Rose Johnson

Sometimes, what we call a problem is really a feeling, a story, or a part of ourselves that hasn’t yet found a way to be understood. I’m a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Stillwater, Minnesota. I work with people of all ages, with a special focus on children and teens. I’ve spent my career meeting people where they are: in Minnesota schools, in homes, and outdoors through equine-assisted therapy. I’m also a working artist, with an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MA in Counseling and Psychological Services from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

I work with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, family stress, big feelings, self-esteem, and neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism. I see children ages 6 and up, teens, and adults, in person at my studio in downtown Stillwater, or through telehealth anywhere in Minnesota.

I love this work. I hold a deep appreciation for both people’s joy and their unspoken confusion, longing, and worries. Therapy can touch the heaviest parts of our stories, however and there’s no reason why it can’t also be alive, humorous, surprising, and even fun.

Many approaches focus on behavior: changing what someone does. My work looks beneath actions and words, to the feelings, wounds, and stressed parts of our beings and tend those areas specifically. Whether we name it trauma, stress, or simply life, everyone carries a story, and simply managing behavior doesn’t make it go away.

I’m trained in Developmental Transformations, an embodied form of drama therapy built on improvisation, play, and presence, and my work is inspired by the Open Studio approach, where making itself becomes a way of knowing and healing. With children, sessions might involve paint, clay, building, movement, play, or conversation. With teens and adults, sessions can be mostly talking, or include creative and embodied approaches when they’re helpful. You never need to be “good at art.”

My orientation is psychodynamic and relational. I trust the intelligence of imagination and the wisdom of play. I believe the relationship between us is at the heart of the work.

Our first session is a time to get to know each other, with no pressure to have everything figured out.

For children, I usually begin by talking with parents or caregivers about what you’re noticing, your child’s history, and what you’re hoping for. Then I spend time with your child, letting them explore the studio and get comfortable at their own pace. Many kids start making something right away. Others just look around, and that’s fine too.

For teens and adults, we’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, what’s felt hard, and what you’d like to be different. You set the pace. We’ll also talk about how sessions work, what to expect going forward, and any questions you have.

By the end, my hope is that you’ll have a sense of being seen and known.