Mary Gales-Wenz , LICSW

Mary Gales-Wenz is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LICSW) with 40 years of experience across a wide range of behavioral health settings. After earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work, she spent two decades providing outpatient and inpatient care for veterans at the St. Cloud and Minneapolis hospitals within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Following her work with the VA, Mary expanded her practice to include roles at the Hazelden Center for Youth and Families, Allina Behavioral Health Clinics, and Central MN Mental Health Clinics. She has provided clinical supervision for residential treatment programs with the Department of Corrections and managed behavioral healthcare services for a local Minnesota insurance company. Since 2009 she has maintained a small private practice.

Mary has worked with adults, seniors, and adolescents in chemical dependency and mental health treatment facilities, addressing PTS, anxiety, sexual and physical trauma, and depression, among other diagnoses. She keeps her skills current with ongoing training and has a particular interest in the mind-body connection and therapies that help clients understand that relationship. Mary is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy, a technique designed to process both emotional and cognitive aspects of traumatic experiences.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Mary uses client-centered therapy to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where the client's goals and perspectives guide the work. This approach helps people gain insight, build self-understanding, and develop personal strategies for coping with stress, relationship concerns, and life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an approach Mary often employs to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mood concerns. CBT focuses on practical skills and small, achievable changes that can improve day-to-day functioning.

Mindfulness therapy is also part of Mary’s toolkit and emphasizes present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance of thoughts and feelings. This approach can support stress reduction, emotional regulation, and the mind-body connection Mary often explores in her work.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary works with clients to tailor strategies to their needs, goals, and preferences, and may combine elements from different methods to best support progress.

Online therapy with Mary is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options increase flexibility, making it easier to fit care into busy schedules and to access licensed professionals from different locations while maintaining continuity of treatment.