Services

Most of my individual clients come to therapy because they want to understand something better (answer "why....?" questions) - or because they have habits or behaviors they want to change - or because they are going through a rough patch and need some extra support and feedback. As human beings, we feel better about ourselves and the world around us when things "make sense," when we feel our actions are meaningful, and when we feel connected to others. My work with individuals is realistic, values-based, and action-oriented. I work most effectively with clients who are ready to apply the techniques and ideas we discuss to their everyday life.

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My primary approach to individual treatment is based on acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT), which is an evidence-based adaptation of cognitive behavioral therapy. As appropriate, I also incorporate concepts and techniques from interpersonal therapy (IPT), family systems, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Buddhist psychology.

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I am trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a brief treatment for trauma. Please contact me for a free consultation on how ART works and we can talk about whether or not it is the best fit for you. I have been impressed with how successful the ART approach is in helping clients move through and past traumatic experiences.

Therapy sessions that include relationship partners and families are often very powerful because clients can actually begin to experience each other in a new way right there in session. Together, we explore and define the habitual patterns that lead to conflict or avoidance, and then we identify opportunities to interrupt those unhelpful cycles. Even normal life transitions cause stress in relationships. Talking through the issues and "getting back on the same page" can decrease feelings of being alone and increase feelings of being part of a team. 

 

I work with couples, families, pre-marital clients, and co-parents who are trying to navigate post-divorce parenting issues. My relational approach is guided by family systems,  the research of John Gottman & Julie Gottman (The Gottman Institute), and Sue Johnson (emotionally focused therapy EFT). I am Prepare-Enrich certified for pre-marital counseling.

I offer workshops, presentations, and guest lectures on the topics below. I present research-supported and practical information using experiential and interactive exercises. 

• Mindfulness  (what it is, how it helps, activities to develop it, etc.)

• Technology and families

• Parent-child relationships

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Previous Events

• "Intersections between artificial intelligence and therapy? Ethical concerns and potential opportunities" Presentation to the 2023 Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy conference.

• "Conducting online relational therapy: Challenges and opportunities with multi-participant sessions" Workshop for the MAMFT Training Series.

• "Using Mindfulness to Increase Well-Being and Effectiveness in the Classroom and at Home" Presentation for the White Bear Lake Area Schools Staff and Community Mental Well-Being Series.

• "Parenting in an Online World: Using Technology to Build Relationships, not Conflict" Presentation to staff at Washburn Center for Children

• "Using Mindfulness and Contemplative Activities with Clients: A Hands-On Workshop" offered as part of the MAMFT Training Series.