Trauma and PTSD Therapists in Minnesota

Hi there! You're here because you found the strength and courage to look for a therapist! Perhaps you are looking to better understand yourself, or you are ready for change, or both. Whatever your unique challenges may be, and wherever your unique journey may have taken you so far, you get to determine the path forward. You can heal yourself, no matter how dark it seems. You can gain confidence, you can accept and love yourself, and you can change your life. I am here to guide you, encourage you, and teach you skills/tools that you need to overcome challenges, hardships, stressors, and trauma.

I come into this work with a dozen years of experience working in mental health and social services in Central MN with people of all ages. Though my expertise is in Trauma and Neuropsychology, I'm here to support my client's through whatever reality they're facing. A self proclaimed "outside the box" therapist, I apply a variety of therapeutic approaches to meet my client's unique needs. I genuinely believe that with the right information and support, anyone can change their life - so my style often reflects a teaching style where I can translate centuries of data into practical tools that you can use to create the change you seek.

My primary goal with therapy is to assist clients on their journey towards an increased sense of self awareness, understanding, and acceptance. I am passionate about working with adults of all ages, couples, and families. I also have experience working with co-occurring (mental health and substance abuse) disorders.

I love working with adolescents and adults. I value the importance of empathy, connection, and understanding within the therapeutic relationship. She utilizes a relational and strengths-based approach. I work to help clients develop skills to improve their ability to cope with and manage ongoing life stressors. I am an experienced clinician, LGBTQ+ affirming therapist, who has experience working with trauma, anger, sexuality, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, ADHD, effective communication, relationships, and attachment-based issues.

Austin believes that we are all searching for our own meaning in life, and that we make our own meaning. Stemming from a person-centered standpoint, he meets people where they are, holding space and walking with clients down their own paths as a guest in their personal journey. He combines an Adlerian and existential framework with cognitive behavioral, EMDR, and solution focused techniques to assist clients in making meaningful changes in their lives, tapping into the client’s inner strengths along the way. Austin also uses revolutionary methods incorporating technology and virtual reality into session.

I have been in the counseling and psychology field for the past 20 years. I know that it is difficult to ask for help. However, people sometimes need additional support beyond their family and friends. I work with, adults and adolescents that experience low self-esteem, relationship problems, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, addiction, trauma, and have trouble regulating their emotions. If you are a parent looking for services for your child, I am a registered play therapist and I will work with your child to resolve fears, worries, sadness, and build healthy esteem and assist you in providing on-going support to your child.

Relationships are a vital part of all life. We learn about ourselves, others, & the world around us through our relationships. Trauma, oppression, abuse, emotional wounds, grief/loss, & many other challenges can be overwhelming, create disconnection, & leave us feeling hopeless. Under certain conditions those challenges can offer us a place from where we can learn, heal, & grow. This process is not linear and is unique to each of us. I'm dedicated to creatively collaborating with you to bring more ease and authenticity into your life & relationships.

Are you tired of dealing with life's issues alone? In today's fast-paced environment, the weight of depression, anxiety, stress, grief and trauma, can take a toll on a person mentally, physically, and emotionally. This leaves you feeling overwhelmed, angry, frustrated and exhausted! With the right therapist, you can take control of your life by reflection, self-awareness, creating balance and working towards living in your highest potential. You put so much time, energy and resource into every other area of your life except where you need it most...on yourself! Remember- mental health is wealth!

I have learned that almost everyone who comes to see me has experienced or is experiencing some sort of trauma, dysfunction, chaos or challenging situation that is causing barriers to them living their ideal lives. It greatly impacts their functioning and makes things that used to be easy, difficult. My goal is always to help individuals heal from their trauma and identify solutions to challenging situations through guidance, support and encouragement. I am not here to solve problems for you, but alongside you.

Making the decision to go see a psychotherapist is a true act of courage. I honor you for taking this courageous step. I offer an integrative and holistic approach to counseling that helps clients move toward a deeper understanding of integration and well-being. I view psychotherapy as a vehicle for growth and change, and as a process that must be tailored to each individual’s needs and unique identity. I offer respect and deep interest in your life experience, and am here to listen to everything you have to say without judgment.

It is a big step to start therapy, and I understand what a challenging experience it can be. Having a sense of connection and safety with your therapist is a big part of being able to do the life-changing work that can happen in therapy. I am committed to create a safe space for you through showing up with compassion, authenticity, and a dose of humor. I collaborate with clients to help them grow in their awareness and make changes to improve their overall quality of life. I specialize in working with clients experiencing symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression, identity struggles, and relationship challenges.

I provide Individual counseling via both telehealth and in-person for individuals ages 12 and older at CARE Counseling's Lake Elmo/Woodbury location or via telehealth. I most often work with individuals who experience difficulties with Trauma, body image or self esteem, gender dysphoria, mild eating disorders, stress, anxiety, OCD, depression, and more. I use an Integrated approach of primarily feminist, psychodynamic and exestential therapies, but often pull from other lenses depending on an individual's unique circumstances.

Are you feeling stressed or anxious? Do you feel like you've tried everything but nothing has helped? Are these issues impacting your relationships or your job? There is hope!

Living in this world can be hard, and we all need some help making sense of it from time to time. As a therapist, I hold a space full of humility, humor, and deep, genuine care as you explore your relationship with yourself and with those around you. Using a trauma-informed lens, I will walk beside you as you uncover insight, understanding, and resources that you have had all along. I have a passion for helping clients explore ways that we are impacted by oppressive systems and am LGBTQ+, nonmonogamy, and kind affirming. Above all, I will prioritize being authentic and fully present with you as our conversations unfold.

I enjoy working with individuals and couples seeking to build and sustain healthy relationships. I use a strengths-based approach that helps clients gather the resources within to work toward positive change. I believe we all need a little help now and then for life's curveballs and challenges and I am passionate about helping others feel empowered to better themselves and their quality of life. I am an EMDR trained therapist for work with trauma and pain. I work with the Veterans Resilience Project to treat veterans with PTSD. I have daytime openings for new in-person clients in Annandale, MN.

Are you caught in cycles that leave you exhausted? Do you want to have better relationships but find them splintering? Are you self-critical in your efforts to obtain perfection? Do you find yourself shutting down or shutting off? You don't have to suffer in silence. Nor do you have to leave any part of yourself behind - I work with the whole person. Our identities often intersect with our struggles and our strengths. I'll meet you where you're at, and help you get where you're going. Whether you are just starting or looking to maintain your recovery from eating disorders, trauma and/or OCD, together recovery is possible.

I am currently waitlisted about 8-9 weeks for new patients. I use an Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach to psychotherapy. I am enthusiastic and passionate about the IFS model and adhere to the belief that there are no bad parts of ourselves, just parts we haven’t had the chance to become friends with yet. As an IFS therapist, I assist my clients with restoring harmony in their inner family systems through Self-leadership. The goal of IFS therapy is to assist parts in relaxing from extreme roles (reducing mental health symptoms and challenging behaviors) and to heal from our past experiences (trauma, shame, 'burdens').

My approach is strength-based, client-centered, and trauma-informed. I strongly believe that treatment is most effective when it is collaborative, and clients are met where they are in their journey towards healing and recovery. Together we will build a strong therapeutic alliance to address the struggles and stressors that are present in your life.

Clients I have worked with have come to me for: Help with figuring out why they keep dating the wrong people; An intense sense of not feeling good enough; Imposter Syndrome; Feeling trapped in their life situations; Burnout at work and/or in relationships; Noticing they are always the peacemaker and/or caretaker; A lack of autonomy and control in their lives; A lack of joy or believing they don’t know how to be happy; A sense of isolation, feeling cut off from others; A sense of guilt anytime they do something for themselves; Feeling motivated by guilt to do things for others; Have experienced a loss and are navigating grief