Emotionally Focused Therapists in Saint Anthony, Saint Paul, MN

Currently accepting telehealth clients! Healing from the past can be daunting. The vulnerability that comes with uncertainty can expose our fears and insecurities. Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Ben supports clients who have trauma reaction, anxiety and depression as well as those who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unfulfilled. He specifically enjoys working with motivated adults of all ages and has a special interest in treating trauma with EMDR. Ben has additional expertise for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, immigrants, and elders navigating later life stages and changes.

Current afternoon openings. I specialize in helping individuals and couples feel better to improve their relationships. Past hurts and experiences can cloud decision making in the present and relating to each other. Especially when it comes to stressors of daily responsibilities like marriage and parenting. Let’s work together using evidence-based techniques to stop your negative thoughts so you can make more positive mindset decisions. Triggers feel awful and there are proven remedies to help stop them. Together through therapy we can eliminate negative thoughts and memories that prevent you from being the best version of yourself.

Human beings do best when in connection with each other. When we are in pain, confusion, fear or sadness, we need support and understanding from others most of all. Yet we all, no matter who we are, experience the trauma of living within oppressive systems such as racism, sexism, weightism or homophobia. This trauma disconnects us from each other and from ourselves, and contributes to our personal pain. My hope is to support you in your personal journey of recovery and to move together with you in developing increased ease, resiliency and capacity for social change.

Therapists can't be good at everything. That's why I devote the vast majority of my practice to couples. Relationships are hard and we can find ourselves acting in ways that surprise even ourselves when things go wrong. So, you won't find me occupying the moral high ground, playing therapy tricks on you, or judging you. I'm marriage and relationship friendly, so I won't push you toward a crisis, a divorce or a break-up. As it is 50% of marriages end in divorce and upwards of 65% of second marriages end in a break-up, so if you have hopes and dreams for making things work, I'll be behind you 100%.

Growing up can be a hard won struggle. Learning to run your own life requires commitment and discipline. Create authentic relationships and satisfying work, expand a sense of inner guidance, and sharpen your purpose. I work with both men and women, however, my work with men has been especially gratifying. My experiences have shown they are capable, driven, compassionate and focused. They care deeply about their relationships and work and desire self-improvement and expertise in their lives.

Our lives are filled with moments, experiences, and connections that influence where we are now and where we hope to be eventually. I have experience working with young adults, college students, couples and people impacted by addiction. I specialize in working with individuals, couples and families who have experienced trauma. I am trained in evidence-based methods and my work is informed by attachment and family systems. My approach is thought-provoking, collaborative, and supportive, without shame or judgement.

CURRENTLY FULL, maintaining a waitlist. You feel shut down, trapped by negative feelings and memories. Unhappiness and worry are familiar companions. Negative emotions and thoughts interrupt the ability to be your full self. Unsatisfying relationships with friends and family sap your energy. You’d like to change the patterns in your life that don't seem to be working, but can’t find a way to do so. You want a therapist who accepts, understands and validates you, while offering real skills and strategies for dealing with your distress.

I am originally from Peru but I have lived in MN since 2004. Spanish is my native language. I also speak English fluently. I identify as a cis, straight, immigrant, Latina or Latinx woman & social worker. My work focuses on offering empathy, support, promoting insight, and working collaboratively to achieve goals. I strive to understand people's experiences within their own unique context and take into account larger community and social issues, and how they impact our experience.

You are considering divorce and fear how it will affect your children. Or you're divorced and met someone and want to blend your families, but are worried about the difficulties that blending brings. These family transitions are full of significant challenges such as grief over the breakup of the family, confusion over stepparent roles and responsibilities, hostile co-parenting relationships, jealousy of ex-spouses or stepchildren, and more. You want happy and healthy relationships with partners, exes, children, and stepchildren. You hope for a sense of "we-ness" as a new family unit and crave peace and balance in the future.

I work with couples, individuals, families and children online, via teletherapy, as well as in person. I support my clients across the life span to heal from losses and improve their relationships. I have extensive experience with LGBTQ issues, child development, adoption, sexual abuse, parenting challenges, divorce, suicide, and life transitions. My specialized training includes play therapy, couples therapy, and experience in infant and pregnancy loss, complicated or unplanned pregnancies, and infant/toddler mental health.

Personal growth and recovery is an ongoing process of finding the next reachable foothold on the way toward your goal. You have already begun the first step in your work by looking for someone to talk to. We will work together to help you figure out a path to your goals and to find the confidence to lift yourself to the next reachable step along the way. Common issues I work with include depression, anxiety, stress, relationship problems, concerns related to sexual health or sexual functioning, sexual and gender identity, trauma, and bipolar disorder.

Some of the issues I work with often include anxiety, depression, anger, lack of motivation, career-related stress, parental issues, sex and gender-related issues, and addiction. I work to create an environment that feels supportive, respectful, and collaborative. Together we will explore your challenges and find ways to get unstuck. Sometimes our goal may be to decrease the severity of symptoms, and sometimes it may be to understand what is missing in your life.

When life gets hard, practicing self-compassion often takes a back seat to your problems. You may be finding that feelings of hopelessness and negative self-talk have become barriers to your healing. Through therapy, we can work together to ignite your self-compassion by re-working your patterns of thinking, exploring your past experiences, and connecting yourself deeply with your emotions.

My goal is to create a space for us to work in therapy that nurtures vulnerability, curiosity, and compassion. I believe meaningful relationships are what helps us heal, so I focus on helping you develop more secure patterns of relating - to yourself and to your loved ones - so you can experience deeper connection and understanding.

Are you wanting to feel more in control and less overwhelmed? Sometimes feelings like guilt, depression, loneliness, shame, and fear can be painful and debilitating. As a therapist, I provide a safe, authentic, and nonjudgmental relationship in which people can address and resolve problems they are experiencing. I listen carefully and strive to be attentive, compassionate, and respectful. I partner with people collaboratively to better understand the sources of their problems so that together, we can find solutions and new possibilities for growth.

It's been a hell of a couple years, hasn't it? If you're finding yourself struggling in your personal relationships or feeling down, unmotivated, anxious, fearful ON TOP of the the stress and anxiety that these last couple of years has brought, I have good news for you. 1. You are not alone. 2. I can help. You absolutely can experience more happiness and fulfillment in your life. And you deserve to as well.

On the outside you look like you've got it completely together, but inside you're struggling. Perhaps you are self-critical, disconnected from others, or stuck in a job that is not the right fit. Or maybe you are enduring a painful dynamic in your relationship with your romantic partner, parent, child, friend, or co-worker. If any of these resonate, self-exploration can help you discover the root cause of your shame, loneliness, disconnection, existential angst, and stagnation. With help, you can cultivate a kinder relationship with yourself, deeper connections with others, and a more meaningful life at work and beyond.

I believe that the more we try to change ourselves, the more we become stuck. My goal in our therapeutic process is to understand, as best as I can, what it’s like to be you. By exploring and understanding the obstacles that have hindered your growth a spontaneous process of change and healing emerges. I aim to support you on your unique journey of self-discovery as you navigate life’s challenges and the existential dilemmas we all face.

I especially enjoy working with motivated clients wanting to develop a greater understanding of where they have come from and heal from their past traumas. Those struggling with a dysregulated nervous system, anxious, or simply stuck are a delight for me to walk along side. I have a strong passion for working with individuals/couples who have endured difficult experiences in their younger years and need some help with healing. Highly relational and compassionate, I prioritize relationship and trauma interventions in the midst of healing wounds. Licensed in Minnesota (in person/virtual)& Iowa! Virtual visits only for Iowa residents.