When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Meteorologist.

My plan was to be Kare 11’s next Belinda Jensen. I was curious about the world around me and why it was the way it was. I wanted to understand weather patterns and how this impacted our environment.

As I started my first semester at St. Cloud State University, and asked other students about the program, I quickly learned that you have to be pretty good at math and physics to have a career in Meteorology. Unfortunately (or fortunately), that wasn’t my skill set. Luckily for me, I came to realize there were a lot of similarities in my passion for weather patterns and human relationships. In life, there are highs and lows, seasons of change, and times of “stormy” conditions.

Life outside the office

I’m a wife and proud Mom of two. Starting a family of my own has changed my life and my work.

Struggles with mental health and substance use have been a part of my family for generations. So it’s no surprise that these are areas I have chosen to specialize in my practice. There is a sort of familiarity and confidence I have in talking about these kinds of struggles.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a deep passion for cooking. It’s my creative outlet. In the warmer seasons, you can find my husband, two kids, and I hitting the bike trails in Minneapolis. It’s amazing the places you can get to on wheels in our beautiful Twin Cities area.

Therapeutic Style

I am passionate about helping my clients identify and change unhelpful thoughts, talk about their motivation to change, discuss ways to change unwanted behaviors, and use mindfulness skills.

My approach is action-oriented and about making change. I have had clients tell me that they have gone to therapy in the past without getting practical tools and strategies to overcome their struggles. There is not a “one size fits all” approach in finding the strategies that will work for you. I am committed to working with you to find out what strategies are most helpful.

I know from experience (personally and professionally) that fear can be paralyzing and it can feel easier to stick your head in the sand rather than make necessary changes. I’d like to help you find the courage to honor the negative messages in your head and use new perspectives to take steps forward in your life. It’s not easy…and frankly, if it was, you wouldn’t be reading this. My clients often thank me for challenging them outside of their comfort zone.

Specialties

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Parent Coaching

Who I Work With

• Adults

• Parents

• Children 9-12 years old

Accepting New Clients?

• No

Location

• Virtual appointments only for individuals in:

  • Minnesota

  • South Dakota

  • Florida

Clinical Experience

• Chemical Dependency Treatment Programs at New Beginnings at Waverly, Central Minnesota Mental Health Care, and Maple Lake Recovery

• Psychiatric Hospitalization Programs, at PrairieCare, for children and adolescents

• Integrated behavioral health care in a primary care office, with Wayzata Children’s Clinic, serving children, adolescents, young adults, and families

Education

• Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at St. Mary's University

• Bachelor of Science in Community Psychology and Chemical Dependency at St. Cloud State University

Professional Associations and Memberships