Serving clients across Maine: Portland · Bangor · Augusta · Lewiston · South Portland
How sessions work
All sessions take place over a HIPAA-compliant video platform. You need to be physically located in Maine at the time of session.
2. Initial session
Our first full 50-minute session. I'll learn about your goals, what you're struggling with, and what's already worked. We start identifying patterns.
3. Goal setting & treatment plan
Together we set the direction — what we'll work on, what tools we'll start with, and how we'll know when something is working.
What we work on with Maine clients
Maine clients tend to share an access story: they’ve been managing for a while because therapy nearby wasn’t practical. Here’s what we most often work on once that barrier drops.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Maine winters are real. Light scarcity, isolation, and reduced activity stack on top of underlying anxiety or depression for many clients. We work on the cognitive patterns and the behavioral activation pieces that actually move things — not just sitting in front of a light box.
Anxiety and depression in low-access areas
For many Maine clients, this is the first time treatment with a CBT-trained therapist is even logistically possible. The standard work — measurable goals, in-session methods, between-session homework — does what it’s supposed to do.
Isolation and connection
Living in a small town or rural area can mean fewer easy social touchpoints. We work on the patterns of avoidance and the cognitive distortions that keep isolation in place.
Perfectionism
A signature specialty. Common in high-functioning Maine professionals and in adults who carried perfectionism quietly for decades. We test the standards directly.
Life transitions
Career changes, relocations within Maine, becoming a parent, retirement, loss of a long-term partner. The disorientation is workable.
Adult ADHD
For Maine professionals diagnosed late or undiagnosed. Systems that fit your brain, not someone else’s.
Rose Markotic
MA, LMFT
Licensed in: California, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont
Telehealth across all five states
My counseling style is warm, empathetic, and collaborative. I provide a safe space to explore issues and generate solutions. I introduce powerful methods to help you shift unhelpful thinking patterns to change how you feel. I also assist individuals feeling stuck in relationship patterns to understand their role and take active steps to improve the relationship. I practice from a TEAM-CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) approach and I am part of the Stanford T.E.A.M CBT group lead by Dr. David Burns. I am currently accepting new clients across California, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Frequently asked questions about therapy in Maine
What if there are no therapists in my town?
That’s the most common reason Maine clients reach out. Telehealth means it doesn’t matter — we meet wherever you have a private space and a stable internet connection. Portland, Bangor, Camden, the Down East coast, the County, anywhere.
Do you treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
Yes — SAD is a common presenting concern for Maine clients, often layered on top of underlying anxiety or chronic depression. We work the behavioral and cognitive pieces (activity scheduling, light exposure, testing the thoughts that depression generates in winter) and coordinate with your prescriber if you’re on medication.
How does telehealth handle spotty rural internet?
In practice, surprisingly well. The platform we use works on modest bandwidth, and we can fall back to phone if video stutters. If you live somewhere where even cellular is unreliable, that’s worth flagging on the consult call so we can plan around it.
Can I meet from a summer camp or coastal cabin if I’m in-state?
Yes — as long as you’re physically in Maine and have a private space, the location doesn’t matter. Many Maine clients have meetings from camps or cabins in the summer. Privacy matters more than the address.
How long is the wait for a first session?
Typically 1–2 weeks from your free 15-minute consult to your first full session. That’s often dramatically faster than an in-person specialist in Maine — many of whom have multi-month waitlists.
Do you take MaineHealth or Anthem Maine?
Better Thoughts is out-of-network. Most Maine PPO plans, including Anthem and Cigna, reimburse 60–80% of out-of-network therapy fees on a superbill we provide monthly. MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program) doesn’t cover out-of-network providers — if MaineCare is your primary coverage, a network provider through MaineHealth or a community mental-health center is the more accessible route.
Get started with Better Thoughts today
A 15-minute video call with Rose. We'll talk about what's bringing you in and see if I'm the right fit. No pressure to book sessions afterward.
No credit card · 15 minutes · Talk directly with Rose