Mary Gales-Wenz, LICSW

Minnesota · 40 years in practice

Mary Gales-Wenz is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with four decades of experience in mental health.

License and registration

LICSW, Minnesota: 4518 · expires October 2026
NPI: 1023166659 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 40
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Mary

Mary Gales-Wenz is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with four decades of experience in mental health. She offers steady support for people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addiction, trauma, and related concerns. Her approach centers on listening, clear explanations, and practical steps clients can try between sessions.

Mary spent 20 years working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in both outpatient and inpatient settings. She later provided care in addiction and behavioral health settings, supervised residential treatment for corrections, and worked in behavioral healthcare management for an insurance organization.

Background and approach

Since 2009 she has maintained a small independent practice in Minnesota. Her background includes work with adults, seniors, and adolescents across chemical dependency and mental health treatment programs. That experience covers post-traumatic stress, anxiety, trauma from sexual and physical abuse, mood disorders, and other common diagnoses.

She keeps current with new research and treatment methods to offer approaches that fit each person’s needs. Mary uses a mix of approaches to match what a person brings to therapy. She draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people understand and respond to strong emotions.

She also uses cognitive behavioral strategies, dialectical behavior techniques, client-centered methods, and mindfulness exercises for coping skills and mood regulation. Many clients appreciate that she pays attention to the mind-body connection and explains how physical health and emotional health interact. Sessions focus on clear goals and usable tools for daily life.

Prospective clients in Minnesota can expect straightforward guidance and a calm, experienced clinician.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Mary lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

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 names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on identifying and working with strong emotions. Online sessions use conversation and guided reflection to help people notice patterns, name feelings, and try new ways of responding when emotions run high. This approach can help with grief, trauma reactions, and relationship-related distress even when delivered remotely.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental stance. The therapist follows the person’s lead, listens carefully, and helps them clarify what matters most. That gentle, person-focused stance can make it easier to open up during a video call or a phone visit.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy uses practical skill-building to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Online sessions often include short exercises, worksheets, and between-session practice to reduce anxiety, lift mood, and manage addictive urges.

Choosing the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has helped in the past, then adjust methods as needed. That shared planning helps make sure sessions stay useful and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexibility for different routines. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text messaging supports quick check-ins or shorter exchanges. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or mobility constraints while using familiar therapeutic methods.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She helps people with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, trauma and related concerns such as anger, sleep problems, self-esteem, and coping with life changes.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is patient and practical. She listens, explains options, and offers skills from Emotionally-Focused Therapy, cognitive behavior approaches, and mindfulness to address feelings and behavior.

What kind of experience does she bring?

She has 40 years in behavioral health, including 20 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs and roles in addiction treatment, outpatient clinics, corrections supervision, and independent practice.

Where is she based and what are her credentials?

She practices in Minnesota and holds a MN LICSW, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

How are fees and getting started handled?

Cost varies with location and the subscription model used for sessions can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

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