Mary Bonnette
Mary Bonnette, PhD, is the Director of Neurotherapy Center, LLC and a nationally recognized mental health specialist with more than 25 years of experience in addiction recovery. She is best known for her pioneering work with nicotine addiction, having helped over 12,000 smokers and vapers become nicotine-free through a non-invasive, drug-free recovery model. Her approach uses mild electrical neurostimulation of the auricular vagus nerve to help rebalance neurological pathways affected by long-term nicotine use, achieving a 51% smoke-free rate at 12 months—significantly higher than traditional methods.
Dr. Bonnette’s work is deeply personalized and holistic. She focuses on understanding the root causes of addiction rather than simply managing symptoms, and her programs often include education, nutritional guidance, physical activity support, and family or couples coaching when appropriate. She supports clients through every phase of recovery, including detoxification, long-term recovery, and relapse prevention, with special attention to challenges such as post-cessation weight gain, which disproportionately affects women.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Bonnette is certified in auriculotherapy and is a founding board member of the Auriculotherapy Certification Institute, the nonprofit organization that oversees professional certification in the field. She is also a strong advocate for increasing awareness of non-pharmaceutical and corrective therapies, emphasizing nutrition, biodiversity, and informed choice as essential components of healing. Her work continues to challenge conventional addiction treatment models while empowering individuals to reclaim their health through science-backed, compassionate care.
• Walden University- Ph.D.
• ACI
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to more than 30 years in the field, including the last 25 years dedicated to helping people quit smoking through noninvasive ear stimulation that addresses addiction at its neurological root. I also credit my husband, a neurologist whose work in pain relief inspired and guided me in finding my calling and refining this approach.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you can truly change lives when you focus on helping people overcome the root of their habits, no matter how small or long-standing they may seem.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You can and you will succeed—never give up, stay committed to your purpose, and keep going even when the path feels challenging.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now is transitioning toward retirement while finding meaningful ways to continue helping as many people as possible through my knowledge and experience.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value in my work and personal life is helping others, as I have been fortunate to assist over 1,000 people in quitting smoking and improving their health.