Hello, my name is Laurel and I’m originally from the Midwest. I decided in high school to become a mental health therapist since many of my peers and friends would often come to me for advice or to share their troubles. I realized that it was most natural for me to go into a helping profession at that young age.  I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Arizona State University in 2001 and from there gained my Masters in Counseling from University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona in 2005.

I started out my career working with children and adults ages 10 and up in the sexual abuse field. Additionally, I went into the Maricopa County jails and administered psychological testing for risk assessments. I then worked both in outpatient doing multiple groups, individual, and family sessions per week (with children, adolescents and adults) as well as inpatient residential treatment with adolescent clients. In Arizona, I worked with a very diverse population, including clients with a broad range of socioeconomic situations, multicultural clients such as Native American clients, Hispanic clients, African American, Asian, Somalian, as well as clients from a variety of religious background, such as Catholicism, Judaism, the LDS Community, Jahovah’s Witnesses, Christian, Lutheran, and clients with Native American beliefs/practices, etc. I have also worked with clients who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. I have experienced similar diversity working with clients in Minnesota. 

I moved to Minnesota in 2012 and accepted a position as a Clinical Supervisor in a corrections type setting and then after a few years changed positions and worked as a psychologist 2 in an inpatient setting with women who were civilly committed as having chemical use disorder problems and mental illness. During that time, I became fully trained in EMDR specialized trauma treatment that I have used with many clients since being trained in 2016.

I began working in outpatient in 2018 serving clients with various issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, marriage and family problems, relationship problems/loss, grief/loss, narcissistic abuse, medical problems, job problems/loss, divorce, and more. 

I additionally work at Essentia Health Rehabilitation Inpatient Program for their psychology team (since 2020) helping patients recover from having a stroke, spinal cord or brain injury, chemical use and suicide attempts impacting them medically, cancer/brain tumors, amputations, and other medical trauma. I help patients with their adjustment to these situations as well as administer cognitive testing and activities to build cognitive functioning.

My favorite part of working in the mental health field are the connections I have made with people and their families. I enjoy watching people progress and feel honored to help others. I too have learned a great deal from the clients and patients that I have worked with. I am sincerely appreciative and grateful for every person that has allowed me to be a part of their life journey.