Therapists in Saint Louis Park, MN

Choosing a therapist that is a good fit for your specific needs, values, and methods for change can be challenging. There needs to be a comfort level and fit that will foster a positive and effective working relationship. The therapist's education, experience, competency, and certification, are essential to promoting positive outcomes. I have been working with women, men, couples, and families for 20+ years and have learned so much from clients regarding their concerns, hopes, dreams, and methods of change. My approach is Collaborative, Strengths-Based, and Solution-Focused.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist(LMFT) and work with adult individuals and couples. I work with a wide range of people surrounding topics of anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, along with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness(SPMI). I have a long history of working in-home with my clients and I have extensive work with individuals in crisis, SPMI along with racial, economic, sexual, and gender diversity. I strive to cater my therapy toward the individual and meet others where they are at in their healing process. I use a person centered approach and I am an inclusive and trauma informed therapist.

In the tapestry of life, the majority of happiness comes from the relationships we keep. Likewise, most suffering comes from relationships that are strained or fraying. From spouses and children, to extended family and friends – things can go sideways and quite quickly. When this happens bad feelings crowd out the good. Over time, painful patterns form, seeming to have a life of their own. Breaking these painful patterns often requires the skills of an objective, seasoned professional.

Life can present you with situations that are unexpected, stressful, and difficult to navigate through. Having a safe place to work on those issues are important to the therapy process. He provides encouragement and works with you on the ability to slow down and gain an idea of the deeper issues in your life and achieve positive life goals. Areas include helping the individual understand certain patterns/behaviors. Family/Divorce/child issues, drug/ alcohol addictions, gaming addictions, DUI /chemical evaluations, relapse prevention, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, and and divorce issues. Asperger's/autism issues.

I serve as a counselor, coach and consultant to individuals, couples, families seeking to make change. My approach is integrative insofar as I utilize practices from different approaches depending on what works for the client and what can be scientifically validated from the field of neuroscience; the work may involve verbal and/or somatic interventions to address problems and opportunities. I consider validation or empathy to be an important foundation for the work. Insight and awareness can also be critical; however, I also stress the need to try new actions to break old patterns that no longer work but are known and familiar.

My therapy practice focuses first on the establishment of client safety with the therapeutic process and non-judgmental respect for my clients.

Each year new research emerges highlighting the importance of intimate relationships on personal health and wellness. People who have satisfying connections with family, friends, and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer. For these reasons, I specialize in helping individuals, couples, and families improve the quality of the relationships they have with themselves and those around them. I provide practical information about intimate, long-term connection (based on current research), and offer specific strategies in response to clients' challenges and problems. My approach is collaborative, experiential, and strengths-based.

Life can be full of changes both difficult and easy, some wanted and others unwanted. How we react and adjust to these changes can impact our daily lives. I find that everyone has their own perspective on life and story to tell, and together we can help you to express yours and work towards the changes you may want to create. I understand that everyone is unique and so I work collaboratively with each person to understand their story and find an approach that makes sense for you.

Psychotherapy is something that happens between people...you and me. It is a process that I expertly and sensitively guide, but it is something that we experience together. Relationships, past and present, may be a source of pain, frustration, or fear...but they are also the key to unlocking your full potential. Together, we will work to alleviate your most pressing problems as well as to develop a fuller understanding of the deeper, underlying issues that keep you stuck in emotional and relational patterns that limit your capacity to more fully give and receive love.

We are all deserving of joy, optimism and healthy relationships. Being human is a vulnerable experience and there are things we’re not taught or prepared for. We all seek acceptance and to be loved and cared for, yet many of us may struggle to find that as a result of past relationships and experiences.

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.

As someone who shares experiences with some of the communities I serve (BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, military personnel, college students, & immigrants), I'm familiar with the journey toward self-discovery, empowerment, and positive change. My holistic approach allows me to individualize each client in understanding their experiences and constructing a purposeful life narrative. Together, we can confront life's challenges, externalize negativity, and align meaningful goals with their values, ultimately seeking self-discovery, building resilience, and reclaiming their power and self-worth along the way.