Asian Therapists in Minnesota

*Limited availability* I collaborate with my clients to identify and examine their unique life narratives and how those narratives inform their life experiences and relationships. Together, we will explore the unique barriers you face and we will work together to minimize the impact of those barriers, practice new ways of thinking and behaving, and create new life narratives. **I will move to Iowa City to pursue a Ph.D. Counseling Psychology degree during July 2022.**

When Henry Thoreau gazed at the summer tree and said that “the tenderest fruit needs the tenderest handling,” as a therapist, I believe it's equally true to our mind and our experiences. The problem is the problem, and the person is not the problem. My role as the therapist is to create a safe and intentional space for you and to lean into the inner strength that may be shadowed by past wounds, present stress, or the hopelessness of the future. I work with individuals who are struggling with past traumas, cultural or racial identities, and adjustment issues.

I support individual adults (18+) in addressing challenges, some of which include healing and wellness from depression, anxiety, trauma (generational/PTSD/racial), life transitions, stress, low self-esteem, and cultural and relationship challenges. In doing so, I utilize person-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed, and systemic approaches in therapy with specific techniques from ACT, narrative, DBT, CBT, and EMDR. Clients can expect unconditional care, a sense of authenticity, respect for their unique story, and yes, even a space for humor when participating in one of my sessions.

I work with children, teens, adults, elderly, couples, parents, and other family systems. I focus on treating depression, anxiety, self esteem and identity issues, grief/loss, trauma, and challenges with sex and sexuality. I enjoy working with families to strengthen parent-child relationships to increase secure attachment and positive parenting skills. I have passion for working with second and third generation Asian Americans by helping them explore and process their personal identities, cultural values, and trauma and/or racism they have experienced in life.

You may be at a point where you are feeling depressed because you feel alone and misunderstood. Changes in your life are overwhelming. Life and relationships are difficult to manage. You may be thinking that you “should” be stronger and not let things bother you so why do they? Your marriage has a lot of challenges and you and your spouse do not see eye to eye. You are an LGBTQ identified person and are feeling stuck. You are encountering roadblocks in your personal life and relationships. You want so much in life, but nothing seems to come together for you.

I help people who are stuck in painful cycles of conflict, who are ready to learn how to heal, break free and move forward. People who have come to me find that I have a keen ability to hear them from a deep-subconscious level; that I can help them become more self-aware and empowered into improving several areas of their life. More often than not, when I meet with people they feel like they have tried everything. That is why I don't believe in wasting peoples time, nor do I throw out unnecessary tools and tactics. This means that I am highly attentive to what realistically works best for you.

Welcome! My name is Arisa Lyseng (she/her) and I am a licensed professional clinical counselor. I work to create a safe, encouraging, and restorative environment where we can build a strong therapeutic relationship. I use a person-centered approach in therapy to meet you where you are at and understand your worldview through your experiences. I will collaborate with you on exploring your hopes and needs. Through our work together I hope to bring in curiosity, new skills, new insight, and self-discovery for you.

We all have our own unique story, and sometimes are faced with challenges that prevents us from moving forward onto the next chapter. Therapy can provide us with clarity, a better understanding of ourselves, and empowerment to overcome those difficulties. By being aligned in our essence, and living our truth, we can develop a more meaningful, healthy, and balanced life.

Congratulations on taking this brave first step toward change. We’re here to help! We provide a safe, reliable, and open environment to explore your concerns and help you achieve your goals. Whether you are coming to work on trauma, anxiety, depression, life change/stress or other goals, we are here to help in a nonjudgmental and compassionate space. We can support and guide you along your journey and we feel honored to meet you where you are and help you delve deeper to care for your true self. We welcome and affirm everyone from all walks of life including all ages, ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, & gender identities.

We all have a purpose in life, along with gifts and abilities to fulfill the purpose. My goal is to assist you achieve this purpose by walking together with you when you are going through difficult times. I believe that relationship is the key to change. Healthy relationships with ourselves and others not only empower us to overcome the pain and hardships of life, but also promote personal growth. I will provide a safe and trusting environment where you can experience the power of healthy relationships and discover ways to build and maintain them for change and transformation.

You're feeling hopeless/helpless, overwhelmed, fearful, lost and looking for a safe compassionate space to explore these emotions to better understand yourself. The past 2 years have been challenging in many ways and transitioning to a new normal can feel unsettling. Difficult life transitions can lead to you feeling numb, depressed and highly anxious. You are not alone in your emotions, I provide a safe, culturally sensitive, compassionate space utilizing therapeutic techniques that are specific to your struggles to help you create lasting change.

I believe that when we explore our identity and life experiences from a place that feels safe and compassionate, we discover our unique strengths to overcome obstacles and take action in the direction that feels most aligned with our deepest values. I specialize in multicultural issues and trauma-informed care with my clients. I have extensive experience helping clients work through depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, relational problems, LGBTQ+ and gender specific issues, as well as culturally specific concerns.

If you are concerned about COVID 19, you can attend virtual counseling sessions with me in the comfort of your home or office. (More below.) I tailor my approach based on your needs. I use a holistic approach to achieve cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being by incorporating a variety of methods customized to individualize your needs. The counseling methods I use are cognitive behavioral therapy, somatic and Somatic Experiencing, relational life therapy, trauma focused behavioral therapy, internal family systems, attachment, psycho-dynamic, mindfulness, guided relaxation, and mind-body work.