About Mark
Dr. Mark Thelen welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or worn out by life’s demands. He speaks plainly and offers steady support when anxiety, stress, or grief make daily tasks harder.
With a calm, practical presence he helps people sort priorities and find small steps forward. He practices in Minnesota and brings 40 years of experience from community mental health centers, hospital units, smaller group clinics, and a independent practice.
How Mark works
His approach treats the person, not just symptoms. He listens first, then helps identify what is most important to address together. Sessions focus on clear, manageable goals.
He draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking and Client-Centered ideas to follow each person’s lead. He also uses narrative and solution-focused methods to reframe problems and identify practical next steps. People contact him for concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, relationship strain, sleep difficulties, and addictions.
He also supports those dealing with parenting stress, grief, bipolar concerns, and life transitions. He pays attention to patterns like impulsivity, codependency, and communication problems that get in the way. Thelen emphasizes collaboration and respect for each person’s story.
He helps translate insight into real changes like better routines, clearer boundaries, and calmer reactions. For people who want straightforward, experience-based guidance, he aims to make therapy useful and doable.
Mark lists 6 ways of working on the entry:
What Mark works with
The areas below are the ones Mark selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Avoidant personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Workplace issues
Training and background
| Register | MN Psychologist |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 40 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Minnesota |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches that work well in online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the person's lead so the conversation stays focused on what matters most. It helps when someone needs acceptance, clearer self-understanding, or a steady space to figure things out. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, targets the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and provides practical exercises to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and improve sleep. Solution-Focused Therapy zeroes in on small, achievable steps and strengths to produce change quickly.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options and tailor methods to the client’s goals, preferences, and the particular problems they bring. This collaborative process helps decide whether to emphasize skill-building, exploration of meaning, or short-term problem solving.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit a short break or use less bandwidth. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, ongoing coaching, or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options make scheduling more flexible and help keep therapy consistent around busy lives.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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