Blaine Therapists

Marit Appeldoorn, MSW LICSW
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Board Approved Supervisor
Pre-licensed Clinical Supervisor

Marit holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She has over fifteen years of experience providing respectful, supportive, and collaborative services to children, families, and adults.These services include play therapy, family support and developmental guidance, and individual therapy with adults. She has developed an approach that builds on clients’ strengths and unique life stories, which is informed by psychodynamic, developmental, and attachment theories. Her areas of clinical focus include families of young children (ages 0-10) struggling with issues related to emotional and behavioral regulation, sensory integration, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, attachment, and other developmental concerns. She also specializes in adoption, parental stress, women’s issues, and individual work with adults of all ages to help them feel successful with emotional struggles, life transitions, and relationship concerns.

Maggie Christopher, CHNC
Certified Holistic Nutrition Counselor
Master's Intern
Shawn Neel, MS LMFT, Co-Supervisor
Amanda Holmberg, MS LMFT, Co-Supervisor

Maggie is completing the internship portion of her master's degree in marriage & family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She
holds a bachelor’s degree in business communications from The University of Akron in Ohio. After college she became an executive assistant and eventually worked for a fortune 500 company supporting a leadership team of seven executives. While maintaining her full-time position, she graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City in 2007 as a certified holistic nutrition counselor. For the past 5 years, she has counseled clients to reach their health goals through whole foods nutrition. During this time, she realized the intimate connection between emotions and food. This led her to pursue her master’s degree to broaden her skills and apply this knowledge: that often a person’s relationship with food mirrors their relationship with themselves. Maggie has experience in counseling clients to soothe their anxiety, to find more meaning and balance in their life, to improve interpersonal communication, to develop more confidence and to navigate challenging life transitions. She works with both individuals and couples and supports clients in becoming more aware of their thoughts (mindfulness) so they can more intentionally create their life. Maggie recognizes that it takes courage to begin counseling so she creates a warm, safe environment for clients to heal and grow.

Lindsey Gau
Master's Intern
Shawn Neel, MS LMFT, Co-Supervisor
Amanda Holmberg, MS LMFT, Co-Supervisor

Lindsey is completing the internship portion of her master's degree in marriage & family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She holds a bachelors degree from the University of Minnesota in Family Social Science, Family Violence Prevention. She enjoys working with teens, individuals, couples and families. She is interested in working with those experiencing issues related to trauma, relationships, depression or anxiety. Lindsey is passionate about helping others through her caring and empathic perspective, without judgment or discrimination.

Jennifer Grosskreutz, MA
Therapist
Jenny Holdredge, MA LMFT, Supervisor

Jennifer holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Ball State University in Indiana, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She has been providing mental health services for 14 years, with a primary focus on helping people recover from the challenges of life. Her areas of expertise and training are in trauma and attachment; however, the scope of her work also includes treating anxiety, mood, and behavior disorders. Jennifer began treating children and families in a community mental health setting, with a specific interest in helping those with a history of trauma. In 2009, she moved into a private practice setting. In addition to the above, she has extensive experience in attachment, children in the foster care system, victims of sexual abuse, grief and loss, couples’ counseling, and complex trauma. Jennifer is trained in EMDR and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and her method of treatment is highly based on these two models. She provides psychotherapy to adults and children. The majority of her therapy with children includes the family, as she strives to provide support and education to parents.

Sarah King, MSW LICSW
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Sarah holds a master's degree in clinical social work from the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas and a bachelors degree from Grinnell College. She is experienced in counseling adults and adolescents and specializes in working with relational difficulties, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief & loss, substance abuse, and self-esteem issues. Sarah’s approach to therapy is psychodynamic and relational, while also drawing
from cognitive-behavioral frameworks. Her interventions support clients in developing compassionate self-understanding and help them build their ability to choose effective courses of action. She works collaboratively with her clients to identify strengths and find pathways towards positive change.

Holly Traynor, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Holly holds a master’s degree from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She welcomes working with adults, teens, couples, and families regarding relationship conflicts, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, substance abuse, communication, addictive behaviors, aggression, GLBT issues, parenting and emotional dysregulation. As a group facilitator, Holly is both dynamic and engaging. She is certified in Prepare/Enrich assessments as well as Aggression Replacement Training. Holly has also worked with Alzheimer’s/Dementia, and family caregivers at the University of Minnesota and Fairview Hospital. Holly believes therapy is a collaborative partnership between therapist and client and provides a safe, judgment-free environment where she can offer hope, acceptance,
connection and empowerment. She helps her clients find successful ways to navigate problems by listening to their stories and helping them to feel connected with themselves and others. Holly believes that her role as a therapist is to assist her clients to become masters of their own change and growth, and tailors her therapy based on client need.

Max Zubatsky, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Doctoral Intern
Shawn Neel, MS LMFT, Supervisor

Max holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of San Diego and is currently pursuing a PhD at the
University of Minnesota. Max has
held employment positions in outpatient mental health settings, family care clinics and adolescent day treatment programs. Currently, Max treats children, adults and couples in therapy. Max works with children 5-18 years old suffering from ADHD, depression, anxiety, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, eating disorders, conduct issues, oppositional defiance and stress management.
He promotes a safe environment where parents and children can comfortably talk about family issues in a productive manner. His work with adults includes topics
such as mood disorders, addiction, boundary issues and stress management. Max also provides therapy to couples suffering from communication problems, conflict resolution, infidelity, and other stressors (addiction, finances, sexual problems). Max combines a strength-based and family systems perspective for change, having clients and families view alternative perspectives of the problem and to set achievable goals in therapy. Max uses humor, compassion and empathy to help clients foster continued growth in their lives.

Nikki Arthur, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Nikki holds a master's degree in professional counseling & marriage and family therapy from Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She has more than seven years experience in the mental health field and extensive experience working with adolescents and families with significant emotional dysregulation. Her approach to therapy is systemic in nature, collaborative and strength-based. Her special interests include working with adolescents and those struggling with depression, anxiety, parenting skills, family communication, and stress management.

Jessica Bauman, MA LPC LPCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

Jessica holds a master’s degree in counseling and psychological services from Saint Mary’s University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota. Jessica’s specialties include individual adolescent and adult clinical therapy for the management of mood disorders, anxiety concerns, sexual trauma and trauma-related issues, school refusal, self-esteem work, family and relational issues, LGBT issues, and psycho-education on medication. Over the past six years, Jessica has worked in various settings, including an outpatient clinic, a hospital psychiatric unit, and as the clinical therapist for a local high school. She also has specialized knowledge in the special education system for children and adolescents. Jessica’s therapeutic approach combines psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral strategies with strength-based interventions. She believes in empowering her clients to begin to consider healthy and constructive alternatives to their lives. Jessica utilizes both traditional and non-traditional perspectives to offer support and guidance for many of the issues that complicate our personal and professional lives. She
helps people to find courage to face their fears, find the strength to heal, and make changes to create balance in their lives

Ann Frost, MA
Master's Intern
Shawn Neel, MS LMFT, Supervisor

Ann holds a master's degree in clinical psychology from Antioch
University in Santa Barbara, California, as well as a master's degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Before becoming
a therapist, she worked as a mathematician and a software engineer. Ann has experience working with individuals struggling with addiction,
depression, anxiety, relationship issues, LGBT concerns, parenting issues, and just plain adjusting to life transitions and challenges. She has also worked with children on the autism spectrum at St. David's Center, as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. Originally from Québec, and having lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years, she brings a personal understanding to multicultural issues and the specific challenges of
cross-cultural adjustment. Ann enjoys working with couples, parents, and individuals toward achieving better understanding of themselves and others, and making lasting changes that will lead to a more manageable and more satisfying life. She works from a belief that everyone has the inner resources to deal effectively with their situation. Recognizing that most people tend to be very hard on themselves, and tend to focus on their flaws rather than their strengths, Ann works with her clients at shifting that focus by working through the shame and guilt that often result from harsh self-judgments, and creating an opening through which they can recognize their own insight, wisdom, and strengths that they can bring to bear on their situation. To these ends, she draws from different approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral and existential, and strives to create a safe and compassionate space in which to do this work.

Patricia Johnson, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Pat holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Bethel Seminary in Minnesota. Additionally, she holds a bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy from the College of St. Catherine and is licensed as an occupational therapist (OTRL). She currently provides therapy to individuals, couples, and families. The individuals she sees range in age from 14 to seniors. Special interests include conflict resolution, EMDR, effective communications training, self-esteem, physical/emotional/verbal abuse, domestic violence, boundary setting, anger management, women's issues, parenting and child development, depression, anxiety, PTSD, Christian counseling and spirituality, and sensory integration issues as relates to daily functioning/social interactions. Pat's desire in the therapeutic relationship is to provide a place for individuals to feel 'heard', encouraged, instill a sense of hope, and self-esteem to tackle their goals and dreams.

Shawn Neel, MS LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Board Approved Supervisor
Intern & Pre-licensed Clinical Supervisor
Master's Training Director
Assistant Clinical Director

Shawn holds a master's degree in counseling and counselor education from Indiana University and a certificate in marriage and family therapy from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. He has more than ten years of experience in the mental health field and has extensive experience working with adolescents and families with significant emotional dysregulation. His work draws from systemic, experiential, and narrative models. He offers the ability to be empathic and affirming, balanced equally with the ability to be irreverent and humor-based. He believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship, and that change and acceptance can only happen in relationship with another person. Shawn works best with adolescents, families, couples, and individuals. His special interests include working with concepts of relational addiction (codependency, love addiction, love avoidance), boundary work within individuals and couples, LGBT populations, men’s issues, and those struggling with symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder. Shawn is also a Minnesota Board approved clinical supervisor.

Tara Waldron, MSW LGSW
Licensed Graduate Social Worker
Marit Appeldoorn, MSW LICSW, Supervisor

Tara holds a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in mental health and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies with a concentration in Buddhism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has worked as a group facilitator and individual therapist with adolescents, adults, couples and families dealing with a range of issues such as depression, anxiety, interpersonal dynamics, trauma and chemical health. Tara works from a strengths-based perspective and uses her teaching and counseling experience in Harm-Reduction, Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to help clients increase emotion regulation and build interpersonal and distress tolerance skills. Compassion and humor help Tara join with clients to create a safe and supportive environment.