Mary Ruhland, LISW, CSW-PIP
Therapist in Iowa
Mary Ruhland is a licensed independent social worker in Iowa with 30 years of clinical experience.
- License 01284, 3229 · Iowa, South Dakota Expires December 2026, December 2026
- NPI 1326030545 · national registry
- Experience and languages 30+ years in practice English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Mary
Mary Ruhland is a licensed independent social worker in Iowa with 30 years of clinical experience. She helps people facing depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, addictions, and self-esteem concerns. She aims to make therapy straightforward and practical for those feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
Her work often centers on improving communication, coping with panic and mood symptoms, and addressing intimacy-related struggles. She also supports people dealing with isolation, life transitions, body image, and relationship fallout such as divorce or separation.
Background and approach
Many clients come for help sorting through guilt, shame, or grief after big losses. Mary combines several approaches to meet each person where they are. She uses the Gottman Method alongside client-centered work, cognitive behavioral strategies, and elements of dialectical behavior therapy and emotionally-focused therapy.
Sessions focus on clear skills, emotion work, and better day-to-day coping rather than jargon or long theory talks. Her style is warm and practical. She helps people build resilience, improve communication, and find safer ways to handle strong feelings.
Expect straightforward conversations, skill practice, and attention to concrete goals. Mary works with adults who want steady, experienced guidance through difficult moments. She explains options, listens for what matters most, and adjusts the approach as progress unfolds.
If someone wants a calm, experienced presence while they work through pain, she offers that steady support.
Credentials
- LISW (Iowa)
- License 01284 · expires December 2026
- CSW-PIP (South Dakota)
- License 3229 · expires December 2026
- NPI
- 1326030545 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the therapist lists and checks neither.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Mary lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Anger management
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
Approaches Mary names
- Gottman Method
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
These are the approaches Mary names on their own professional profile. Naming an approach is not evidence of training or certification in it, and this directory checks no training records. Ask directly if it matters to you.
Online support
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Mary uses the Gottman Method to help people improve communication and manage recurring conflicts; this approach emphasizes concrete skills for interaction and rebuilding connection. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening, empathy, and helping people find their own answers. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used for practical symptom relief such as reducing panic, shifting unhelpful thoughts, and building coping strategies.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and emotion work. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when people prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging allow shorter check-ins and flexible timing between regular sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family, and travel while still working on communication, coping skills, and emotional healing.
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Frequently asked
What concerns does Mary commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, depression, addictions, and intimacy-related issues, among other concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and practical, combining client-centered care with CBT, DBT skills, EFT, and Gottman Method ideas to focus on communication and emotion skills.
What kind of experience does she bring?
Mary has 30 years of clinical experience helping people navigate mood disorders, panic, post-traumatic stress, and life transitions.
Where is Mary licensed and practicing?
She holds Iowa LISW and SD CSW-PIP credentials and practices with a focus on clients in Iowa.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on the client's needs.
How are costs handled?
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 schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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