Please note: we are located on the second (& third floors) of a historic building. There are no elevators. A stair lift is available. Those unable to negotiate the stair lift need to notify us in advance so we can make other arrangements.

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.

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. 

Jennifer Gish, MA LICSW
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

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Jennifer holds a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado in counseling psychology and an undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Minnesota. She has over 20 years of experience and enjoys working with clients with the following issues: adoption, asperger's children and coaching their parents, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, chronic illness and chronic illness management to help live a more qualitative lifestyle, pre and post counseling for bariatric surgery, life transistions, divorce, aspects of aging, trauma, job-related problems and enhancing each client's self-esteem. She works with adults of all ages as well as children and teenagers. Her philosophy is to help all clients feel safe in the therapeutic environment and help them heal through what is holding them back from from feeling and being "the best they can be." Jennifer works in a holistic manner, utilizing theories and skills from both the Eastern and Western world. By treating the mind, body and spirit as one entity, she empowers clients to handle any of life's stressors in a healthy manner. She utilizes humor as part of the healing process, and considers herself to be part therapist, part educator and part coach.

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.

Emily Axen, MSW LICSW
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

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Emily holds a master's degree in clinical social work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine and a bachelor's degree in sociocultural studies and communication studies from Bethel University. She has been working in the mental health field for over 5 years. Emily is passionate about providing individual therapy for adults hoping to heal from trauma, as well as those dealing with chronic anxiety including panic, depression/mood challenges, suicidal thoughts, identity concerns, low self-esteem, anger, parenting and/or relational concerns, and chronic pain.  She also has experience working with individuals struggling with addiction (chemical, gambling, sex) and eating disorders. Emily is fully trained in providing EMDR, a trauma-focused intervention that assists clients in addressing negative beliefs, intrusions, and triggers that prevent clients from living in their present. Emily has advanced EMDR training for both adults and children. Other focus areas include mindfulness/meditation, relational techniques, mind-body work, dissociation (AIR Network), attachment theory, developmental repair, and cognitive behavioral models. Emily truly believes that individuals are the experts on their own experience and that therapy is a collaborative process.  Her hope is to provide a safe, warm, and welcoming environment for individuals and families to experience hope and healing. Emily enjoys working with people of all backgrounds and welcomes individuals from all walks of life (ethnicity, race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation).

Sarah King, MSW LICSW
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

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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. 

Amelia McGinley, MSW LICSW 
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

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Amelia has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Amelia has over 10 years of experience providing therapy to adults, children, and families primarily in marginalized and disadvantaged communities. She enjoys working with a variety of clients and concerns, but focuses a on treating trauma, grief, parenting concerns, and working cross culturally. She is bilingual in Spanish and loves working with Latinos, both native speakers individually and in helping parents understand and raise children who speak primarily English. She has a great deal of love and experience also working with with refugees and African American communities. As a queer-identified clinician, Amelia strives to work with fellow GLTBQI individuals on any variety of issues, and has specific experience with trans youth. Amelia’s past work has included community health centers, in-home family therapy, and inpatient hospital mental health units. Amelia helps her clients balance all aspects of their health and often attends to the mind-body connection. She is personally and professionally invested in implementing self-care habits, attending to life-work balance, working on healthy boundaries in relationships, and living according to one’s values. Amelia’s therapeutic approach is eclectic and is influenced by mindfulness, attachment theory, somatic therapies, psychodynamic theory, neuro-affective psychology, and cognitive-behavioral interventions.

Holly Traynor, MA LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

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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 is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and utilizes it to help clients reprocess past traumatic experiences. 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.