Mary Ruhland, LISW, CSW-PIP

Mary Ruhland is an Iowa licensed social worker with 30 years of clinical experience. She holds LISW and CSW-PIP credentials and focuses on helping people manage depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and anger. Her work often addresses relationship strain, isolation, and major life transitions.

Mary favors a straightforward, person-focused approach. She listens for what matters most and then helps people try practical steps that fit their day-to-day lives. Sessions include clear problem-solving alongside attention to emotions that keep repeating or getting in the way.

She uses several evidence-informed methods to guide the work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to spot unhelpful thinking and test new behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are introduced when emotion regulation and impulsivity are central concerns. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method shape work on relationship patterns and communication problems.

Mary also draws on client-centered principles to keep the process collaborative and grounded in each person’s priorities. She helps people cope with shame, abandonment worries, body image struggles, and issues around intimacy or trust. Practical tools for panic, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress are part of her toolkit.

People who choose her work together to set clear goals and try techniques between sessions. The focus is on learning ways to respond differently to anger, hurt, and fear so daily life and relationships feel more manageable.

How Mary’s approaches translate to online work