I offer individual therapy virtual in Minnesota. I work with ages 5+ for a variety of reasons including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, managing life changes, addiction and substance use and more. Reach out for a free 15 minute consultation to see if I am a good fit!

Therapy for children offers a safe space where kids can talk about their feelings and work through challenges like anxiety, big life changes, strong emotions, or struggles at school. Children process their emotions in a variety of ways, often different from adults due to their developing brain. Some of my favorite techniques when working with kids include:

Play therapy uses toys, art, and role-playing to help children express themselves and work through issues nonverbally. 

Mindfulness techniques teach children to be aware of their present moment experiences, emotions and body sensations and give tools to manage stress through practices like deep breathing and relaxation exercises. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages kids to accept their thoughts and feelings, set meaningful goals, and commit to actions that align with their values, even when facing discomfort.

Overall, therapy equips children with tools to feel better, handle tough situations, and thrive both at home and at school.

Adolescent years bring unique challenges and developmental changes, such as identity formation, peer relationships, and academic pressures. Therapy can helps teens manage and understand their intense emotions, offering strategies to cope with issues like anxiety, depression, or risky behaviors in a supportive setting and give them a healthy outlet. Therapy can improve communication skills, fostering better relationships with family and friends. By teaching healthy coping mechanisms and addressing problems early, therapy can prevent more serious issues from developing later. Overall, it supports adolescents in navigating their developmental stage and equips them with skills for a healthier future.

One of my favorite aspects of working with children is partnering with their parents, as this often leads to lasting, positive changes within the entire family. Parent therapy sessions offer support and guidance in managing the complex demands of parenting and personal well-being. It helps parents handle the stress and pressures of raising children, balances family responsibilities with personal needs, and provides strategies for effective parenting, including communication and discipline techniques. I am passionate about teaching parents how to support their children's mental health by helping parents regulate their own emotions.

Mental health and substance use issues are closely connected and often affect each other. Addressing them together in therapy provides a comprehensive approach that considers how each condition impacts the other, supporting overall recovery. When addressing substance use in therapy, I use an individualized approach, working with you on your individual goals through various methods, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, trauma-informed therapy and a systematic approach. I help to identify the root causes, develop effective coping strategies, and make lasting behavioral changes.  I believe there is no “one size fits all” approach to overcoming addiction, but hope to find what helps YOU.

Brainspotting therapy, developed by David Grand in 2003, emerged from his work with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It is a trauma-informed therapy that focuses on identifying and processing unresolved trauma stored in the brain and body. Brainspotting works by using the client's eye positions to access and process traumatic memories and emotions, facilitating deeper healing.  It is based on the theory that, “where you look affects how you feel.”  Brainspotting is informed by research on the brain's processing of trauma. It focuses on accessing deeper parts of the brain where traumatic memories are stored. This approach allows clients to work through trauma by locating "brainspots," or specific eye positions, that correlate with emotional and physiological responses, helping to resolve trauma more effectively and provide relief from distressing symptoms. Brainspotting fosters a strong therapeutic relationship, creating an environment where healing can happen in a more gentle and natural way. Brainspotting can be help for a variety of symptoms, including:

• Trauma and PTSD

• Anxiety and Depression

• Addiction and Substance Abuse

• Stress and Chronic Pain

• Self-Esteem

• Performance Enhancement

• Grief and Loss

I am trained to use Brainspotting with children, adolescents and adults and would love to tell you more about it to see if it is a good fit.

Therapy is a powerful tool to bring about meaningful change, healing and restoration.  As a Christian therapist, I believe that true hope and healing comes from the Lord. Research shows that religious or spiritual involvement can improve mental health and be a helpful coping strategies.  I enjoy working with people of all beliefs and religious backgrounds and believe it is important to be open about my own personal beliefs. I’m here to support you in integrating faith into your therapy journey, if you feel it would be helpful