Serene Eidem

I'm a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from the College of Saint Thomas and a background in trauma-focused, integrative mental health care. I work with adults navigating complex trauma, PTSD, domestic violence and its aftermath, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, grief, major life transitions, and the impact of difficult family experiences. I also support women through the emotional changes of pregnancy and postpartum.

My training includes EMDR, and my work is informed by an understanding of how trauma affects the nervous system, relationships, identity, and the way we experience ourselves and the world around us. I also bring a holistic perspective to therapy and recognize that healing can involve emotional, physical, relational, cultural, and spiritual dimensions.

I believe people already carry tremendous wisdom about themselves. My role is to help you access that wisdom, understand the patterns that developed to help you survive, break old cycles, and create space for something different.

My approach is relational, trauma-informed, compassionate, and direct. I want therapy to be a place where you can be fully human—you do not have to have everything figured out before you walk through the door.

I use EMDR and other trauma-focused approaches while also paying attention to nervous-system regulation, attachment, relationships, boundaries, identity, and the patterns that may be keeping you stuck. We may work on building safety and coping skills, processing experiences from the past, or addressing what is happening in your life right now.

I don't believe therapy should be one-size-fits-all. We will work collaboratively and move at a pace that feels manageable while still creating meaningful change. My goal is not simply to help you cope with what happened to you, but to help you reconnect with yourself and build a life that feels more like your own.

Our first session is about getting to know you—not just your symptoms or diagnosis. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what you’ve experienced, what is happening in your life now, and what you hope will be different.

You are in control of what you share and how quickly we move. You will not be expected to tell your entire story or immediately process difficult experiences. We’ll begin identifying your strengths, needs, and goals while building a relationship that feels safe, genuine, and collaborative.

My hope is that you leave the first session feeling heard, understood, and with a clearer sense of where we can go together.