**Our Andover office has MOVED!**
Andover office is now located at 1875 Station Parkway.

Eric Anfinson, MS
Therapist
Amanda  Sasek, MS LMFT, Supervisor

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Eric holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He enjoys working with a wide variety of people including: individuals,couples, and families of all ages, identities, and orientations. Eric is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), the most effective therapy for relieving symptoms of trauma of all kinds. He has also undergone extensive training in Sex Therapy, using this specialty to help those struggling with sexual trauma, sexuality/relational orientation challenges, and those just looking to improve their sexual wellness.  Eric employs a genuine, down to earth approach to therapy utilizing collaboration with clients and a solution focused mindset to help people truly feel that they are moving forward. He has extensive history working with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and marital challenges.

Brad Branham, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

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Brad holds a master's degree in counseling psychology and a certificate in marriage and family therapy from the University of St. Thomas.  Brad also holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.  Brad especially enjoys working on issues related to opposition, anxiety, parenting skills, depression, trauma/abuse, relationships and marital difficulties, and adoption and attachment struggles.  His approach to therapy draws upon many theories and is largely influenced by the presenting concerns of each individual, couple, or family he works with. One constant, however, is that Brad believes that the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the individual is critical for success.  Brad utilizes both standard talk therapy and child-centered play therapy to facilitate the journey for adults and children of any age.  He is passionate about working together to meet the goals each individual aspires to attain in a validating and non-judgmental environment.

Amber Buren, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

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Amber holds a master's degree in counseling and psychological services and a certificate in marriage and family therapy from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota as well a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Amber has over 14 years of mental health experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Her areas of interest include grief/loss, relationships, parenting, self-esteem, trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, and health/wellness. Her theoretical approach includes a family systems background infused with techniques and interventions from dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment theory, and narrative therapy. Amber strives to create a safe and warm therapeutic relationship working collaboratively with clients on their path of healing and growth both within themselves and their relationships.

Brooke Evans, MA LPCC
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

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Brooke holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas, a certificate in marriage and family therapy from Capella, and bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University in Community Psychology and Criminal Justice. Brooke practices from an integrated approach using CBT, solution-focused, Bowenian, and person-centered therapies; tailoring each session to the needs of her clients. She enjoys working with clients with varying issues including anxiety, depression, life changes, self-esteem, post-partum disorders, relational/couples issues and takes a straightforward, compassionate approach to helping clients. Brooke believes that each of us has the strength and capacity for achieving our best self and life with the right help. She emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship in helping clients to achieve a better understanding of themselves and achieving their goals.

Leah Faiad, MS LAMFT
Licensed Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Amanda Sasek MS LMFT, Supervisor

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Leah holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a bachelor's degree in child youth and family studies from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Leah believes in empowering clients to access their own strengths by utilizing a solution focused perspective to overcome life’s challenges. Leah enjoys working with individuals and families across the lifespan, including children, teens, adults, couples and families. She utilizes both talk therapy and child centered play therapy when appropriate to facilitate the healing process. Her special areas of interest include anxiety, depression, family conflict, parenting stress, life transitions, trauma and sexuality. She provides individuals with a variety of mindfulness based techniques to increase ones ability to manage difficult emotions and improve overall self awareness. Leah aspires to create a warm and and non-judgmental environment for clients to find healing and inner peace. 

Mallory Getchell, MA
Therapist
Dr. Jenny Holdredge, PsyD LMFT, Supervisor

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Mallory holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of St. Thomas. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in child psychology from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Mallory has experience working with adults in a Partial Hospitalization Program, providing in-home behavioral therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, crisis intervention, and working with children and adolescents at an inpatient hospital. She is passionate about parent/child attachment, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She enjoys working with people of all ages. Mallory’s approach to therapy is integrative, incorporating empathy, mindfulness based intervention, self-care, acceptance, and commitment to change. She strives to adapt therapy to meet each client’s unique needs, while using their strengths to get them to where they would like to be.

Dr. Jenny Holdredge, MA PsyD LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Board Approved LMFT & LPCC Supervisor
Intern & Pre-licensed Clinical Supervisor
Clinic Director/Owner

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Jenny holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and a master's degree in marriage & family therapy and professional counseling from Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University.  She has over 15 years experience in the mental health field and particularly enjoys working with couples and individuals struggling with relationship difficulties, anxiety (specifically with panic attacks), atypical or treatment-resistant depression, personality disturbances, addictions, sexual/intimacy concerns, unresolved or ambiguous loss, trauma, stress management, & interpersonal communication.  Jenny’s approach is influenced by neuro-affective research, dynamic & psychoanalytic principles, family systems, and attachment theory. She works collaboratively with clients to establish a secure therapeutic relationship where healing can occur and produce long-lasting results. Jenny is also a Minnesota Board approved clinical supervisor & provides mental health & performance consultation services to individuals and corporations. She is the owner and Clinical Director of Rum River Counseling, Inc.

Allison Merriman, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

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Allison holds a master's degree in counseling psychology with a family psychology concentration from the University of Saint Thomas.  Allison also holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College.  Allison has been working in the mental health field for over 10 years and has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families in residential treatment and day treatment settings, outpatient mental health clinics, and medical clinics. In therapy, Allison focuses on listening to people in order understand their struggles and goals.  She aims to bring a sense of trust, non-judgmental presence, humor, and validation to her work.    Allison works together with people to develop a plan for working toward the changes they desire to make.  Allison enjoys using creative, solution-focused approaches when helping people make changes.  She also focuses heavily on a cognitive-behavioral approach.  Special areas of interest include depression, anxiety, trauma, self-harm, grief, family and blended family dynamics, and adjustment to life stressors.  Allison has obtained intensive trainings in treatment of trauma including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT).   She has also undergone intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which provides skill-based treatment for emotional, behavioral, and relational difficulties.

Corinne Mortensen, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

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Corinne holds a master's degree in marriage & family therapy from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.  She holds a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.  Corinne enjoys working with couples, families, and individuals of all ages.  Corinne has experience working with individuals and families in home based, outpatient clinic, and inpatient hospital settings.  Her area of interest includes working with couples or families in conflict, and individuals coping with anxiety (panic disorders), depression, suicidal and self-injurious behaviors, and co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders. Corinne’s approach to therapy is collaborative and strength-based. It draws from many models and is influenced by family systems and psychodynamic theories.

Sherry O'Malley, MA LP
Licensed Psychologist

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Sherry holds a master's degree in counseling and psychological Services from St. Mary's University and a bachelor's degree in social work from St. Cloud State University.  She has over 23 years of experience in the counseling field, working with individuals, couples and families on a wide variety of issues.  Her areas of interest and expertise include working with people who experience anxiety, depression, shame issues, family of origin issues, physical and sexual abuse, domestic abuse, parenting issues, PTSD, work issues, communication difficulties, grief and loss, and adoption issues. She also works with people who are dealing with autism spectrum issues and chemical dependency issues. Sherry seeks to develop a trusting, caring relationship with her clients, to facilitate their sense of well being and reach their goals in therapy. She draws from many theoretical frameworks to help clients address areas of concern, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, EMDR, and Psychodynamic Theory.  She tailors the therapy experience to meet each client's unique needs.

Katie Shaw, MSW LICSW
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

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Katie holds a master's degree in clinical social work from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN. She has over 15 years experience in the mental health field, with the majority of her professional experience providing psychotherapy to adults individually and in a group setting. Katie has interest and expertise working with adults who seek partnership with their therapist and want to learn skills to manage/overcome depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, and/or psychosis. Katie is also comfortable and competent working with co-occurring disorders with chemical dependency as she has previously facilitated a mental health/chemical health group for 10 years. She values working with each of her client's to determine the best approach for treatment. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), with preference for this modality. Other treatment techniques used may also include Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Rogerian, and heart-centered approaches that are based in her client's current strengths and support system. Katie's holistic approach to mental health care reflects her desire to help her client's learn how to resolve their own problems, establish their own resources, trust their own selves, and honor their own needs. Ultimately, it is her hope and intention that through therapy, client's can overcome their internal barriers to achieve their own powerful results.

Michelle Strafelda, MA
Therapist
Dr. Jenny Holdredge, PsyD LMFT, Supervisor

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Michelle holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas. She is passionate about providing individual therapy to adults and teenagers, with a special focus on first establishing a safe, nonjudgmental relationship with clients before beginning to approach more serious issues with them, such as healing from trauma and other negative life experiences. She wholeheartedly believes that individuals are able to change when they are an active part of their recovery and are given tools to help themselves heal.  She uses her genuine self to help build trust and connection with clients of all ages. Michelle is trained in EMDR (eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing), a trauma-focused intervention that assists clients in addressing negative beliefs, intrusive thoughts, and triggers that prevent clients from living in the present moment. She has long been very passionate about helping individuals and families to better understand how their trauma affects them and those around them, as it is such a stigmatized and misunderstood phenomena in our society. After working through trauma reprocessing, Michelle helps client to find growth and new meaning in their lives. Michelle’s other therapeutic interests include but are not limited to: mindfulness and meditation, immigration issues, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, trauma-related disorders, chemical dependency issues, family systems, grief and loss, job stress, love languages, nutritional well-being and cooking, yoga, nature as a healing experience, multicultural issues, LGBTQ rights, and fostering a social support network. Michelle uses a person-centered approach which allows her to meet clients in whatever stage of change they are currently in. This approach allows each client or family to be the expert of their own lives. She draws upon elements of as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). These techniques have been known to give clients additional skills to cope with symptoms and other everyday stressors. Michelle is continually improving her written and spoken fluency in Spanish and hopes to continue make herself available to working with Spanish-speaking clients. She is always trying to challenge herself to grow her multicultural knowledge to better meet her clients’ needs.

Pauline Svare, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

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Pauline holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Argosy University.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services from Upper Iowa University.  She has over ten years working in the social services field.  Her experience includes providing therapy to teenagers in a school-based setting and skill-based therapeutic services to adults.  She has experience working with families, individuals, and co-facilitating therapy groups.  Pauline’s areas of interest include working with people who struggle with anxiety, depression, family of origin issues, traumatic experiences, new life transitions, and families.  Her goal is to walk along with clients to their own solutions by developing a warm, trusting, and caring relationship with clients.  Pauline uses a variety of theories and techniques; with an emphasis on a client-centered approach.