- 30 years experience
- Anxiety and panic
- Skills focused
About Mary
Mary Ruhland is a licensed social worker in Iowa with 30 years of experience supporting people through anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. She focuses on practical steps clients can use day to day. Her approach centers on compassion and partnership rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
She helps people facing panic attacks, isolation, and relationship strain. Sessions emphasize improving communication, managing intense emotions, and building self-compassion. Mary guides clients toward clearer priorities and steadier routines that reduce overwhelm.
Mary uses a mix of approaches to match each person’s needs. She draws from cognitive behavior ideas to spot unhelpful thoughts and from client-centered methods to follow the person’s pace. Dialectical behavior ideas are used when emotion regulation and distress tolerance are needed.
Her work also addresses body image, shame, control issues, and problems that come with major life changes like divorce or midlife shifts. She supports people coping with addiction, anger, and post-traumatic stress with straightforward strategies and steady reflection.
Mary aims to create a calm setting where people can name what’s hard and practice different responses. She encourages small experiments between sessions so progress becomes visible. The emphasis is on practical skills, clearer relationships, and restoring a sense of purpose over time.
How Mary’s approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the person. It helps people feel heard, clarify goals, and set a pace that feels manageable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions; it offers practical exercises to reduce anxiety and shift unhelpful thinking. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes skills for managing strong emotions, tolerating distress, and improving communication.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Mary collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and goals. She adapts over time, combining approaches when someone benefits from both skill practice and a supportive, listening relationship.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, remove travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also lets people use written exercises and worksheets between meetings. Talk with the therapist when you schedule to learn which formats are available and what will work best for your situation.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
Iowa, South Dakota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Mary commonly help with?
She supports people with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, self-esteem, addictions, and relationship-related difficulties among other issues.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is compassionate and collaborative, mixing practical skills work with listening closely to each person’s priorities.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Mary has worked as a licensed social worker for 30 years in Iowa, bringing long-term clinical experience to sessions.
What credentials and location are listed for her practice?
She holds LISW and CSW-PIP credentials and practices in Iowa.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist’s availability.