Hi, I'm Ann!
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It's nice to virtually meet you!
You’ve landed on this page because you’re looking to see if I’m someone who you think will connect with your child, and more importantly if l am someone who will be able to help. I get it - therapy is a big commitment and you want to be sure that you aren’t wasting your valuable time. I want this page to help you get to know me a little bit more so you can decide if I am going to be a good fit to work with your child. In the therapy room: I'm a therapist who is passionate about helping children feel confident, secure, and empowered. I believe that children should have a space that is dedicated just for them because the needs of children are significantly different than adults - which is why I created a therapy practice that focuses exclusively on children. I specialize in supporting children and teens to heal, grow, and create a life where they can thrive. I believe that when clients can shift the way they see and think about the world they will start to feel better and make healthier choices to improve their quality of life, as they live in the world as the best version of themselves. I also believe that each young person has their own unique set of strengths and talents and when people can grow in their strengths they can thrive. |
Real talk? Your child starts connecting more with family and friends, actually wants to get off the couch or come out of their room, and can be more present at school without all the stress. You can see their real genuine smiles and see them excited for life again.
I am also not the therapist that will magically “fix” your child’s problems and struggles, although I wish I was that good! I also can’t make your child turn in 100% of their assignments on time, only want 10 minutes of screen time per day, clean the house without being asked, and get themselves ready on time with perfect execution each morning.
At the end of the therapy process your child will still be uniquely them - a perfectly imperfect child, but without all the weight, stress, and pain of the difficulties they are going through now. A happier, more regulated child who sometimes leaves their socks on the floor, hits the snooze button one too many times, or gets sucked into social media or video games for hours on end.
Mental health problems are hard and complex, and if the answer to all of this was easy I trust that you and your child would have figured it out by now. For this reason, the therapy process with me is active. Although I have a ton of skills, training and experience treating mental health difficulties with children, you are still the most important person in your child’s life.
Therapy is a highly collaborative process where you will have space to check in about your concerns, understand your child’s mental health more deeply, and understand specific strategies and tools you can use at home to support your child.
Oh ya... and we will probably laugh, a lot.
What clients are saying:
Parents say I am a "real life human who gets it". Someone who can help you gain a full understanding about what are the specific and unique difficulties your child is facing, what their current strengths are, and what techniques and resources will be the best fit to help your child find relief from symptoms and move forward.
All of that - free of judgment. In the therapy room I am someone who works with you on the same team to support your child with practical strategies for real life.
The children I see can’t wait for their “special play time” and I often will hear parents say “he’s been asking to come all week”. In my therapy for teens I create a safe and private space for them to unpack all the complexities of what it is like to be a teen struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, or trauma.
I am also not the therapist that will magically “fix” your child’s problems and struggles, although I wish I was that good! I also can’t make your child turn in 100% of their assignments on time, only want 10 minutes of screen time per day, clean the house without being asked, and get themselves ready on time with perfect execution each morning.
At the end of the therapy process your child will still be uniquely them - a perfectly imperfect child, but without all the weight, stress, and pain of the difficulties they are going through now. A happier, more regulated child who sometimes leaves their socks on the floor, hits the snooze button one too many times, or gets sucked into social media or video games for hours on end.
Mental health problems are hard and complex, and if the answer to all of this was easy I trust that you and your child would have figured it out by now. For this reason, the therapy process with me is active. Although I have a ton of skills, training and experience treating mental health difficulties with children, you are still the most important person in your child’s life.
Therapy is a highly collaborative process where you will have space to check in about your concerns, understand your child’s mental health more deeply, and understand specific strategies and tools you can use at home to support your child.
Oh ya... and we will probably laugh, a lot.
What clients are saying:
Parents say I am a "real life human who gets it". Someone who can help you gain a full understanding about what are the specific and unique difficulties your child is facing, what their current strengths are, and what techniques and resources will be the best fit to help your child find relief from symptoms and move forward.
All of that - free of judgment. In the therapy room I am someone who works with you on the same team to support your child with practical strategies for real life.
The children I see can’t wait for their “special play time” and I often will hear parents say “he’s been asking to come all week”. In my therapy for teens I create a safe and private space for them to unpack all the complexities of what it is like to be a teen struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, or trauma.
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My “real life human” side:
When I’m out of the office or Playroom it’s likely I’m having an excellent cup of coffee. Maybe it’s from Starbucks, Bearaboo, or my Moka pot at home. I am food obsessed and you might find me on a Friday night at Gordy’s High Hat or Va Bene or cooking up some new recipes I found off Pinterest.
I love to be outdoors and anywhere near a lake. My two favorite lakes? Lake Vermilion and Lake Superior! I also garden in the summer and spend most of my time trying to figure out how to keep the deer from eating my beans and peas and accidentally growing waayyy too many pumpkins. I love to snow-shoe, hike, and take a great sauna (pronounced SOW-na).
I am a small town girl at heart and grew up even farther north than Cloquet, but spent 10 years of my life practicing in the Twin Cities area. In 2019 I made the big leap to come back to a place a little smaller and more home-like and landed in the Duluth area and have loved it ever since! My graduating class was 25 students and I was voted worst driver (fair, but my skills have improved since then).
I also have a husband, am the mom of a wonderful young boy and a dog-mom to my English Springer Spaniel (who is also always up to mischief) and I am a perfectly imperfect parent to both.
The technical stuff:
This is the part where I tell you all of my qualifications so you can know that your child will be in good (and competent) hands:
Have more questions?
Check out the About Therapy page, call 218.730.7862 or email [email protected].
When I’m out of the office or Playroom it’s likely I’m having an excellent cup of coffee. Maybe it’s from Starbucks, Bearaboo, or my Moka pot at home. I am food obsessed and you might find me on a Friday night at Gordy’s High Hat or Va Bene or cooking up some new recipes I found off Pinterest.
I love to be outdoors and anywhere near a lake. My two favorite lakes? Lake Vermilion and Lake Superior! I also garden in the summer and spend most of my time trying to figure out how to keep the deer from eating my beans and peas and accidentally growing waayyy too many pumpkins. I love to snow-shoe, hike, and take a great sauna (pronounced SOW-na).
I am a small town girl at heart and grew up even farther north than Cloquet, but spent 10 years of my life practicing in the Twin Cities area. In 2019 I made the big leap to come back to a place a little smaller and more home-like and landed in the Duluth area and have loved it ever since! My graduating class was 25 students and I was voted worst driver (fair, but my skills have improved since then).
I also have a husband, am the mom of a wonderful young boy and a dog-mom to my English Springer Spaniel (who is also always up to mischief) and I am a perfectly imperfect parent to both.
The technical stuff:
This is the part where I tell you all of my qualifications so you can know that your child will be in good (and competent) hands:
- Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology from Bemidji State University (go Beavers!)
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Supervisor (LPCC)
- Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S) and Trainer
- Consultant and Trainer for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Trained in: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Sand Tray, Reality Therapy, Love and Logic Parenting and certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Minnesota Association for Play Therapy Treasurer 2020 - Present.
- Winner of the Shining Star Award from the Minnesota Association for Play Therapy in 2021
- Speaks nationally on topics of child and Play Therapy to other therapists, teachers, and helping professionals
- Featured on ABC news and PBS as a child therapy expert
- Has had therapy interventions published in Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children Adolescents and Families Volume 4 by Liana Lowenstein
Have more questions?
Check out the About Therapy page, call 218.730.7862 or email [email protected].
