Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum Therapists in New Brighton, MN

You've likely encountered significant hurdles in life, whether it's trauma, depression, or anxiety. These challenges may leave you feeling overwhelmed, searching for a path through the darkness. If you're an adolescent or adult, you might be wrestling with the complexities of growing up or the pressures of adulthood while carrying these emotional burdens. For those facing pregnancy, postpartum, or fertility issues, additional emotional layers can complicate this deeply personal journey. In your search for solace, understanding, and guidance, you seek support in navigating your way through these challenges.

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.

Do you or your teen struggle with anxiety, depression, or a life transition that is affecting your day to day life and relationships? Do you constantly feel exhausted from trying to be perfect or trying to make sure every one else is happy? Maybe you feel like your emotions are too much for you or others to handle, which is impacting your relationship with yourself and others. Do you wonder if there's a better way to cope with your emotions and life's stressors? Perhaps there are parts of yourself that you don't like or that confuse you, and you wonder if you're enough just as you are.

At various points in life we can become frustrated, stuck or confused and uncertain about how to move beyond the frustration or confusion. I welcome adolescents and adults who find themselves in a difficult place in life and are eager to move forward in their lives. I see these as valuable opportunities to engage with clients to make sure I understand their current situation and their desired outcomes, even when the client may be initially unsure themselves. I will provide the direction needed for you to more clearly see those goals & from there we will work together to identify an array of options available for forward movement.

My clients have described me as thoughtful, empathetic, wise, and funny. I am not a bobble-head that will nod along to anything you say and just keep asking you, "and how does that make you feel?" I'm engaged, I'm funny, and I'm direct. I'm kinda like hard candy. I'm sweet and I can deliver challenging things when needed. With creativity and humor, I will guide you to explore other paths and options. I operate from a holistic lens, welcoming the all aspects of you and your family, including sexual orientation, gender expression, racial and cultural messages, religion and spirituality into the therapeutic exploration.

I specialize in working with those experiencing Anxiety, OCD or persistent stress related to parenting and/or life transitions/adjustments. Together, we can work toward increasing your personal sense of trust, confidence, security, and safety within your relationship with self and others. Your experience will involve personalized sessions focused on enhancing awareness, digging a little deeper, and identifying realistic and actionable steps toward achieving your short-term and long-term goals toward leading a more fulfilling and sustainable lifestyle. I also offer the option for clients to incorporate their faith for those who wish.

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.

Figuring out life is not easy, especially if you're trying to do it alone. Feeling heard, understood, and cared for with someone who is authentic & compassionate can be vital for your health, happiness, & wellbeing. When I meet with a new client, whether as an individual, or as a couple or family, I support each person so they do not feel alone while sorting out the hard stuff that can get in the way from finding peace. I'm compassionate, understanding, and intuitive & will meet you where you are to ensure a relationship where you feel connected, safe, & empowered. Starting to create a better you is not easy. I'm here to help.

Living in hell? I am here to help. If you are experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, or BPD, I may be a great fit for you. I provide skills to alleviate symptoms like suicidality, self-harm, emotion dysregulation, relationship problems, sleep disturbances, and feeling out of control. If you are diagnosed with a medical condition, have cognitive impairment, or are a caregiver, I also may be a great fit. I find value in supporting clients and their families through life-changing medical events or diagnoses, end-of-life care, and disability. Let's work together to help you move through and out of hell.

Sometimes all you need is just an ounce of hope. Maybe it comes from the lifted burden of a listening ear. Maybe it’s a new way to see a situation, or even experiencing an “aha” moment. These hopeful nudges are what fuels my passion for counseling. I work with clients to help achieve these moments so that you will feel better, think clearer, and have a better overall picture of life. As a therapist who has worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, I welcome the opportunity to work with anyone who is willing to risk being vulnerable in order to grow.

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.

If you are looking for a therapist who is present, genuine, and offers a caring and therapeutic space, then we might be a match. I love working with clients who are brand new to therapy and might feel a bit nervous. And clients who have been in therapy previously and may already know what they want out of the experience. Wherever you are on your journey, my mission is to meet you right where you are and walk alongside you to achieve the goals and dreams you have, or perhaps work to develop them altogether. I am also trained in Brainspotting which can be especially powerful for clients with a history of trauma.

Are you facing a challenge threatening to steal your joy and peace? You may be constantly disappointed in yourself, feel guilty or overwhelmed, anxious or depressed, procrastinate, can't sleep or constantly feel fatigued. Maybe you’re a couple rehearsing the same argument over and over, a person who's often disappointed in their relationships or someone who went through a stressful, traumatic or tragic event making life too difficult. Maybe it's hard helping your child who's often tearful, worried or sad, frequently has melt-downs, trouble getting along with others or lying?

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.

Are you tired of using quick fixes to deal with the problems in your life? Have you been to therapy before but you were left with unresolved or ongoing problems? Do you want to get to the root and heart of your pain and concerns? I can help you take a deeper dive to discover the places you wish to explore, heal, and grow. You will find me to be warm, empathic, challenging, and insightful. We will work together to identify ineffective and unhelpful patterns and cycles of thinking and behavior, and then I will help you find ways to disrupt and change them.

Starting counseling is a great choice when you feel stressed, down, anxious, overwhelmed, or frustrated. You deserve to feel excited about your life! In therapy, I work with clients to help them learn new ways of handling stress and emotions, managing difficult changes, and working toward lasting growth. I am eclectic in my approach to therapy, blending humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, and emotion-focused techniques. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all!

Life and the circumstances that happen to us can be overwhelming and stressful. Reaching out for help can feel so vulnerable and scary. My compassionate and playful approach can create a space for you to feel seen and accepted. I can help you process the hard stuff, make meaning, wrestle through new ways of being, build resiliency, and feel empowered. I offer services to all ages, but have a special interest working with preteens and young adults. I also enjoy partnering with parents as they learn how to best support their children and manage their own self-care. Wherever you find yourself, I'd be honored to hear your story.