Personality Disorders Therapists in Minneapolis, MN

Holly McKinley, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist who utilizes evidence-based principles to help people feel effective in managing their mental health and build a life congruent with their values and goals. Dr. McKinley primarily utilizes cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies to build treatments tailored to each person’s needs. She specializes in treatment of serious mental health conditions, including psychosis spectrum disorders, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and personality disorders. In addition, she specializes in providing gender-affirming care to TGD individuals.

I have significant experience facilitating Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for adults living with personality disorders as well as adolescents struggling with mood disorders and self-harm behaviors. I enjoy working with adolescents to effectively manage depression and anxiety symptoms, irritability, reactivity, relational stressors, communication issues, grief and loss, and self-esteem issues. I also like teaching skills and strategies to their parents and caregivers to they can feel resourced when supporting their young loved one outside of therapy.

I believe it takes courage to begin the process of change. With that spirit, I try to embody the African Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I believe we can all heal, change and grow, particularly when we have support and love in the process. I feel deeply honored to walk arm in arm in therapy with the clients I see. In both my therapeutic work and personally, I value humor, compassion, and sincerity. The therapist you choose is someone whom you’ve entrusted to build a safe and healing relationship.

Therapy is a space that should welcome the full depth of our human experience, rather than just focusing on a collection of symptoms. I offer a space for you to explore and better understand the whole spectrum of your experience: ranging from your greatest strengths and joys to your greatest challenges and pains. From a place of safety and warmth, we can begin to meet whatever it is that needs to be said, felt, expressed, or understood within you.

I believe that all humans have the strength and wisdom within to find their true and authentic selves. Seeking one’s self requires vulnerability, courage, and connection to others. Oftentimes, this process can be interrupted by living in a world that says who you are and how you exist is not okay. You can heal from traumatic experiences that may have left you feeling unsafe, untrusting of others and isolated. Taking the courageous step in asking for help is the beginning of you tapping into your own wisdom and strength. I am grateful to be trusted to walk with you on your journey as you start to heal.

Now Accepting New Clients! My area of expertise is centered around working with individuals with a history of mental health disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, OCD, personality disorders, PTSD, childhood disorders, SPMI, poverty, LGBTQ+, life changing events such as Grief and Dying. In addition, I have ample experience working with clients dealing with self-harm behaviors, suicidal ideations, chronic stress, and low self-esteem. Clients who see me aim to develop coping and adaptive skills to manage life difficulties, resolve conflicts, heal traumatic experiences, work through where they feel stuck, and engage in healing.

So often in life we think the key to finding happiness exists in something outside of ourselves. We change jobs, partners, friends and cities only to find ourselves exactly as we were, living with the same problems and patterns, and ultimately in the same self-imposed prisons. As children, we intuitively develop adaptive solutions to maladaptive situations that enable us to protect our hearts and minds. Unbeknownst to our consciousness, these self-deceptions no longer protect us, but in fact compromise our capacity for growth.

I welcome the unfiltered essence of You. I enjoy working with couples, polycules, and families. As an immigrant, I am passionate about issues regarding ambiguous loss and intergenerational trauma. I practice through a non-pathologizing lens that respects the social and environmental context of your experience. Using Narrative, Cognitive Behavioral, and Attachment theories, I work collaboratively with your past and explore how it informs your present. Together, we can take inventory of ideologies you want to keep, and shed those that were passed down to you without your consent.

Looking for an individualized and collaborative approach to therapy? I'm passionate about helping others identify and integrate all pieces of themselves in order to feel more whole. We will work not only to improve your current coping skills and life functioning, but also to create a life of intention and meaning. *Although I'm not taking new clients at this time, I do supervise and oversee several therapists in training. Please email me if you would like to connect about scheduling with one of these therapists.*

Life can seem overwhelming at times which may lead to feelings of loneliness, pain, and fear. I work with clients and help them to be mindful in the present moment, utilize healthy coping skills during times of distress, regulate emotions, and teach individuals how to build and maintain healthy relationships with themselves and others.

Now Accepting New Clients! My area of expertise is centered around working with individuals with a history of mental health disorders such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, bipolar disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, personality disorders, PTSD, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. In addition, I have ample experience working with clients dealing with self-harm behaviors, suicidal ideations, chronic stress, family conflict, and low self-esteem. Clients who see me aim to develop coping and adaptive skills to manage life difficulties, resolve conflicts, heal traumatic experiences, and develop a healthier sense of self.

My experience includes working with children and adolescents who have a history of abuse, dealing with emotional difficulties (including anxiety and depression), and working with life transitions. I have worked with children and adolescents in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting providing crisis support and dealing with concerns related to suicide, self-harm, or aggression toward others. I have worked with adults who have been diagnosed with mood disorders, personality disorders, and medical concerns. I have experience working with many diverse populations and am mindful when working with patients.

Entering therapy is a bold, brave commitment to examining your life as it is and creating the life you choose to live. As a therapist I use a variety of modalities to assist you in reaching your particular goals. Cognitive behavioral therapies are effective for treating a variety of issues and insight-oriented therapies are better suited for other issues. You and I will map the therapy course together, collaboratively. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is extremely important and strive to create a warm, approachable and genuine therapeutic alliance.

I currently work with individuals, partners, and families. My area of passion and expertise is gender and sexuality. I also view therapy and self-care as an act of resistance and believe it can help individuals with marginalized identities cope with minority stress and systemic oppression. I am currently seeing clients virtually if you live in MN. I work with almost all mental health diagnoses including anxiety, depression, panic disorders, PTSD/CPTSD, bipolar, personality disorders, DID, and schizophrenia/delusional disorders. I also have specialized experience in substance use and eating disorders.

My commitment is to help you make positive life changes. There are times when we are faced with obstacles and difficulties that interfere with growth and development, preventing us from achieving goals and aspirations, and diminishing our happiness and wellbeing. Psychotherapy provides a safe, nonjudgmental setting to discover solutions to challenges. With the powerful tools of communication and insight, I will help you identify counterproductive patterns and habits preventing you from living an optimal life. Together we will recognize and build upon your strengths and skills, develop new resources and strategies, and discover beneficial, healing ways of approaching your life.

Are you not feeling quite right, and maybe not even sure why? Is it hard to be around others (partners, family, friends) and perhaps even be alone with yourself? Being misunderstood is exhausting. Working collaboratively with you, I would like to understand your personal experience and problems so that we can work toward a life that is more meaningful and less distressing.

I've been working with adults and teens for over 47 years. My approach is empathic, direct, and thoughtful. Given I have a wide background in my training, I adapt my therapeutic approach to your needs. I find that effective therapy is a collaborative approach where we work together to understand your concerns, their origins and most importantly what can be done to bring about both the internal and behavioral changes that will be beneficial to you. My goal in therapy is to help integrate your shame and vulnerabilities into a healthy identity grounded in self-esteem and pride.

I believe that understanding, accepting, and committing to our values is an integral part of recovery and creating a meaningful life. I aim to provide tools and support that allow individuals to resolve their past and thrive in the present. My professional experience and training is focused on providing advocacy and guidance for adults seeking management and relief from PTSD, substance use concerns, mood and anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.

Now Accepting New Clients! Hope, insight, validation, and change are things I strive to provide the individuals that I work with. With over 15 years of experience as a therapist working with adults (18+) who experience PTSD, eating disorder, personality disorders and mood disorders, I believe it is crucial to create a safe, non-judgmental space to practice therapy. I approach therapy from a client centered approach to build a solid, therapeutic relationship and practice from a trauma-informed perspective.