Marriage Counseling Therapists in Minneapolis, MN

As a systemic therapist, I think of people kind of like nesting dolls: we all go through life as the little one in the middle, whole and independent, yet undeniably we are nestled in larger contextual structures. I will meet you with compassion, humor, and non-judgment in the therapy space, holding your whole picture in mind as we work together to integrate the realities of your context with the realities of your heart. All parts of you are welcomed and held. I am a queer-identifying provider and enjoy supporting clients in navigating their own identities.

Hello, I'm Heather. I enjoy working with people from a variety of backgrounds whom have different needs. I often work with individuals, couples and families with complex concerns ranging from learning about yourself to addressing the challenges that hinder you from being able to live the life you desire. Trauma and attachment are common concerns that I see that impact many areas of life. Sometimes the hurts are recent; sometimes they happened long ago; sometimes they are still happening. I utilize a variety of theories and models specifically tailored the person/couple/family.

Becoming a parent often brings up a wide range of emotions. Sometimes it is the long awaited reward after struggling with infertility, or bearing the grief of miscarriage and loss. Sometimes it is the excitement of adding to a growing family. Sometimes it is the fear of reliving physical, emotional, or mental pain and hardship. Sometimes it is grappling with the societal and cultural expectations of parenting. The experiences that arise for parents during conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenting deserve a space for specialized care and attention. This specialized care is what I offer in support of your goals.

Have you tried talk therapy in the past or are you looking for a new innovative approach to traditional talk therapy? How do you feel toward your life? You may be good at keeping up appearances on the outside, but on the inside, you may be struggling with parts of yourself that are feeling overwhelmed, angry, impulsive, lost, sad, lonely, stressed, burnt out or stuck and reactive to people or situations. I help people learn how to calm their nervous system, heal their stories, and lead with awareness.

My style has been described as warm, relatable, encouraging, and witty. Using a holistic approach that takes the body, mind and spirit into account, I help you look deeper to understand the patterns, thoughts, and beliefs that shape your behavior. As a former teacher, I also enjoy learning and sharing knowledge about psychological concepts with clients.

I believe that the best therapy is radically empathetic and real, that all people hold the innate capacity for healing, and that there is courage, strength, and healing when we are able to express and release our emotional pain. With more than a decade of experience providing psychotherapy to individuals from all walks of life, I assist individuals arrive at their own truth and walk towards living a more authentic life: one that that is more in line with who they are, what they believe, value, and want for themselves.

Jackie is passionate about helping others succeed in improving their mental health and chemical health symptoms so they can live an optimal healthy life. She utilizes Positive Psychology concepts and Motivational Interviewing which are both a form of strength-based approaches. Motivational Interviewing has been defined as “a collaborative, person-centered form of guiding to elicit and strengthen motivation to change”. Jackie also uses an informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

We all have times when we run out of ideas about how to deal with problems in our lives. It can help to involve a new set of eyes and ears to see things from a different angle. We work to gain new skills and insights, and tap into our forgotten strengths, to create independence and lasting positive change. We look at the rigid and unhelpful patterns we have, and work together to form new ways of thinking and doing. While this process unfolds you are free to be your authentic self, without feeling judgment, powerlessness, or shame, in a safe and trusting atmosphere.

I am honored to work with individuals, couples and families who experience conflict and disconnection. With couples and families this may look like: infidelity, lack of intimacy, sexual concerns, parenting challenges, broken trust, lack of communication, difficult transitions and not feeling validated. You will have a safe place to share your reality, while being held accountable. Let's get you seen and heard by one another!

I am passionate about working with youth, adults, and couples. You will find me to be an active listener and a mindful therapist. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) in my work with clients.

I believe when working with people you must look at all aspects of their being; the mental, biological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural to address issues being experienced. Our work as therapists is to work as guides, along with the client, to explore deeper issues that are manifesting in their lives. I seek to find an integrative approach with each client that best fits their needs. Providing a safe and empathetic environment, informed by mindfulness, Polyvagal Theory, and other therapeutic theories and methods, I work to empower and develop skills that provide positive change in client’s lives.

Understanding the self is the first step toward change. Through compassion, reflection and skill development one has the opportunity to remove obstacles in the form of beliefs, mobilize one's inner resources, reduce suffering and create a more meaningful life. I have worked with adults who have survived trauma/abuse, struggled with problems in mood and thought and experienced self-worth injuries.

I work from a non-judgmental, non-shaming, non-pathologizing perspective. My role is to help clients understand, heal and/or transcend underlying and often unconscious patterns that manifest as addiction, anxiety, depression and so many other complex ways our lives get stuck, stagnate and lose vitality. I am certified in NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), which is a globally recognized modality for resolving Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). Through our work together, clients report feeling more ease, freedom and energy to pursue a life that allows stuck energy to move toward growth, wholeness and fulfillment.

I'm a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in evidence-based psychotherapy for adolescents, adults, couples and families. I have an expertise in evaluating and treating anxiety, depression, trauma, current life stressors and transitions, grief, loss, and relationship difficulties. I also have specialized training and experience in working with mental health issues across the female lifecycle, chronic illness, and pain. Before moving to Minnesota, I served as faculty at Weill Cornell Medical Center and Columbia University Medical Center in New York and Case Western School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.

Current Openings (/22)! As a therapist, my primary goal is to create a warm and inviting space where you feel safe to explore your emotions at your own pace. I believe that healing happens best when it's guided by empathy, understanding, and a genuine connection. In our sessions together, I'll be there to listen without judgment, offering support and guidance as we navigate your journey towards personal growth and transformation. I understand that each individual's path to healing is unique, and I'm committed to meeting you where you are on that journey.

I am only accepting relational clients. I believe it is so important to be curious, compassionate, and present. When you find yourself looking for assistance, you know what that better future would look like, and in collaboration we can work on exploring how to get there. You are the expert of your life, and my duty is to provide a safe space to explore. Sometimes it can be harder to explore and be present in an oppressive social system like the one we are surrounded in, especially for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. I have experience working with non-monogamy, relational conflict, communication improvement, and family systems.

My policy is, come as you are, in whatever state that may be. Are you going through what feels like a never-ending cycle of intrusive thoughts? Do you often find yourself stuck in an anxious loop, that eventually leaves you stuck and unable to make decisions? Whatever the concerns are, I can help stabilize your mind and find solutions to maintain a general sense of well-being and mental clarity. Usually this starts with addressing our emotions, bringing ourselves to a calm place in order to acknowledge the problems. Big problems are usually small at first, no matter how trivial they are, and it’s completely okay to talk about them!

The stories we tell ourselves are just as important as the stories we tell those around us. We all deserve the healing that comes with being able to express who we are in a way that feels true. Therapy can be a supportive and safe place to explore the different parts of yourself and help navigate experiences as you move towards this most authentic version of yourself. My passion is working with individuals and families as they begin to explore these questions of identity and place in their communities. I work with my clients in a relational focus environment to discover tools and insights that support health and healing.

In therapy I value equity, collaboration, humor, and patience. I believe in a holistic approach where we see you not as a set of symptoms, but as a whole, complex, capable human being. You are the expert in your own life– in our work I will strive to provide support, reflection, and camaraderie as you seek out a life that fulfills you. I love working with couples, families, adults, and teenagers. As a queer, non-binary therapist, I prioritize creating a safe and affirming experience for queer and LGBTQ+ folks.