Mary Hargarten, LCSW, LMFT

Mary Hargarten is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Wisconsin. She brings 25 years of experience helping people manage anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and life transitions. Her approach is warm, down-to-earth, and nonjudgmental, with a bit of humor when appropriate to ease difficult conversations.

She focuses on practical skills people can use day to day. Mary helps clients notice thoughts that get in the way, set small goals, and build on existing strengths. She pays attention to how family background shapes current patterns and gently guides people to find their own values and choices.

Mary uses a mix of methods depending on the person and the problem. She draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, solution-focused ideas, motivational interviewing, and client-centered listening. Sessions aim to be collaborative so the plan fits each person’s life and goals.

Her practice includes a range of common concerns such as stress, panic attacks, grief, caregiver strain, intimacy and sexual abuse issues, parenting stress, mood disorders, and aging and geriatric issues. She supports people navigating midlife shifts, divorce, and family conflict while paying attention to emotional and practical needs.

Mary believes people already have inner resources to cope and that therapy helps uncover those strengths. She encourages small, realistic steps that build confidence and lead to lasting change. To begin, visitors use the site’s Start Therapy flow to match and schedule a session.

How her approaches translate to online work

Mary commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her practice. ACT focuses on clarifying personal values and learning to accept hard feelings while taking steps toward a meaningful life, which can help with grief, midlife questions, and aging issues. CBT looks at thoughts, feelings, and actions to identify unhelpful patterns and practice different responses, useful for anxiety, panic and mood concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Mary works collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person’s needs, goals and preferences. She will help you try techniques and adjust the plan so it feels practical and manageable.

The biography indicates she has provided both in-person and online therapy. Please confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find that the same therapeutic tools used in person also work well in remote sessions when the approach is matched to their goals.