Mary Gales-Wenz , LICSW

Mary Gales-Wenz is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 40 years of practice across diverse behavioral health settings. After earning a master’s degree in social work, she spent two decades on staff with the Department of Veterans Affairs at both the St. Cloud and Minneapolis hospitals, providing care in outpatient and inpatient programs.

Following her VA tenure, Mary continued to broaden her clinical and administrative experience by delivering mental health services with Hazelden Center for Youth and Families, Allina Behavioral Health Clinics, and Central Minnesota Mental Health Clinics. She has provided clinical supervision for residential treatment within the Department of Corrections, worked in behavioral healthcare management for a Minnesota insurance company, and has maintained a private practice since 2009.

Her clinical work has spanned adults, seniors, and adolescents in chemical dependency and mental health treatment settings, addressing post-traumatic stress, anxiety, sexual and physical trauma, depression, addiction, grief, and a range of mood and life-change concerns. She stays current with new research and treatment methods 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 model that assists people in processing both the emotional and cognitive elements of difficult experiences.

Approaches to Care and the Convenience of Online Therapy

Mary often draws on client-centered therapy, which focuses on the individual’s experience and supports them in exploring their feelings and goals at their own pace; this approach is helpful for building self-awareness, self-esteem, and stronger relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another frequent tool she uses - it helps people identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, making it useful for anxiety, depression, and many everyday challenges. Mary also integrates mindfulness therapy to help people cultivate present-moment awareness and practical stress-management skills, which can support coping with chronic pain, trauma responses, and emotional overwhelm.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the collaborative process. Mary works with each person to determine which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies as progress and new priorities emerge. Licensed professionals and therapists often combine techniques to match what works best for an individual.

Online therapy offers flexibility for scheduling and access - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care around work, family, or mobility limitations, and they allow individuals to engage in therapy from settings that are convenient for them.