Mary Widseth , LPC

Mary Widseth is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master's degree in Community Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling from Saint Cloud State University and a background in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin - Stout. She brings practical experience from early roles supporting adults with cognitive, physical, communication, and mental health challenges, coordinating job placements, providing on-the-job training, and working across language barriers including sign language and conversational Spanish.

Mary's clinical work has included two years of in-home therapy for children ages 7 to 18 and their families, followed by two years as a mental health therapist seeing adults and children in an office setting. She has supported clients across a range of concerns such as behavioral and emotional regulation, communication and social skills, relationship difficulties, anxiety and depression, ADHD, and autism. Her practice has also included work with transgender and bisexual adults, individuals addressing addictions, and those pursuing surgical body changes for physical or mental health reasons.

Having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age, Mary draws on lived experience to approach problem solving creatively and to relate to clients facing physical or communication barriers. She has used visual tools like picture books and rebus boards alongside sign language to bridge communication gaps. Mary holds the LPC credential - Licensed Professional Counselor - and is also certified as a CRC, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, reflecting her foundation in vocational and rehabilitation support.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Options

Mary integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy into her work. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a supportive, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client's lead and helps the person explore their values and strengths - this approach is useful for building insight and improving relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, examines the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical strategies to reduce anxiety, manage depression, and change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, teaches skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be helpful for people who struggle with intense emotions or relationship conflicts.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary works with clients to consider goals, preferences, and life circumstances and adjusts techniques as needed so the method fits the person rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging increase flexibility and access. These formats allow clients to receive care from licensed professionals without traveling, to schedule sessions around work or caregiving responsibilities, and to choose the communication method that feels most comfortable for their needs.