Mary Blankenburg, LISW

Iowa LISW focused on trauma and relationships

Trauma-informed care
Mind-body integration
35 years experience

About Mary Blankenburg

Mary Blankenburg, LISW, is an Iowa-based psychotherapist with 35 years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. She emphasizes the therapeutic relationship as a central tool for healing, building collaborative alliances that explore clients' emotional lives and histories while attending to patterns that affect current functioning.

Mary has worked in community mental health and adolescent-serving agencies and has maintained a private practice for thirty years. She brings a somatic sensibility to her work as a trained dancer, using simple movement-based techniques alongside talk-based interventions to support the connection between mind and body and to promote well-being.

Her practice addresses depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem concerns, addictions, relationship and family issues, sleep difficulties, anger, career challenges, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes, among other concerns. Mary is attentive to personality disorder traits and the effects of trauma, helping clients develop awareness of their nervous system states so they can recognize cues of safety and use trauma-focused skills to alter how past toxic experiences are experienced in the present.

Mary uses developmental, cognitive, and attachment-informed frameworks to guide therapeutic interactions and supports clients in cultivating greater self-kindness while gently remediating trauma effects. She holds the credential LISW, which stands for Licensed Independent Social Worker.

Areas of Expertise

Primary Focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also Specializes In

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

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 Approach

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Existential Therapy Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

How much experience does Mary Blankenburg have?

Mary Blankenburg has 35 years of experience.

Is Mary Blankenburg a licensed therapist?

Yes. She holds the credential LISW, which indicates Licensed Independent Social Worker. License details are IA LISW 01283.

In which languages does Mary Blankenburg provide therapy?

Mary provides therapy in English.

Where is Mary Blankenburg located?

Mary is located in Iowa.

How can I work with Mary Blankenburg as my therapist?

You can work with Mary Blankenburg through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

Does Mary Blankenburg work with international clients?

Mary Blankenburg does not currently work with international clients.

How much does therapy with Mary Blankenburg cost?

The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.

How can I get started with therapy?

Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.

Integrating Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify their values and take committed actions consistent with what matters most to them. In practice ACT supports people struggling with anxiety, depression, and avoidance by teaching mindfulness skills and flexible responses to difficult thoughts and feelings.

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and how early relational experiences shape current attachment styles. This approach can help clients address abandonment or attachment-related concerns, improve intimacy, and repair relational patterns that contribute to distress.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and the client’s own capacity for growth. It is often used to support self-esteem, life transitions, and the development of greater self-compassion.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Mary will work collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as therapy progresses.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility: sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit therapy into work, family, and daily life. These options allow licensed professionals and therapists to deliver consistent care across different formats while accommodating varied schedules and comfort levels.

Ready to start therapy with Mary Blankenburg?

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