Prenatal and postpartum therapists & psychiatrists in Duluth, MN

I am a marriage and family therapist licensed in Minnesota with a PhD in Psychology, 7 years of experience working as a therapist, and 22 years of experience working as a coach. I have accumulated a wide range of experience working with a diverse clientele. Some of the many issues I have worked with people on are depression, anxiety, self-harm, addiction, trauma, parenting problems, relationship issues, ADHD, sexual abuse, pornography addiction, and anger management.

I am a licensed clinical social worker, clinical supervisor, and psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience helping individuals navigate trauma, emotional distress, and life transitions.

My career has included work in schools, outpatient counseling centers, and hospital settings, where I supported individuals facing mood disorders, addiction, and psychosis. I’ve worked with clients across the lifespan—from young children to older adults—and bring a broad, real-world perspective to my practice.

As a certified trainer in trauma-informed care, I use practical, effective tools to help you better understand your emotional responses, regulate stress, and feel more grounded. My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to your specific needs. I draw from a range of therapeutic techniques to help you gain insight, shift patterns, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

Clients often tell me that our work together helps them feel less overwhelmed, more self-aware, and better able to cope with life’s challenges. I strive to create a space where you feel understood, supported, and comfortable being yourself.

Some of the feedback that I received from clients are:

"You give me a perspective so I don’t get stuck and I realize I don’t have to solve it all at once

"You have forever affected how I look at things in a positive way"

"You changed how I look at things. I know I can do it, so I achieve it. The re-parenting thing gives me a way to understand people and myself."

"You help people be comfortable in their own skin."

For the past eighteen years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals, children, and families across both clinical and K–12 educational settings. My professional journey has included roles as a Professional School Counselor, 504 Coordinator/Learning Specialist, and Clinical Therapist, giving me a unique understanding of how emotional, cognitive, and learning needs intersect.

Over time, my view of mental health has expanded. I’ve always been interested in nutrition, movement, sleep, and lifestyle as contributors to emotional wellness. But everything shifted when I began integrating mindfulness, contemplative practices, and a deeper exploration of hormone health—both personally and professionally. Understanding how hormones influence mood, stress, and cognition opened an entirely new dimension of care.

I now approach therapy through a whole-person lens that honors the connection between mind, body, hormones, and environment.

I am a Professional Mental Health Therapist/ Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) providing telehealth services throughout Minnesota and in-person therapy in Brainerd. I work with adolescents ages 10+ and adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, stress, life transitions, relationship concerns, and self-esteem challenges. My approach integrates EMDR, Brainspotting, somatic therapy, and evidence-based practices to support healing and lasting change.

I've long been drawn to the dance between the psychological and the spiritual. As I journeyed my own early path of discovery, it lead me to studies in psychology, classic literature, and theology in undergraduate, and then later Buddhist psychotherapy and meditation, and depth psychology in graduate school. I received my graduate degree from Naropa University's Transpersonal Counseling Psychology program in 2003, and am licensed in WI (LPC) and MN (LPCC). I am a practitioner of shamatha-vipassyana meditation, and have a well-established background of working for various therapy group practices in MN and WI.

Education

2003, Naropa University, MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology.

1998, College of St. Benedict, BA in Psychology; 1997 study abroad in Beibei, China.

As a lifelong student of East and West methodologies, I blend Person-Centered, CBT, Gestalt, depth psychology, somatic, and Buddhist psychology views. I also take a trauma-informed, IFS-informed, EFT-informed approach. I spent many years exploring Christian mysticism and theology before finding my own path and practice in Tibetan Buddhism for the past 20+ years, and I welcome heartfelt conversations about any psycho-spiritual path.

You might look like you’re holding it all together on the outside while internally feeling anxious, overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or stuck in painful relationship patterns you can’t seem to break. Maybe you’ve experienced trauma that still affects your daily life, panic attacks that come out of nowhere, or relationships that leave you feeling unseen or disconnected. Therapy should feel like a place where you can finally exhale. A place where you don’t have to explain away your feelings or carry everything alone. Together, we’ll work toward helping you feel safer, more grounded, more connected, and more like yourself again.