

Headway connects Saint Paul residents with 251 licensed providers experienced in OCD treatment, including Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Access virtual or in-person sessions with flexible scheduling, often available within days, while working with your insurance to minimize out-of-pocket costs.
Hello, I’m Dr. Stella Essien, Welcome!
As a dual board-certified Nurse Practitioner (FNP & PMHNP), I have a passion for compassionate, equitable, and accessible mental health care practice that brings evidence-based, person-centered services to individuals and families across Minnesota.
Whether you're navigating anxiety, or addiction recovery, depression, or stress, I am here to support your path forward with warmth, professionalism, and purpose.
As a therapist, I take a client-centered, genuine, collaborative approach to the client’s needs and goals. I have over 19 years of experience with significant experience helping adult clients (18+) work through anxiety, mood disorders (depression/bipolar disorder), sexual addictions/offenses, trauma, grief/loss, men and women's issues, and general life stressors/transitions (work, relationships, parenting, etc).
Hi, I'm Alex! My path into this work began in early childhood development, where I learned just how much our earliest relationships and experiences shape the way we move through the world as adults. That foundation still informs everything I do; I'm endlessly curious about the "why" behind how we feel and behave, and I hold that curiosity with warmth and zero judgment.
Outside of my practice you'll usually find me behind a camera. Photography taught me to slow down and pay attention to small, beautiful details, and to appreciate that the same scene can look completely different depending on where you're standing (a lesson that I find turns out to be pretty useful in therapy as well). I love being out in nature whenever I can and at home I share my space with a cuddly cat who supervises most of my day.
Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
Reaching out for support can feel overwhelming. I aim to create a safe, collaborative, and grounded space from the beginning. I meet clients where they are and move at a pace that feels manageable and respectful.
I work with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families experiencing anxiety, trauma, addiction, and relationship challenges. I also specialize in complex and developmental trauma.
I support clients in integrating their spiritual and cultural values into therapy when desired and clinically appropriate. I was born in New Orleans and bring a culturally informed perspective shaped by my Latina, Indigenous, Christian, and Sephardic Jewish backgrounds.
I became a therapist because I have a deep commitment to helping people recognize and build their own strengths, especially during periods of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected. I understand that seeking support takes courage, and I work to create a space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported throughout the process.
I earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) and PhD from Tulane University, as well as a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Louisiana and Texas, and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Minnesota. I also hold a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Licensed Prevention Professional (LPP), and Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).
Hi, I am so glad you found me here today, and are taking the next step! I’m KrisAnn, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 20 years of experience supporting individuals and couples navigating cancer, chronic illness, grief, anxiety, trauma, and major life transitions. I founded Curveball Counseling to offer a steady, compassionate space where people can make sense of what they’re going through and regain their sense of stability and direction.
My professional background includes extensive work in oncology and medical settings, where I’ve supported patients, caregivers, and families through some of life’s most uncertain seasons. Alongside my clinical training, these experiences shaped my deep respect for the resilience people carry—even when they feel overwhelmed.


Headway helps you manage obsessive-compulsive disorder with expert-guided support — from finding the right therapist or psychiatrist, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Finding OCD therapists in Saint Paul starts with looking for the right training, not just a matching specialty label. Exposure and response prevention, often called ERP, is one therapy approach commonly used in OCD care, and not all therapists are trained in it. If you’re seeking support for obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, or related concerns, review therapist bios for ERP, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and clear experience with obsessive compulsive disorder.
Saint Paul offers a focused local mental health care market, with more options when you include nearby virtual care across Minnesota. Some people prefer in-person OCD therapy near home, work, or campus, while others choose virtual appointments for more scheduling flexibility or access to therapists with specific ERP training. As you compare options, look beyond whether a therapist lists OCD. Check whether they describe ERP experience, offer appointment times that fit your schedule, and provide a free phone consultation so you can ask about their approach before booking.
Therapy in Saint Paul can be a significant expense without insurance. Using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to reduce session costs and make ongoing care easier to plan for. Headway helps you find OCD therapists who are accepting new patients, review detailed bios, check whether your plan is accepted, see your estimated out-of-pocket cost before booking, and schedule directly when you’re ready.
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