Mary Blankenburg

Compassionate care rooted in decades of clinical experience

LISW Iowa

Experience: 35 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Mary

Mary Blankenburg brings decades of social work experience to her therapeutic practice, drawing on 35 years as a licensed independent social worker (LISW) in Iowa. She emphasizes forming strong therapeutic alliances and explores clients' emotional histories with a thoughtful, client-centered stance.

Background and approach

Mary’s background includes work in community mental health, adolescent and family services, and a long-standing independent practice where she has supported people facing depression, anxiety, trauma, and a range of complex challenges.

Her approach integrates cognitive behavioral ideas alongside acceptance and commitment strategies and attachment-based perspectives to help clients understand patterns, manage distress, and build more adaptive responses to life’s challenges. Mary also values attention to mind-body connections and incorporates gentle, movement-informed awareness into therapy when appropriate.

She aims to help clients notice bodily cues, increase self-kindness, and use practical skills for coping with grief, relationship problems, addiction concerns, mood fluctuations, and other issues listed in her practice focus. Mary frames therapy as collaborative work that moves at a client’s pace, focusing on gradual change and strengthening resilience.

Her Iowa-based practice offers multiple online session formats to accommodate different needs and schedules.

How evidence-based approaches translate to online work

Mary regularly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thoughts and test more balanced ways of thinking; this approach often supports work on anxiety, depression, panic, and coping with life transitions. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy which emphasizes values-driven action and learning to accept difficult internal experiences while committing to meaningful behavior changes. Attachment-Based Therapy informs her understanding of relationship patterns and early relational influences that affect current emotional life, helping clients explore interpersonal dynamics and build healthier bonds.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary partners with each person to clarify goals, weigh different methods, and tailor the plan to fit individual needs and preferences rather than assuming a single method will suit everyone.

Online therapy with Mary is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for varying schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier for clients to access consistent care from Iowa while using practical tools and skills between sessions to support ongoing change.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Mary commonly address?

She works with a wide range of difficulties including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, ADHD, and bipolar concerns as listed in her specialties.

What is her therapeutic style and approach?

Her practice blends client-centered listening with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help clients develop practical skills and personal insight.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Mary has 35 years of professional experience working in community mental health, adolescent and family services, and independent practice.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She holds the LISW credential with license number IA LISW 01283 and practices in Iowa.

Does she provide services in other languages or to international clients?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available with Mary?

Clients can work with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preference.

How are session costs handled?

Fees vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What is the process to begin therapy?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBody imageChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityForgivenessGuilt and shameLife purposePanic disorder and panic attacksSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

35+ years

Licensed

Iowa

Languages

English