Compassion Focused Therapists in Downtown West, Minneapolis, MN

I specialize in serving adults age 18+ with with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. My philosophy is that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected, and these inform how we experience the world. I utilize evidence-based therapies such as CBT and ERP (exposure & response prevention) to help you challenge beliefs that are keeping you stuck or unsatisfied with life. When working together, I would first focus on building a connection with you. Then together, we would collaboratively navigate through the web of your mental health symptoms.

I'm an Italian-/Irish-American, cis-, queer, always-aspiring-to-be-justice-doing, tarot-card-pulling art witch and half-assed-Buddhist who also happens to be a therapist. A professional artist, teacher and mentor of artists for almost twenty years before becoming a therapist, I offer my full authentic self (this may involve some swearing). I am a solidarity worker. This is transformative change work that values your inherent wisdom and lived experience. My work is truly affirming, rooted in the idea that unconditional love for ourselves, when combined with our innate creativity and knowing, is the strongest healing power we have.

I have special interest and expertise working with university students, comorbid chronic pain & mental health concerns, grief & loss, multicultural issues & identities (e.g., individuals who are racially/culturally diverse or identify as LGBTQ), life adjustments such as parenthood, relationship concerns (friendship, family, and dating including sexuality/intimacy), career transitions, family of origins issues, identity concerns, personal growth, & trauma.

Do you consider yourself an anxious person? Do you have a loud inner critic that runs your life? Does it prevent you from trusting yourself to make decisions? If you're nodding your head yes to these questions, you may find that you cope by seeking validation from others, people-pleasing, and striving for perfection. You've likely noticed these coping strategies only provide a temporary fix to your suffering. They leave you feeling discouraged and worried your life will look like this forever. You're so fed up with living in this cycle of self-criticism that makes you feel ashamed of the person you are.

My policy is, come as you are, in whatever state that may be. Are you going through what feels like a never-ending cycle of intrusive thoughts? Do you often find yourself stuck in an anxious loop, that eventually leaves you stuck and unable to make decisions? Whatever the concerns are, I can help stabilize your mind and find solutions to maintain a general sense of well-being and mental clarity. Usually this starts with addressing our emotions, bringing ourselves to a calm place in order to acknowledge the problems. Big problems are usually small at first, no matter how trivial they are, and it’s completely okay to talk about them!

Accepting NEW clients for Telehealth and in person! I enjoy working with people of all ages, from early childhood to end of life, helping people work through where they feel stuck, with relationship issues, trauma and abuse, engage in healing, and live life authentically and connectedly. I work with clients from an array of various backgrounds and presenting concerns - including doctors, single parents, homeless people, students, professional athletes, veterans, retirees, inmates, disabled people, homemakers, business people, teachers and so forth.

My therapy style is relational and casual. I like to use humor and aim to be collaborative—if there’s something I can do or learn about to better help you, I want to hear it. Likewise, we all make mistakes, including therapists, so I strive to talk those through with you and help build a stronger therapeutic relationship. I hope to challenge the client/therapist power dynamic, meaning you are the expert on your life and our sessions should be guided by what you want and need. I love working with folks on exploring aspects of their identity and discussing ways oppressive systems show up in our lives.

We all have times when we run out of ideas about how to deal with problems in our lives. It can help to involve a new set of eyes and ears to see things from a different angle. We work to gain new skills and insights, and tap into our forgotten strengths, to create independence and lasting positive change. We look at the rigid and unhelpful patterns we have, and work together to form new ways of thinking and doing. While this process unfolds you are free to be your authentic self, without feeling judgment, powerlessness, or shame, in a safe and trusting atmosphere.

Working with a spirit of solidarity and using an insight oriented approach I help adults of all backgrounds gain insight, build confidence, and make meaningful life changes. My areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, abuse, relationship conflict, and relapse prevention. I strive to create an atmosphere of trust and comfort and to establish a strong therapeutic alliance. I have a keen awareness of diversity and multicultural issues, and the ability to work comfortably and respectfully with clients regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.

I am not currently taking new clients. In my practice I focus on the importance of the therapeutic relationship as a foundation for understanding how the brain and body interconnect, and respecting the client's own innate capacity to heal. I have experience working with ethnically and socioeconomically diverse individuals with a range of issues, including anxiety, anger, addiction, depression, grief, life transitions, and trauma.

Hi, my name is Willa and I am a Professional Clinical Counselor, licensed in Minnesota, and Nationally Certified, with more than fifteen years working as a counselor and life coach. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, ADHD, anger, relationship issues, parenting problems, co-parenting problems, addictions, and co-dependency issues. I also helped many adults and adolescents who have experienced physical trauma, sexual abuse or emotional abuse.

Send me an email to schedule a free virtual consultation. I work with people who are dealing with anxiety, depression, family issues, parenting and behavioral problems, work stress, trauma and abuse issues, autism spectrum disorders, family therapy, adoption issues, infertility, and self esteem issues.

If you are struggling with relationships, family, stressful work situations or living with other difficult situations, we can work together to help you feel stronger and more resilient. I've worked with clients from ages 18 to 80 and have a strong connection to the LGBTQ and college communities. I help clients grow through adversity by helping you to better understand what is most important to you in life. I help you to set goals that you want to work toward, and we work collaberatively to get you going in the direction that has the most meaning for you. I am currently accepting new clients through Lyra Health, an EAP company.

Just like every client is different, every therapist is different, and it's important to find someone who you like working with. We might be a good match if you are someone who is willing to try new things, as a lot of therapy is thinking about things in a different way. We could be a good fit if it's important to you that you can talk to your therapist about anything and not feel judged. I value creating a shame-free environment where clients can truly speak. Also we might be a good match if you enjoy humor in your sessions. Therapy shouldn't be all miserable. I aim for 25% miserable, tops.

I feel that understanding how health concerns and physical symptoms can show up hand in hand with mental health struggles is incredibly valuable. I believe that the better you understand how your body and mind interact, the more ability you will have to control symptoms. I have been trained to work with trauma, substance abuse, PTSD, chronic illness, family systems, couples, children, groups & individuals. My unique background in medicine also helps in working with individuals with chronic illness as well as individuals from the military, emergency services & medical personnel.

I'd be a good fit if you're motivated, curious, open, flexible in thought, committed to the therapy process, and willing to do hard work. I'll work hard, too. If your needs and goals are to feel calmer, have a more integrated sense of self, feel more secure and confident, to grow and expand your thought processes, to organize past life events, develop/increase spirituality, work towards independence, and promote holistic well-being through the use of evidenced-based techniques and theories, I'd be a good fit! I also love pets. I have 2 dogs & 2 cats. I have training and certification in pet loss and grief. I value all relationships.

We can all benefit from having someone to talk to while we work things out in our head. Whether it's COVID related stress, anxiety over bills, having difficulty expressing the way you feel, or parent / child reunification and communication difficulties, having the support of your therapist can make a big difference in the outcomes. You want someone that can consistently be there by your side as you work through these challenges but also help remind you of how incredibly strong and resilient you are as well. There is no need to travel through life without a little help from an encourager, an ally, a Therapist!

Every person needs a secure space where they can become their most authentic selves. I strive to approach therapy with radical genuineness, compassion, warmth, and humor. I believe that therapy at its best is a creative, judgment-free space between equals. This creates an environment where you can be yourself and learn to manage thoughts and emotions getting in your way. I like to incorporate techniques from DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy, attachment theory, body-centered approaches, sports psychology, mindfulness, body positivity, trauma-informed practices, and sometimes a dash of geek culture references.

I am passionate about working with individuals who feel disconnected from parts of themselves. Perhaps you are highly logical but struggle to identify or feel emotions. Or maybe you feel emotions so intensely that your sense of self gets lost. I use various modalities including narrative therapy, mindfulness, and the use of symbols and metaphors to assist in the discovery of a more expansive self where there is love, again or for the first time, for rejected parts.