- Relationship focused
- Practical skills
- Body-mind approach
About Mary
Mary Blankenburg is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) with 35 years of clinical experience. She emphasizes strong therapeutic relationships and connects with people to talk through emotions and life history. Mary works with individuals facing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and codependency concerns among other struggles.
Mary has practiced in community mental health, adolescent services, and private practice. That range of settings informs a practical approach to everyday problems. She notices how the body and mind interact and introduces simple movement and breath awareness to support emotional shifts.
Her work focuses on building awareness of how the nervous system signals safety and stress. Mary helps people learn skills to manage intense feelings and to respond differently to past hurt. She draws on cognitive and attachment ideas to guide those steps.
Sessions emphasize gradual change, self-kindness, and skill-building. Mary aims to make interventions understandable and doable between appointments. The goal is steady forward movement rather than quick fixes.
People who are worn down by recurring patterns, addiction, relationship struggles, or chronic stress may find this approach useful. Mary balances practical tools with attention to personal history and present needs. If someone wants a therapist who blends talking, skill practice, and gentle body-based awareness, her style may fit.
Approaches that inform online work and skill practice
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify values and take small steps that matter to them. It focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck and practicing actions that fit personal goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and teaches concrete skills to change them. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and panic symptoms. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to early relationship patterns and how they show up in current connections; it supports people in recognizing these patterns and trying new interaction styles.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to a person's goals, strengths, and concerns, then suggest ways to work together. Plans are adjusted over time as needs change, so the approach can shift as clients notice what helps most.
If you are considering online work, confirm the session formats offered before booking. Many people find online sessions useful for fitting therapy into a busy routine, keeping consistency during life changes, and practicing skills between appointments. Online work can make it easier to have shorter check-ins, reduce travel time, and keep therapy present in ordinary days. Licensed professionals aim to match methods and scheduling to what fits each person's life and goals.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Credentials
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, codependency, and relationship and intimacy-related problems.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style centers on building a strong therapeutic relationship, teaching practical skills, and using gentle body-based awareness alongside talk therapy to help people change patterns.
How long has she practiced?
She brings 35 years of clinical experience from community mental health, adolescent services, and long-term private practice settings.
Where does she hold her license and credential?
She is an LISW and holds an Iowa LISW credential as noted in her profile.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not work with international clients at this time.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working together?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.