Therapists in Hennepin County, MN

At our centrally located Golden Valley location, we offer compassionate, person centered care for individuals, couples and families. At this and all our locations, we believe you, the client, are in the foreground of our work.

I believe the problems we experience in living are woven into the fabric of our lives and rooted in enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others. These problems develop in relationship to others over the course of our lives. And it is in relationship—a relationship in which the attentive presence of another is truly and deeply felt—that these problems can be healed. In an atmosphere of curiosity and acceptance, we will work together to deepen your awareness and understanding of your needs, desires, and patterns of relating so you may experience greater freedom and fulfillment in your life.

***Not taking new clients at this time.*** Therapy can provide the resources, skills, and support to make positive transformations in your life. I'm sensitive to each individual's needs, goals, and comfort with the therapeutic process. My philosophy around change includes looking at past relational and emotional experiences, developing skills to manage difficult emotions in the present, and gaining insight into what might be creating barriers to a satisfying life. I offer this guidance in the context of a safe therapeutic relationship. I incorporate self-exploration and coping skill development to help reach your desired goals.

Is your child struggling at school? Is it difficult for them to comprehend? Do they struggle to stay on task? Are they getting in trouble for talking too much or fidgeting? Is homework not getting done? Are they struggling with making and keeping friends? Do they have sensory issues? I can help to figure out what may be underlying these behaviors. I have training in school neuropsychology, so I can identify learning disabilities (like dyslexia and dysgraphia), and provide you with specific suggestions for your child's learning to reach their best potential.

I am dedicated to the belief that every person has an emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual life that needs to be supported and nurtured. In a setting that is caring, supportive, and ethical, I work to empower individuals, couples and families to manage their own well-being. I am committed to treating my clients with dignity, gentleness and respect.

Welcome! My approach to therapy begins with you – your goals, hopes, and dreams for the future. However, you may be at a place in your life where those hopes seem distant, maybe even impossible to reach. I believe our partnership could bring those goals into clearer focus and a day-to-day reality. My approach brings a combination of skill building and insight orientated approaches to regain a sense of agency in life. Collaboration is extremely important to me – we are partners working towards your goals, those things you want to be different.

We are created for connection. All of us are searching for meaning, purpose and belonging. We are made to be in relationships with each other. Our relationships provide an opportunity for life's greatest joy and greatest heartache. All of us experience the brokenness of our world and fall short of relational wholeness. Each of us a unique combination of biology and experience, which results in unique challenges, vulnerabilities, strengths, and hopes. I believe everyone has the insight, ability, and potential to thrive in our human experience and sustain a meaningful life.

Psychotherapy is a collaborative treatment based on the relationship between you and Dr. Sandra Smith-Hanen. Dr. Sandra will help you to navigate life’s challenges in a supportive environment. It is her goal to help you to verbalize openly in a nonjudgmental atmosphere. Together you will work collaboratively to determine, adapt and develop a new mindset and behavioral actions to help you develop the needs and goals you want.

Are you tired of feeling anxious or depressed? Do life circumstances all too easily stress you out? If you want to find peace and gain control of your emotions; I can help you move what may seem like an emotional mountain. Together we will uncover the life events, thoughts and physical health issues that contribute. Together we will build strategies for greater health. Find that tiny mustard seed of faith. Have hope because Jesus took a beating for your healing. Don't leave that healing in God's storehouse of blessings. Reach out for it! Don't just seek to stop pain. Seek the fullness of healing God has for you in this life.

Has the cost of therapy been a barrier to you in receiving the support that you would like? Our vision is to make quality psychotherapy available to all. Our clinical staff offers day and evening appointment times.

I work alongside those experiencing life transitions, identity concerns, self-esteem issues, relationship issues, ADHD, autism, religious trauma and substance abuse issues. Sometimes what we need is to express ourselves in a compassionate, non-judgemental space to talk about inner experiences, as well as process and recognize opportunities for change. In speaking about our concerns, rather than keeping them to ourselves, we can slow down and re-examine our lives. Examples of goals for therapy can include increased self-awareness, acceptance, learning new ways of being and re-evaluating or reframing thought patterns.

Therapy is a relational dynamic process. I work to create a nurturing, compassionate, safe space that honors individual healing processes. My integrative holistic approach to psychotherapy means that I combine attachment theory, neuroscience, cognitive behavioral theory, and psychodynamic theory with the wisdom and insights from mindfulness-based practices, creative expression, and nature. Working with me, you will gain insight into your emotional world, understand how you work, learn what gives you comfort and contentment during difficult times, develop new coping skills to help during times of anxiety/depression, and make changes in your life so you can live more fully.

Megan’s ideal client is a child, adolescent, partners, or parent(s) seeking understanding, meaning, and healing in their life and in their relationships. Often, these are clients that have already begun their journey; they’ve read books, taken quizzes, or have completed a workbook and yet, it’s still not working. The ideal client is ready to try something different to reach their potential. Honoring our humanity and the world we live in, I utilize an umbrella approach that begins with a Trauma-Informed and Attachment Lens. Under the umbrella, are approaches used to meet the client where they are at and enable new skills to develop.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist since 2011, I have experience working with , youth, adults, families and couples dealing with communication issues, concerns about child development, family conflict, childhood/adult trauma, and life transitions. The goal of our work will be to identify effective behaviors & improve the ability to communicate and work towards healthier relationships. I do brief solution-based work as well as long term in-depth work and incorporate psychodynamic, attachment, and cognitive behavioral approaches. My goal is to create a nurturing, open and honest environment, where we face life's challenges together.

NO Current Openings: Kelly Johnson is an LMFT working towards her Registered Play Therapy credentials. Kelly has been supporting children, adolescents, and adults in various in-home and outpatient settings. Kelly currently works with ages 3+ focusing on anxiety, depression, adjustment (life changes), relationship issues, stress, postpartum and parenting concerns. In her practice with adolescents and adults, Kelly utilizes a narrative, structural, and CBT approach in her work to discover a person’s story and work through their hardships. In her work with children Kelly utilizes experiential play therapy.

Finding the right therapist is an important and courageous step in the process of creating a more fulfilling life. I believe that everyone has their own answers. I will work collaboratively with you and offer you support, feedback and perspective to help you move forward. We will build on your strengths to work toward the personal growth that you are committed to achieving. I work from a developmental perspective, where we will look at what you are experiencing in the context of your life's experiences. I will provide a non-judgmental, safe space for you.