Mary Widseth

Hello, my name is Mary Lynn Widseth, my passion is helping people learn to understand themselves and those around them. I currently hold a master’s degree in Community Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling. I am a licensed LPC(Licensed Professional Counselor) and certified as a CRC ( Certified Rehabilitation Counselor) whose area of focus is adults. I received my Master’s degree from Saint Cloud State University and a certificate in Autism and my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin -Stout with a degree in Vocational Rehabilitation. The experience I generated using my bachelor’s was working with marginalized groups of adults with cognitive, mental, physical, or communication issues related to working environments. During this time I facilitated group and individual placements and provided transportation. In addition, I provided on-the-job training so the individual understood how to perform their jobs efficiently. Communication with the staff, client, and employer was a crucial component especially when language is a barrier such as Sign Language and conversational Spanish. Another issue where I was able to understand barriers due to my impediments stemming from my diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy at a young age made it easier for me to relate to their struggles. This diagnosis helped me think creatively to resolve issues in environments where one side isn’t as strong as the other.
My experience post-master degree has been completing in-home therapy for children aged 7 to 18 and their families for 2 years and an additional 2 years working with adults and children in an office setting as a mental health therapist. During my 2 years in the office, I have worked with adults from many backgrounds including, transgender, bi-sexual, addictions, and surgical alterations of the body for improvement of physique and mental health. The biggest issue children have is in the area of behavior/ emotional regulation, communication, and social/ family relationships, which adults struggle with as well. I have used several techniques that have helped children and their families in resolving these issues. When working with adults I used many therapeutic methods to assist them with anxiety/depression, ADHD, Autism, relationship skills, and overall functioning. Another strength is that I have worked with individuals with language barriers using picture books, rebus boards, and sign language.