Works with
How Mary works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LICSW
- Licensed in
- Minnesota
- Years in practice
- 40
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Mary
Mary Gales-Wenz uses a blend of client-centered care and evidence-informed therapies to help people manage strong emotions and life stressors. She is Mary Gales-Wenz, LICSW, and she brings four decades of experience in behavioral health to each conversation. She focuses on practical skills people can use between sessions.
Those skills address anger, anxiety, depression, stress, sleep problems, and addiction-related issues. She also supports people coping with trauma, grief, chronic illness, and career-related strain.
Background and approach
Mary spent many years working in Veterans Affairs outpatient and inpatient settings in Minnesota. She later provided mental health services in community treatment centers, addiction programs, and in clinical roles for corrections and insurance organizations. Since 2009 she has maintained a small independent practice.
Her approach mixes Client-Centered Therapy with techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She also uses Emotionally-Focused and Mindfulness practices so clients can better notice thoughts, feelings, and bodily responses. She has kept current with new research and treatment methods throughout her career.
Sessions tend to be practical and straightforward. Mary likes to help people understand how the mind and body connect, and she works with each person to find strategies that fit their daily life. She aims to make changes feel doable rather than overwhelming.
What Mary works with
Everything Mary lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Mary's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Sleeping disorders
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family of origin issues
- First responder issues
- Guilt and shame
- Men's issues
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Mary lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Practical approaches for online therapy and emotional change
Mary commonly draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy during online work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and helping people set their own pace for change. It is useful when someone needs a nonjudgmental space to talk through feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at patterns of thought and behavior and teaches specific skills to reduce anxiety, improve mood, or manage anger.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try a few strategies, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. Clients and therapist decide together which tools to keep using and which to change as progress unfolds.
Online formats offered include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls allow fuller face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when lighter bandwidth is needed or when someone wants not to be on camera. Chat and messaging suit quick check-ins, short skill practice, or those who prefer writing. These options make scheduling more flexible and help fit therapy into work, caregiving, or health-related constraints.
Questions people ask about Mary
What concerns does this therapist help with?
She works with a wide range of concerns including anger, stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and grief as well as sleep and self-esteem problems.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses a client-centered approach and mixes practical techniques from CBT and DBT with mindfulness and emotionally-focused ideas to help with feelings and behavior.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Mary has 40 years of experience in behavioral health settings, including long-term roles at Veteran Affairs and work in addiction and community mental health programs.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker, MN LICSW, practicing from Minnesota.
Which languages are supported and can she see international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients.
What session formats are available?
Sessions may be conducted by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling based on therapist availability.