Mary Widseth , LPC

Mary Lynn Widseth brings a background in community psychology and rehabilitation counseling to her work, combining formal training with hands-on experience supporting adults and families. She holds a master’s degree in Community Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling from Saint Cloud State University and a certificate in Autism, and she completed a bachelor’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin - Stout. Mary is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), credentials that reflect her training in mental health and vocational supports.

Early in her career she worked closely with marginalized adults who faced cognitive, mental, physical, or communication challenges in workplace settings, arranging both group and individual placements, providing transportation, and delivering on-the-job training so people could perform work tasks effectively. Communication strategies were essential in those roles - she has experience using sign language, picture books, and rebus boards, and she has worked around language barriers with conversational Spanish.

Mary’s lived experience with cerebral palsy has informed a creative, empathetic approach to problem solving when systems or environments are unbalanced. After graduate school she provided two years of in-home therapy for children ages 7 to 18 and their families, and she spent an additional two years as a mental health therapist working with adults and children in an office setting. Her work with adults has included support for transgender and bisexual individuals, people facing addictions, and those pursuing surgical changes for body-related concerns. She commonly addresses behavioral and emotional regulation, communication difficulties, social and family relationships, anxiety and depression, ADHD, autism, and overall functioning, tailoring techniques to each person and family she serves.

Integrating Therapeutic Approaches in Online Care

Mary Widseth draws from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and EMDR to address a range of concerns in online sessions. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy and collaborative understanding - the therapist listens closely and supports clients in exploring their values and goals, which can be helpful for relationship issues, self-esteem, and life transitions.

CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and patterns and developing practical skills to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep problems. EMDR is a trauma-informed technique that helps people process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity, making it useful for trauma and abuse work.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary will work with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she will adjust techniques as therapy progresses to ensure a good fit.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how sessions take place - by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - which makes it easier to fit care into busy schedules and to access licensed professionals from different locations. These options support continuity of care and let clients choose the communication style that feels most comfortable to them.