Profile / United States
Mary Gales-Wenz, LICSW
Minnesota
LICSW in Minnesota - stress and trauma
See online therapy optionsAbout Mary
Mary Gales-Wenz is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Minnesota with 40 years of experience. She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and related concerns listed in her practice description.
She spent two decades at the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Cloud and Minneapolis, providing both outpatient and inpatient care. After that she worked in youth and family services, community behavioral health clinics, residential treatment oversight for corrections, and behavioral healthcare management for an insurance company. She has maintained a small private practice since 2009.
Mary has worked directly with adults, seniors, and adolescents in chemical dependency and mental health settings. Her clinical work has addressed post-traumatic stress, anxiety, sexual and physical trauma, depression, and substance use among other concerns. She also lists work with LGBT issues, family matters, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, and career-related stress.
Her approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy. Mary notes an interest in the mind-body connection and uses approaches that help people better understand how thoughts, feelings, and bodily reactions interact.
She continues to update her skills with current research and treatment methods. The biography also notes training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy to support processing emotional and cognitive experiences related to trauma and distress.
How therapeutic approaches are used in online work
Mary commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thought patterns and test different responses. CBT focuses on changing the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and can help with anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes listening and working at the client’s pace to clarify goals and priorities. Dialectical Behavior Therapy components bring in concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness when those skills are relevant.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively with the client to decide which methods best match goals and preferences, and may blend techniques from different approaches as needs evolve.
The therapist's biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into daily life by removing travel time, allowing a shorter check-in between work tasks, or avoiding the need to be on camera for every meeting. Ask about available formats and how sessions are scheduled when you complete the matching questionnaire.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and related issues such as sleep problems, anger, and self-esteem.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses practical approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered methods, DBT skills, EFT, and mindfulness techniques to address thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 40 years of professional experience, including 20 years working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in outpatient and inpatient settings.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, MN LICSW, and practices in Minnesota.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify exact session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs handled and how do I get started?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.