- Anxiety
- Family of origin
- Mindfulness
About Mary
Mary Hargarten is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Wisconsin. She has 25 years of experience and works with concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship issues, panic attacks, self-esteem, and life stage challenges. Mary also lists family of origin issues among her focus areas and has experience with caregiver stress, aging concerns, and postpartum depression.
She prefers a collaborative style where the client’s goals guide the work. Mary uses practical strategies to help people notice how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. She helps people set clear goals, identify motivating reasons for change, and practice new responses in daily life.
Mary draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients accept what cannot be changed and commit to meaningful action. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to examine thinking patterns and Solution-Focused techniques to set specific, short-term goals. Motivational Interviewing is used to clarify what drives change and Mindfulness practices are introduced as everyday tools.
When family history influences current difficulties, she explores how early roles and expectations continue to shape behavior now. That can include working through communication patterns, boundaries, guilt or shame, and issues around forgiveness. She also works with intimacy-related problems, grief, and the practical stresses of caregiving and midlife transitions.
Sessions aim to build usable skills and clearer choices. Mary sees therapy as a joint effort: she brings therapeutic methods and clients bring their life knowledge. Together they experiment with small changes that can improve day-to-day functioning.
Therapeutic approaches used for online sessions
Mary commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice what matters to them and take actions consistent with those values. ACT includes learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to behavior changes that reflect personal priorities.She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and test new ways of responding. CBT often includes simple exercises people can practice between sessions to reduce anxiety and improve mood. Motivational Interviewing is used when someone needs help clarifying reasons to change and building internal motivation for specific steps.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary works with clients to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. She will adjust strategies as progress is made so the work stays relevant and practical.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when that suits a schedule, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals often use a mix of conversation, skills practice, and brief between-session exercises to help translate therapy into everyday routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
She works with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, panic attacks, self-esteem, grief, and a range of other mood and life-stage concerns.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and practical. She combines goal-setting, thought work, motivation strategies, and mindfulness exercises to address problems.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Mary has 25 years of experience providing therapy in person and online.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds LCSW and LMFT credentials and practices in Wisconsin.
Which languages are offered?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.