Trauma and PTSD Therapists in Howard Lake, MN

Do you need help finding direction or clarity? Are you struggling with a personal problem or relationship? Do you need a safe, non-biased place to share your concerns? If so, I would like to help. I am committed to working together with my clients to establish goals and a positive direction for therapy. Genuineness, respect and empathy are the essential components of my therapeutic style. I strive to provide a place where clients feel accepted and valued regardless of their life situations. My passion is to help others who are struggling in their lives or their relationships and want to change the direction of their lives.

I have a passion to promote and assist in the health of couples, families, and individuals who are experiencing mental, emotional, and/or spiritual pain that are looking for a way to process through their experiences.

Do you feel overwhelmed and stressed out? Are you having trouble in your relationships, with your partner or kids? Is depression and/or anxiety taking the joy out of life? If the answer is "YES!" to any of these questions then maybe its time to make a change in your life. I can help support you in taking steps to start enjoying your life. My counseling style is grounded in compassion and empathy. I strive to create a comfortable, safe space for you to feel respected and understood. You are capable of creating the life you want to live!

I transitioned to the counseling profession at age 50 and I believe my diverse background before becoming a counselor is a benefit for my clients. I draw upon my lived experiences as an athlete, entrepreneur, business owner, wife, and mother, as well as my education and training in counseling. As a person-centered, strength-based therapist, I strive to build a collaborative relationship with clients, help them discover and build on their strengths, and work together to determine a path forward. I believe everyone can heal and change, and that journey most often begins with gentle acceptance and self-compassion.

Do others tell you that you are too hard on yourself? Or perhaps you notice that you get stuck in a loop of worries? I am a therapist who works with adults experiencing: anxiety, panic attacks, perfectionism, social anxieties, life transitions, overwhelm, self-doubt, high sensitivity, neurodivergence (such as ADHD and OCD) , and the impact of trauma.

Anxiety, grief, trauma, self-doubt, or relationship issues? These are hard to navigate alone; I partner with you to sort through difficult themes to increase everyday coping. My background is with couples, individuals, children, and parents. I specialize working alongside people diagnosed with serious, life limiting illnesses (specifically cancer) and their caregivers, as well those grieving a loss. Another niche of my practice is medical professionals, residents/fellows, and those with high stress, demanding careers. Couple counseling and relational work is also a predominate area of focus in my practice.

It is my experience that the fullest, most satisfying healing involves our whole person, mind, body, and spirit. By focusing on patterns of movement in the body as well as thinking, we work together to achieve your goals for therapy. A body based and energetic focus is often a new and effective way for people to resolve issues that only talking about them did not reach. I look for resistance and protective actions that no longer serve a person. I emphasize developing aliveness in the body, feeling joyful, free, and peace.

My practice has multiple providers taking new patients. We provide a space where you can express yourself without fear of judgment. The goal is to understand your experience and work to see things in a new light in order to bring a renewed sense of hope. Establishing a strong toolbox of coping skills along with raised awareness of what brought you into therapy can bring a stronger sense of empowerment for positive change. I believe everyone has the ability to navigate what life throws at us and make meaning from those challenges. "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come.” ― Zig Ziglar

Welcome. I believe we all have the power within us to get to the healing, healthy growth, and development we need. My particular clinical approach is based in humanistic, relational, and family systems theory, and is focused more on human potential than it is on human pathology. Prior to graduate school, I studied widely in philosophy, theology, art, literature, life sciences, and athletic performance, all of which inform my view of human nature, and human existence. What in your life would you like to be better? In our work together, I utilize the collective wisdom of the healing and growth of others to bear on the present moment.

It is my honor to walk beside people during the more difficult times in their lives and help them make sense of their stories. As a trained outside voice, I am here to help you when you get stuck and disconnected. I believe that we are not meant to do this life alone — the more support we have, the stronger we are. When we get help, it lightens the load. ​ My primary clinical interests are working with trauma, working with relationship problems and working with military families. I enjoy working with individuals, couples and families.

Hello! My name is Sway and thanks for stopping by my profile! I am dedicated to providing a safe, confidential, respectful atmosphere that I hope will progress into a therapeutic alliance with open communication and self-exploration in order to gain a richer understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. I believe that accessing the strengths that are within enables us to better explore the issues and implement strategies that will help us live our lives to the fullest. My goal is to personalize therapy to meet the unique needs of each individual I work with in order to promote lasting therapeutic change and symptom relief.

With my own personal experiences, and as a sexual violence survivor myself, I am deeply honored to walk alongside clients as they process their traumas, anxiety, depression, and grief. I believe that transparency and trust are imperative in any professional relationship, and I am looking to use those skills in the client base I am hoping to grow. I am interested to work with clients age 14 and older as I begin this professional journey.

I understand that throughout life we can experience stressors and obstacles that impact our mental health. I use a collaborative and relational approach to help you explore your thoughts and feelings, which can lead to deep insight and a sense of relief.

I believe every individual's path of healing is unique. I approach therapy collaboratively, placing emphasis on your innate wisdom to support processes of growth and transformation. I also work holistically and am attentive to the intersections of mind and body in addition to the environmental, systemic, and intergenerational factors that influence our lives and wellbeing. I aspire to create a trauma-informed, nurturing, and compassionate space in which you can explore your inner world and relationship to life and Self.

I work in collaboration with clients exploring current issues and reviewing how mind and body are interconnected. I believe when people have hope, create awareness and can learn to challenge and replace irrational thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes, they can experience change.

Personal growth and recovery is an ongoing process of finding the next reachable foothold on the way toward your goal. You have already begun the first step in your work by looking for someone to talk to. We will work together to help you figure out a path to your goals and to find the confidence to lift yourself to the next reachable step along the way. Common issues I work with include depression, anxiety, stress, relationship problems, concerns related to sexual health or sexual functioning, sexual and gender identity, trauma, and bipolar disorder.

Life can be so tough and overwhelming—and we all struggle at times. It’s easy to get depressed, stressed, or worried. I love helping patients work through the challenges they face- whether they are dealing with a loss or a health issue, feeling overwhelmed or stuck, or stressed out by work or by a relationship. I have expertise in treating depression, anxiety (Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Trichotillomania), grief and PTSD.

3/16/2024: We are accepting new clients! MPS is an outpatient psychotherapy clinic in Woodbury that specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with mental health concerns. We commonly treat the following concerns: Mood Disorders (Depression, Bipolar Disorder), Anxiety Disorders (Generalized, Separation, Social, Phobias, Panic), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Tourettes/Motor Tic Disorder, Life and/or Family Changes, Grief and Loss, Psychosis, Trauma, and Attention & Focus Concerns (ADHD).