Dual Diagnosis Therapists in New Brighton, MN

I work with families who have experienced a variety of traumas in my work at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Much of the that job involves counseling parents who have lost an infant or child, or who have a child with chronic health problems, or whose child has a life threatening condition. In addition, couples who try to have another child after a loss have specific needs. When interventions are available to address the trauma of child illness or death right away, we can sometimes reduce the severity of the struggles with their trauma.

I am a dedicated therapist who provides empathy, compassion, and humor in individual therapy sessions for children, teenagers, and young adults. I am passionate about working with individuals who have experienced trauma that arises as depression, anxiety, and behavior difficulties. Childhood experiences often continue to influence our lives as we transition into adolescence and adulthood. Clients that I work with tend to have difficulties with asserting boundaries, experience low self-esteem, adversity to stress, and perfectionistic tendencies. I welcome you to give space for you or your child to process life experiences.

I work with clients to guide them on their path by helping them to build self-awareness into how their thoughts, feelings and behaviors have impacted their lives. I believe that one of the most important parts of therapy is to develop insight and awareness into our inner selves, and only then can we start to effect changes in our lives. I also strongly believe that building self-compassion and self-acceptance is important in therapy, as the relationship we have with ourselves can greatly impact how we show up in other relationships in our lives.

I have helped many people succeed with life transitions that were struggling to make changes on their own. It’s difficult to know what to do when you’re hurting while also navigating a change in relationship or job or moving. It can feel very isolating. In therapy you’re able to take the time for you to get the answers you’re looking for and the relief from the pain. If you are a person who is suffering from separation or divorce, a person who is anxious about a change in career, or has experienced trauma(s) that impact you today I can help.

I work with adolescents and adults as a collaborative, supportive partner to improve mental health and overall wellbeing. My therapeutic approaches integrate cognitive, behavioral, and insight-focused strategies. This warm and personal style helps clients work through ingrained and unhealthy patterns that keep them stuck in emotional distress and unfulfilling relationships. I have a mindful and holistic perspective, and emphasize integrating mind, body, and spirit in healing. I address many presenting issues in addition to welcoming concerns about physical and mental health. I am trained in clinical hypnosis, and enjoy working creatively to find effective solutions to inspire lasting change.

Through personal experience during my time in the military as well as occupational experience working within the chemical dependency field I have seen first hand the curveballs that life can throw at us sometimes. But the beauty is that you don’t have to walk through these experiences alone. Some of the biggest signs of true strength come from embracing our vulnerability and reaching out to ask for help. I embrace empathy, curiosity and humor when working with clients. I work with adolescents (15+) and adults. My areas of interest include working with individuals struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression, and trauma.

I believe through trusting, compassionate relationships and connecting with the wisdom of the body and the inner Self, it is possible to find wholeness, growth, and fulfillment. I have been a Licensed Alcohol and Drug counselor since 2008, working with substance use and trauma, before completing my master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I work with couples and individuals ages 17 and older. Anxiety, trauma, attachment injuries, healing from the impacts of addiction, and couples work focusing on reducing protective responses & increasing feelings of safety and security are specialty areas of mine.

Starting therapy can often feel like writers block. You are ready to compose and illustrate your story, but may feel bewildered on how to begin. The scene is set, the characters are in place, but the plot lines may be out of focus or seem beyond your grasp. This is where I can be of help. It is my privilege to hear your narratives, your characters and your scenes in order to validate, honor and share in your growth. It would be an honor to assist in making meaning of your story for whatever chapter of life you are in.

Vulnerability drives the therapeutic process which leads to personal growth and transformation, however, the path to vulnerability lies in the collaborative relationship between the therapist and the client. It is essential to understand that the journey toward healing starts with a deeper understanding of oneself, followed by acceptance of who you are before any positive change can be achieved. The central themes and patterns that we develop during the early stage of our lives play a vital role in the quality of relationships that we develop with ourselves and others as we transcend into our adulthood.

I work with individuals (adults and adolescents), couples, and families. I enjoy working closely with my clients to treat a wide variety of medical and mental health conditions. My specialty areas include mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, complicated grief, and severe mental illness. I also work to help individuals and families cope with the psychological challenges associated with a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions, including cancer, rare developmental and genetic conditions and organ failure/transplant. I particularly enjoy working with armed forces veterans and their families, as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

I work primarily with adults that desire to live a life without symptoms of trauma, addiction, codependency, anxiety or depression. I believe healing is possible by reconnecting to your authentic self and rediscovering your beliefs & values. I have witnessed my clients achieve and maintain lasting change through the use of skills and changing unwanted behavior. Along the way, we make the healing process fun and easy. I gently challenge clients yet hold space for vulnerability and trial & error. I connect with clients by being authentic and encourage clients to be the same.

We are a group of psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and marriage-family therapists committed to providing high quality and comprehensive mental health care for adults, adolescents and children. Whether you arrange individual therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, meetings with a psychiatrist to discuss medication options, or psychological testing to better understand the problem, our fully licensed and credentialed clinicians coordinate all of these services under one roof. When you visit a BHSI clinic, you can expect strict confidentiality and skilled, compassionate care. For your convenience, we offer flexible appointment scheduling.

My clients can change anxiety, ADHD, autism, or pain with live heart and brain feedback called biofeedback or neurofeedback in online visits. Clients control music volume on their phones with their calm attention levels with free biofeedback equipment I provide. It is easy mindfulness therapy for kids and adults. It is proven to work as well as medication for anxiety, ADHD, and pain. I have years of experience as a therapist, and have taught clinicians at The University of MN Medical Center and elsewhere. Insurance covers this service. To schedule a 20 minute call, click here: https://neurotherapy.intakeq.com/booking