Mary Blankenburg, LISW

Iowa · 35 years in practice

Mary Blankenburg is a licensed independent social worker with 35 years of clinical experience in Iowa.

License and registration

LISW, Iowa: 01283 · expires December 2026
NPI: 1104840347 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 35
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Mary

Mary Blankenburg is a licensed independent social worker with 35 years of clinical experience in Iowa. She centers the therapeutic relationship and connects with people who are struggling. Her work is practical and grounded, aimed at helping clients manage symptoms like anxiety, depression, grief, and stress.

Mary has worked across community settings and in independent practice for many years. She draws on a range of approaches to match what each person needs.

Background and approach

Her way of working blends attention to life history, thinking patterns, and how the body holds stress. In sessions she uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try different responses. Mary also uses attachment-based and client-centered ideas to strengthen how people understand relationships and their own needs.

She incorporates gentle movement and somatic awareness alongside other methods when it seems useful. Mary pays attention to trauma and its effects, and she integrates trauma-focused skills into treatment when appropriate. She aims to help people slowly change how past hurts affect their present life while building greater self-kindness and resilience.

Her style is collaborative and paced to the individual. Mary helps people name problems, learn new skills for managing intense feelings, and find clearer ways to move forward.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Mary lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Self esteem
Depression
Addictions
LGBT
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Intimacy-related issues
Sleeping disorders
Anger management
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Attachment issues
Avoidant personality
Body image
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dependent personality
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Life purpose
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Self-love
Social anxiety and phobia

Approaches Mary names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Using practical therapies online

Mary commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and depressive patterns over time. She also draws on acceptance and commitment therapy to help people clarify values and take workable steps toward a more meaningful life, even when difficult feelings remain.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Mary treats the choice of methods as collaborative and adapts techniques to each person’s needs, goals, and preferences rather than using a single fixed plan. She will discuss options and try what fits best for the moment.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video calls are useful for more in-depth conversation and body-aware exercises, phone sessions can fit into a tight schedule or use less bandwidth, and chat or text messaging can be effective for brief check-ins or tracking skills between appointments. These formats make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, school, and family demands while still accessing licensed professionals.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns does Mary address?

Mary helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, sleep problems, anger, career issues, bipolar symptoms, ADHD, and related areas.

How would you describe Mary’s therapeutic style?

Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth. She mixes skill teaching with discussion and pays attention to how the body and emotions interact.

What is Mary’s clinical background?

She has 35 years of experience working in community agencies and independent practice, offering individual, group, and relationship-focused work across varied settings.

What credentials and region are listed?

She holds the LISW credential and practices in Iowa.

Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?

Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available with this therapist?

Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How are fees handled for sessions?

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

How does someone begin working with Mary?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

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