Family Therapy in Plymouth, MN

Feel like things aren't going well at home, work or school, but not sure why? Your relationship(s) aren't working? The trust disappeared from your marriage? Your Teenager/Tween overwhelmed and you're not sure how to help? Have they turned to drugs/alcohol/video gaming? Making unsafe choices for themselves or others, or they lash out with anger? Do they lack motivation? A young adult attempting to launch or parent trying to help them launch and finding it difficult? We'll find out what's going on and then make a plan to move forward towards wellness.

I am a licensed psychologist who has been working in the field for over 25-years. I provide professional and compassionate individual and family therapy services to adults, adolescents and children who are experiencing a variety of stressors in their lives including, but not limited to, symptoms of depression, adjustment issues, grief and loss, anxiety, relational issues and issues due to the natural transitions in life. I also provide therapy addressing issues related to divorce with families who are invested in maintaining a positive co-parenting relationship.

Worried about your child's behavior? Struggling with parenting? Concerned about your adolescent's self image or self harm? Stuck in a negative cycle with your significant other and unsure how to connect again? Coming to terms with divorce and co-parenting? Wanting to improve family communication? Battling the shadows of depression and anxiety? Wanting change in your life but not sure what? Seeking therapy is hard and deeply personal. You are the expert in your life and I strive to make each client feel accepted, safe and understood. Together, we can discover your unique path to change and healing within yourself and relationships.

I work with teens and adults struggling with anxiety, work/school and relationship issues. My specialization, however, is in marriage & family therapy using a systems approach and many methods introduced by John Gottman. I'm advanced trained in Discernment counseling as well. Finally, I work on the entire spectrum of relationships from dating to pre-marital to transitions or divorce. I also provide parenting coaching. I am also trained as a divorce mediator and help many people with parenting plans.

Do you seemingly have it all, but still sometimes feel stressed out, overwhelmed, frustrated, or anxious. Are you struggling with your relationships at home or at work. Perhaps there is a family history of alcoholism or absenteeism. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are often prevalent with successful, type-A, perfectionist personalities. Maybe you take care of everything and others, but feel like something is missing for yourself. There is hope for you to find peace, happiness and fulfillment. Together we can identify your strengths and learn to manage your struggles and discomfort. The experience of therapy can change your life.

If you're feeling burned out, stressed, or overwhelmed, I'm glad you're here. Maybe you're struggling with anxiety, feelings of low self-worth, or with relationships ( family , friends, or significant others). Burnout and stress can show up in dissatisfaction with our body image or a difficult relationship with food. Maybe you're feeling stuck or unhappy with your current job. While it is normal and natural to experience discomfort, I am confident we can work together to help you feel more at ease more of the time and to connect your life with your values.

Sometimes, we get stuck in problem-saturated stories. I see challenges from the perspective of a narrative. We tend to see our world in story form with themes and plots. Sometimes these become troublesome and not the story that we want to tell about ourselves, our marriages, and our families. Sometimes, these stories can lead us to believe that we are not good enough people, parents, or spouses which can cause depression, anxiety, marital and parenting issues. I believe that people have power over these stories and I help to uncover newfound strengths and resources through conversation and experiential interventions.

I've been in private practice since 1997, specializing in working with complex family systems and children and adult victims of trauma and grief/loss. I work in creative ways to help marriages be healthy and life giving. As a Parenting Consultant, I work with divorcing families on co-parenting issues or on reunifying parenting relationships. I work with area schools as a chemical health consultant, with families that need an intervention for a loved one, and after care following chemical health treatment.

Accepting New Clients! - Whether you are experiencing anxiety, depression, or life stressors in general, I know it can be difficult to get up and find motivation to manage responsibilities each day. Perhaps your thoughts and feelings are getting in the way of you fully engaging in everyday activities such as school, work, or communicating with family and friends. As time progresses you might begin losing interest in hobbies and start avoiding people or certain situations more frequently. Now you are looking for ways to sort through those problems and find solutions.

Are you or your loved one experiencing challenges related to autism or Asperger's? Do you need a therapist who understands your family and your unique situation? If you are an individual or family living with autism and are looking for a safe place to process your feelings, address trauma, improve communication or problem solve daily challenges, I would be honored to help. As both an experienced therapist and a parent of a young adult with ASD, I understand how autism, Asperger's, anxiety or ADHD impacts you and your entire family .

For 22-years in my career as a counselor, I have had a deep passion for working with children, teenagers and their families. I care deeply about children and teens and in supporting and guiding their parents to support their children when they are struggling. I witness beauty in adolescents and their struggle. I believe that they are trying to find their place in the world yet may need support. I helps families navigate these challenges. I also love working with adult individual clients on various issues. I am honored to help individuals, parents, children and teens to see and to reignite their own strengths.

I am passionate about helping people live an authentic life free of the suffering that comes from trauma, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. I use a variety of modalities to determine how your past has defined and directed your life so that together we can create a new narrative for healthy living. If you want to get beyond the pain and begin to live life more fully, I would feel honored to work with you in this transformation.

We spend our lives in relationships--with family , friends and most significantly our spouses or partners. Those relationships can be fufilling and provide great happiness. But sometimes relationships can become frustrating, stressful or emotionally exhausting. Working with an experienced therapist can help you determine the real problematic issues and what could help to improve the relationship. You may want to evaluate if your relationship is truly healthy or not. I see adults, and adolescents.

As a human navigating this ever-changing world, it is my belief that we each hold knowledge, power, and peace within ourselves. However, it is fair to say that we don't always feel this way. I have experience working with individuals experiencing anxiety, shame, depression, life change, and trauma. My therapeutic goal is to hold space for you, support you, and help you enrich your life. I am committed to social justice and believe that systemic dynamics influence a person's mental health. I continually strive to have a validating space for all identities, and I advocate for anti-oppression on both community and systemic platforms.

I've helped many clients work through difficult challenges they're facing and would like to help you too. I have a very straight forward, assertive and somewhat irreverent communication style. We work hard, bravely dig as deep as we need to and have some belly laughs along the way. My clients appreciate how real and raw it can get, they feel free to share the good, bad and the ugly. If you're ready to be a good student I am a good teacher = Let's roll up our sleeves?!