S6 E10: The Heart of the Work: Laughter, Empowerment, and Clinical Wisdom with Mary Dunn, LCSW

In this episode of CASAT Conversations, we are honored to welcome Mary Dunn, a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose decades-long career has been grounded in compassion, cultural awareness, and the power of human connection.

Mary’s professional path began in an unexpected place—the casinos of Lake Tahoe—where her early experiences observing human behavior planted the seeds for a lifelong career in service. With degrees in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology, she brought a deep understanding of systems and stories into her work across Nevada.

Her career included vital roles in child welfare and mental health, including time in Elko working in Child Protective Services, serving as a Psychiatric Case Worker at Douglas Mental Health Clinic, and taking on leadership as the Deputy Compact Administrator for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

Mary spent 2009 through 2012 as a Clinical Intern at West Hills Hospital, where she gained valuable experience but did not complete the required hours of supervision for licensure at that site. She later received her Clinical license while working at Family Counseling Service of Northern Nevada, where she provided direct care to individuals and families navigating complex challenges. She concluded her career as a Clinical Social Worker at Well Care, retiring in 2020.

Throughout her journey, Mary championed the importance of destigmatizing mental illness, using laughter as a bridge, and—most of all—empowering people to make meaningful, lasting change. With warmth, humility, and hard-earned wisdom, she reflects on the moments that defined her career and the lessons she hopes to pass on to the next generation.

In this episode, Mary shares:

• How her own personal traumatic experience sparked her interest in social work
• What she learned from her time in Elko CPS
• How humor helped her build rapport and foster healing
• A breakthrough moment that reminded her why client empowerment matters
• What sustained her through decades of emotionally demanding work
• Why second-order change—supporting deep, systemic transformation—is the heart of the work
• Her advice for new mental health professionals entering the field

Join us for an engaging and heartfelt conversation with a social worker who never lost sight of the human being behind the diagnosis—and whose career reminds us that healing starts with empowerment, trust, and a little bit of laughter.

Mary E. Dunn, LCSW is a retired Clinical Social Worker with over three decades of dedicated service in mental health and child welfare. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Nevada, Reno (2001) and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (1971).

Mary began her mental health career as a Psychiatric Case Worker at Douglas Mental Health Clinic and went on to hold key positions with the State of Nevada’s Division of Child and Family Services, including Social Worker and Deputy Compact Administrator for the Nevada Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

From 2009 to 2012, she served as a Clinical Intern at West Hills Hospital. She earned her Clinical license while working at Family Counseling Service of Northern Nevada, where she provided therapy to individuals and families. She concluded her clinical work at Well Care, retiring in 2020.

Now retired, Mary brings a legacy of compassionate care, cultural sensitivity, and advocacy for vulnerable populations—leaving an enduring impact on the field of social work and the countless lives she touched.