- 40 years experience
- Strengths-based approach
- Goal focused
About Mark
Dr. Mark Thelen welcomes people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward. He focuses on practical help for stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction concerns, and issues that affect intimacy and relationships. He invites a steady, respectful approach and aims to make the first steps feel doable.
Mark is a Minnesota psychologist with 40 years of professional experience. He has worked in community mental health centers, hospital units, small clinics, and now in private practice. He believes each person knows their own story and brings strengths that can be used to change things that feel painful or limiting.
In sessions he listens closely and helps people identify what is getting in the way of better days. He uses conversational, goal-focused methods that clarify patterns and introduce practical tools. He aims to support people as they build habits that reduce worry, improve sleep, and manage difficult emotions like anger and shame.
Dr. Thelen blends methods from client-centered work, cognitive behavioral approaches, and narrative and solution-focused ideas. That means he pays attention to what matters to the person, looks at unhelpful thinking and behavior, and tries small, manageable steps to create change. He also brings trauma-focused perspectives when past events continue to cause trouble.
People who reach out can expect a calm, steady presence that encourages small experiments and ongoing learning. He supports work around codependency, family of origin issues, and life transitions while helping people set realistic goals and measure progress.
How common approaches look in online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the person. It helps when someone needs space to tell their story and to feel heard while deciding next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and uses clear exercises to test new ways of thinking and acting. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep troubles, and impulsive behaviors.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the person to choose methods that match the goals, strengths, and preferences they bring. That collaboration can include checking progress and adjusting the plan if something is not helpful.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It can also let a person continue care when life circumstances change, while keeping focus on practical tools, sleep routines, and managing stress and emotion.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns can I bring to therapy here?
Mark works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, addictions, grief, sleeping problems, and related issues such as codependency and family of origin concerns.
What is the general style of therapy?
The approach is conversational and goal-focused. Sessions emphasize listening, clarifying patterns, and trying practical steps to reduce symptoms and improve daily routines.
How much experience does this therapist have?
He brings 40 years of professional experience in community mental health, hospitals, smaller clinics, and private practice settings.
What are the therapist's credentials and location?
He is licensed as MN Psychologist 2992 and practices in Minnesota.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with this therapist?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How much do sessions cost and how are they billed?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with this clinician?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.