What I Do

 

As someone who loves to explore and loves living in Minnesota, my son and I spent 8 years traveling to all of Minnesota’s 75 State Parks. It was a blast. The first thing I did when we got to a park, was go to the office, get a map, and ask the park ranger what their favorite thing to do or see in the park was. Their job was to tell me what was possible, what the good, better and best sights were, and show me how to get to them. Our job was to take that information, decide what we had time and energy to do, and hit the road. (The top picture is one I took after a 30 foot walk to the fishing pier at Lake Monson State Park. We caught no fish. The bottom picture is one I took after a difficult 3 mile hike to the mysterious and stunning Devil’s Kettle at Judge Magney State Park. No one knows where the water goes from the upper falls! The bottom one was definitely more rewarding, but I’m glad we went to both.)

 

In the therapy process, I am like the park ranger. I’m here to show you what might be possible, what the good, better and best options are for healing in your situation, and give you the tools and the map of how to get there. Your part is to decide what you have the resources to do and start the journey.  As a therapist, it is such a joy to share with my clients what I know and what is possible. And as a fellow traveler, I can also tell you that spending yourself on a grueling journey is worth the reward at the end, be it a scenic view or a deep personal or interpersonal healing.

 

How I Do It

I am an IFS Trained Therapist and I have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT). I use these two models as my primary way of working with clients (For more information about these models  go to the About Therapy tab). I also have training and background in EMDR and Discernment Counseling. I am an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist. I work with clients who are dealing with issues surrounding trauma, anxiety and depression, sex/sexuality and intimacy, relationships, infidelity and spirituality and religious trauma. I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with the Minnesota State Board of Marriage & Family Therapy (License # 3279) and have a Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy.

 

Why I Do It

 

I love it! It’s really as simple as that. I love getting to be a part of people’s joy and pain. I love helping people heal from wounds they got 50 years ago and last week. I love seeing people love others and get loved by others better. I love being a part of helping people unearth their best, truest, most beautiful selves. I spend my days with real people, living real lives…what’s not to love! (This is the real me kayaking, something else I really love)

 

 

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”

– Frederick Buechner