Mary Blankenburg, LISW

Iowa · 35 years in practice

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

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. She brings long practice in community mental health and independent practice to one-on-one work. Mary aims to build a trusting relationship and help people talk through ongoing stress, anxiety, depression, and grief.

She takes a straightforward, human approach in sessions. Mary listens to a person’s history and current difficulties. She helps people notice how their body and emotions are linked and uses simple movement and awareness exercises when helpful.

Background and approach

Mary draws on a range of methods to match what each person needs. She uses cognitive behavioral ideas to address unhelpful thoughts, acceptance and commitment strategies to clarify values and action, and attachment-based ideas to look at relational patterns. Therapy often starts with small steps - learning to spot stress cues, trying new ways of responding, and building more self-kindness.

Mary works with people dealing with trauma, addictions, bipolar symptoms, panic, ADHD, and relationship or intimacy-related issues among other concerns. Sessions aim to be practical and steady. Mary helps people manage symptoms while also looking at deeper patterns like abandonment, control issues, or codependency.

Her work supports people making life changes, recovering from painful events, and finding clearer purpose. She practices in Iowa and conducts sessions in English. Mary’s background in different community settings and long personal-practice experience shape a calm, experienced therapeutic presence.

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

How Mary’s approaches translate to online work

Mary often integrates Existential therapy ideas that help people find meaning and clarify values when life feels uncertain. This approach can help with grief, life purpose questions, and coping with major change. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is used to teach acceptance of uncomfortable feelings while taking steps toward what matters most; it is useful for anxiety, depression, and chronic stress.

Attachment-Based Therapy is also part of her practice and focuses on how early relationship patterns shape current interactions. This work helps people notice patterns in relationships, improve communication, and build more stable ways of relating. Mary typically blends these approaches to match someone’s goals rather than relying on one fixed method, and she will collaborate with each person to find the best fit.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people use visual cues and movement exercises when helpful. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Chat and messaging allow short, focused exchanges or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or busy days while keeping the focus on practical steps and meaningful progress.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Mary commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, bipolar symptoms, panic, ADHD, and related concerns such as body image and chronic illness.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is relational and practical. She listens for patterns, helps people notice body-emotion links, and uses straightforward exercises to change habits.

What is her professional background?

Mary has 35 years of clinical experience in community mental health and independent practice, working with individuals across a range of issues.

Where does she practice and what are her credentials?

She is based in Iowa and holds the LISW credential, which is a licensed independent social worker credential in Iowa.

Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

Mary offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How is cost handled for therapy?

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

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.

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