PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

MH Portrait of Mary Hargarten
Online therapist

Mary Hargarten

Compassionate family-focused therapy with practical tools

Credentials
LCSW, LMFT
Experience
25 years
Licensed in
Wisconsin
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Mary

Mary Hargarten is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of experience. She practices in Wisconsin and offers therapy both in person and online. Mary brings a warm, caring, and nonjudgmental presence to sessions and uses plain language to help people find practical ways forward.

Mary focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside stress, anxiety, mood disorders, grief, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, and life changes.

Background and approach

She also addresses caregiver stress, aging and geriatric issues, postpartum depression, and problems tied to divorce, communication, and family of origin. Her background includes work with domestic violence survivors and people coping with bipolar disorder and panic attacks. Her approach blends several methods so therapy fits each person.

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at thoughts and actions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to build values-based action, and Client-Centered techniques to create a respectful space. Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing are woven in when useful to build motivation and present-moment awareness. Mary believes people already have strengths they can build on.

In sessions she helps clients notice those strengths, practice new skills, and try small, manageable changes. She pays attention to how family history shapes beliefs and habits, and she supports people in finding healthier patterns now. Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth.

She listens closely, asks practical questions, and offers clear strategies. Many clients come away with better coping skills, clearer goals, and a stronger sense of direction.

How practical therapy methods translate to online care

Mary uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; this approach is useful for anxiety, panic, mood struggles, and stress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps clients clarify values and take small committed steps toward them while learning to accept hard feelings. Client-Centered Therapy provides a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the person’s perspective guides the work and helps build trust and confidence.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. Mary works together with each person to try methods that match their goals and preferences. She listens to what matters most, adjusts strategies over time, and reviews what is helping so the plan fits real life.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation from home, phone sessions can fit busy days, and live chat or text-based messaging can support brief check-ins or step-by-step skill practice. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent when schedules, caregiving, or mobility are factors.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Mary address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and family matters, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, bipolar disorder, and related life changes.
What is her therapy style and approach?
Mary blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered approaches, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused ideas to tailor care to each person.
How long has she practiced?
She has been doing therapy for 25 years, working with individuals, couples, and families in both in-person and online formats.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Mary holds LCSW and LMFT credentials. Her license details are WI LCSW 7107-123 and WI LMFT 676-124, and she is located in Wisconsin.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does cost and payment work?
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 Mary?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Next step

Talk to Mary

  • Takes a few minutes
  • Nothing to set up just to look
  • Stop at any point