Chronic Pain Therapists in Duluth, MN

I have 12 years of experience working in the mental health field with children, adolescents, and adults. As a pre-licensed therapist who is licensed in Minnesota, I specialize in working with individuals dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, women's health and perinatal mood disorders, and chronic pain and other physical health disabilities.

Are you unhappy with the current version of yourself? Or dealing with unrelenting pressure and feel like you’re drowning & can’t keep up with life’s demands? Or maybe you are trapped by your thoughts and finding it hard to get out of your own head. I was right there where you are. I had built a “successful” and “normal” life so I was happy, right? Everything looked good on the outside, but internally, I was a mess. The chronic pain, spacey-ness, irritability, and unrelenting pressure never seemed to stop. I was unhappy and lost in this version of myself, it finally became too much.

I have many years of experience in human services; including the fields of mental health, social services, education, medicine and crisis intervention. I have worked with a variety of populations; urban and rural, racial and ethnic, cultural and religious, age and socio economic level. I have done counseling with children, adolescents, families and individuals. I have skills in crisis intervention, diagnosis and assessment, short term counseling, and group work. I have worked in the areas of sexual and domestic violence, serious and persistent mental illness, chronic pain and disease issues. I help clients adjust and cope with life changing events.

Our minds and bodies are the sacred lands of our experiences, containing forests of stories, shifting winds, rivers of emotions, and fields of sensations, ranging from painful to pleasureful. When the landscape is disturbed by stress and trauma, the ecosystem shifts out of balance toward pain. By skillfully bringing mind and body together, with the heart of altruistic intention to improve our lives for ourselves and others, we gain capacity to navigate with clarity, calm inner storms, heal rifts, and drink from the waters of fresh perceptions. Through deep listening, movement, attention, and imagination, insight dawns.

Life is a stroll alongside a river—beautiful scenery bursting with vibrancy and opportunity but filled with unanticipated peril. One moment, your direction seems sure; the next moment, you’re stuck in ruthless rapids. The origin of the rapids varies: they can form from the loss of a loved one, pervasive negative energy or illness, or a traumatic event in your life. In my practice, I primarily work with adults ages 19 and beyond who live with chronic pain and illness, terminal illness, grief stemming from death or loss, spiritual pain, developmental trauma, PTSD, depression, and/or anxiety.

One side of this work may involve pursuing wisdom, guidance and support. The other, involves pursuing healing into our deepest self. Some concepts to explore are... How do you make sense of and think about your world and self? How do you experience and manage your emotional world, what are your survival styles and patterns in relationships, distress and behavior? In what ways do you carry emotional pain and trauma on a body level, impacting you in known and unknown ways? I'm trained as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner to work with the release and resolution of trauma that can be trapped in one's physiology and nervous system.

Each day offers a new opportunity to live the best life we can. Counseling can help when barriers like anxiety, shame, grief, interpersonal conflict, and illness make each day exhausting or frustrating. Taking a fresh, empathetic, and non-judgmental look at your situation will help.

‘We all have a story to tell, whether we whisper or we yell’. It takes bravery and resolve to begin steps towards change, be it personal, or professional. I understand how fear and doubt can keep one from reaching out, connecting, recognizing their obstacles, and realizing their path and potential. I strive to provide a safe, collaborative, nurturing, and validating space for clients to share their story and a place where we will work collectively to make sense of it to create an atmosphere for change. I use a variety of therapy models and techniques, tailoring my approach to a client's individual needs. One size does not fit all.

I work with individuals to address sexual health related issues that may be getting in the way of a healthy and satisfying sex life. I help couples and individuals to improve overall sexual health and connectedness, while also working to improve overall relationship satisfaction and communication. Issues may include: sexual pain, desire discrepancies, orgasm problems, discomfort with your body image, sexual boredom, etc. I recognize that change can be difficult and seek to provide the support you need to achieve your goals by listening to you, helping to identify the outcome you desire, and motivating you to reach your goals.

We offer flexible hours, including night time and weekend appointments. We realize when you are in crisis, you need to be seen as soon as possible. We will work with you to get you in within one week. We will even try to offer you a same or next-day appointments.Today you are one step closer to a new you where you feel empowered and on a positive path to growth and well-being. Our goal is to help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating.

We all want a life of peace and ease; however, life includes challenges and struggles with painful experiences. Fortunately, modern, science-based mental health interventions help people reduce suffering and live life with more meaning and engagement with the world. I can help you identify personal values, develop unique strengths, build coping skills, and experiment with behavior changes. Our work together will help connect you with who and what you most care about and help you build a fulfilling and active life.

More than just a way to capture attention, the spelling of Inner Fōkus also carries a personal meaning to the founders. The name is a nod to the German heritage shared by both Dr. Lori and Dr. Patrick, since “fōkus” is the correct spelling of “focus” in German. Our heritage, culture, and environment can have great impacts in shaping who we are. Our name, Inner Fōkus, also serves as a prominent reminder of the importance to occasionally break from current patterns and try new things.

"Tomorrow, you promise yourself, will be different, yet, tomorrow is too often a repetition of today." James T. Mccay. Research has repeatedly shown that the single largest factor impacting treatment outcomes is not a provider's treatment methodology or theoretical orientation, but rather the quality of a client's relationship with their individual provider. Consequently I work with each client to design a carefully researched yet highly customized program that fits their unique needs. I am able to form a realistic plan for improving their life situation that brings about improvement in their symptoms quickly.

Hi there! Are you trying to cope with anxiety that feels like it is getting in the way of your everyday life? Are you trying to improve your social skills and grow your friendships and relationships with others? Whether you are currently facing mental health challenges in your life or are looking to work towards growth and change, there is space for you here. My goal is to provide you with a supportive and nonjudgmental place where we can start to process your experiences and challenge internal rules, perspectives, and expectations. Let's build a life worth living and sharing.

I enjoy working with a variety of patients and feel comfortable addressing a diverse array of presenting issues. I have over 30 years of experience in the mental health field.

I love working with teens and adults who are looking to make positive changes in their lives and are ready to heal from a variety of issues, including trauma exposure, PTSD, depression, anxiety, or family and relational issues. I think the relationship between therapist and client is the basis for healing and progress in therapy.

Throughout my career I have prioritized a person centered approach with a focus on promoting resilience, empowering people, and fostering a positive and inclusive therapeutic environment. I truly believe in the power of building strong therapeutic alliances and creating space for individuals to explore their emotions and navigate life's complexities. I have worked with all ages, while more recently primarily late teen years through late adulthood, and I have a passion for working with people who identify as female and folks within the LGBTQ+ community. I value non judgmental care and open communication as well as body positivity.

Nicole is a firm believer that trauma and addiction go hand and hand. "It too effects our bodies. A lot of times clients are unaware of that early in their recovery, and they have been using substances to cope for years. I am driven to teach my clients about the mind body connection by the teaching and exploring of somatics, negative thoughts, unconventional coping skills, i.e., such as breathworks, and by exploring safety and its meaning within themselves. Seeing other people's light shine again and finding themselves is the fuel to why I do this healing work."

Hello. I am a licensed clinical social worker dual licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin with over 30 years of work experience in the medical and mental health fields. I strive to help clients develop healthy coping strategies to navigate life struggles. I have a direct but compassionate style, while providing a non-judgmental environment with a strength based and collaborative approach. I have experience helping clients through a wide range of mental health concerns including; depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, grief& loss, health anxiety and life transitions.