Dr. Mary Hill is a licensed clinical psychologist at Inova who specializes in helping patients understand and manage the interconnection between pain and the brain.

Dr. Hill’s services round out a comprehensive approach to pain management by educating patients about how to decrease the reactivity of the nervous system, best cope with chronic pain, and recognize the impact of one’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors on overall health. She accents her patients’ strengths through a person-centered, interpersonal process approach using primarily cognitive behavioral therapy strategies. She also incorporates aspects of family systems, acceptance-commitment and mindfulness therapies to tailor her services according to the needs of each patient.

Dr. Hill graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. She earned both her master’s degree in psychology and her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas in Denton. Dr. Hill completed her predoctoral internship at the Texas Tech University Student Counseling Center, where she provided outpatient treatment (individual, couples and group therapy) to students enrolled through the university. She also provided treatment to individuals in the community, as she elected to co-lead an intensive outpatient group through the Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery.

Dr. Hill’s internship experiences also included a couple’s therapy rotation through the Relationship Enhancement Center and a rotation focusing on sexual and gender identity concerns. Her postdoctoral fellowship was through Children’s Medical Center of Dallas where she gained advanced clinical experience in the psychological assessment and treatment of a variety of mental health conditions.

Dr. Hill began recognizing the association between physical and mental health while working in a private practice setting for almost 10 years before joining Inova in 2019. During her time with Inova, Dr. Hill has been able to provide integrated treatment to patients which focuses on both physical and mental health. Additionally, she has had the unique opportunity to lend her expertise to various programs within behavioral health, such as Inova’s partial hospitalization program, Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Services, and Inova Psychiatric Assessment Center.

In her spare time, Dr. Hill enjoys laughing with her son, listening to live music and playing amateur film critic.