Mindful Families has immediate availability for therapy and psychiatry.
We offer in-person and virtual appointments.
Meet Our Providers
Jocelyn Byrd, MSW, LICSW, (She/Her/Hers) is a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience providing therapeutic services in diverse mental health settings. Her relationship with clients is compassionate, collaborative, and dedicated to achieving real progress. She enjoys working with preteens, teenagers and adults of all backgrounds, specializing in treatment depression and anxiety. She has particular expertise in helping those with suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behaviors. Her practice also includes working with mothers across all stages, including infertility and prenatal, to help navigate parenting struggles.
She enjoys working with preteens, teenagers and adults of all backgrounds, specializing in treatment depression and anxiety. She has particular expertise in helping those with suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behaviors. Her practice also includes working with mothers across all stages, including infertility and prenatal, to help navigate parenting struggles.
Jocelyn's work is informed in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and skills-based approaches. She believes in mind-body awareness, and incorporates mindfulness skills in her practice. She will coordinate your therapy to meet your goals, while providing education and support. Her priority is for you to leave each session with new ideas, insights and inspiration.
email: jocelyn@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-564-2494
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/jocelynbyrd
Laura Dahlstrom, MA, LPCC (She/Her/Hers) is a licensed professional clinical counselor who completed her undergraduate degree at Gustavus Adolphus College and her graduate degree at Bethel University. She has over 12 years of experience providing mental health services in a variety of settings.
Laura enjoys working with adults with a variety of concerns, including depression, bipolar, anxiety, adjustment issues, life transitions, and perinatal mental health.
Laura places great value on the therapeutic relationship, working collaboratively with clients to build a trusting relationship and create a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere. Within this relationship, she helps clients to gain insight into themselves, their struggles, their goals, and their strengths.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the art of being present in the moment. It is a practice developed over time to improve life balance.
Mindfulness reduces stress, increases engagement and improves interpersonal effectiveness.
Mindfulness leads to more satisfying relationships, increased life satisfaction and a happier you.
Mindful Families is committed to providing safe space to all families and individuals. We welcome people of diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, racial and ethnic identities. Our space is accessible. Handicapped parking is located in the rear of the building, with automatic doors and a ramp.
She utilizes evidence-based treatments to guide her practice and support her clients in achieving their goals. These include elements of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness, and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP or ExRP).
email: laura@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-367-6037
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/lauradahlstrom
Laurie Dwyer, MA, LAMFT, (She/Her/Hers) is a pre-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 5-years of experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, parents and families. Laurie's goal is to provide a safe and supportive space for children and families to explore issues in a meaningful way with the intention of achieving a more balanced and joyful life.
Laurie primarily works with children ages 3 and up and families. She has experience with anxiety, depression, attachment, trauma, family transitions, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Her approach often involves allowing children to freely express themselves through play, movement, and art, while also teaching new skills and coping methods to the child and their families. She incorporates learnings from Family Systems, Attachment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Directive and Experiential Play therapies. In addition to working with children, Laurie enjoys supporting young adults and couples as they navigate both personal and professional transitions including marriage, starting a family, family relationships and school/career changes.
email: laurie@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-787-2731
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/lauriedwyer
Amy Engelhard, LMFT, (She/Her/Hers) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been working in the mental health field for over a decade. She enjoys working with wide range of clients, but especially enjoys helping individuals and families through family life changes, anxiety disorders, and childhood concerns.
Amy completed the PSI Certificate Training and works with families to address perinatal mood and anxiety concerns. Clients who work with Amy can find their own strengths, learn skills to manage day to day life, and use their own insight within a supportive environment. She likes to challenge her teen and adult clients in a gentle, and sometimes humorous, manner.
Amy utilizes play as the language of children within their sessions and is able to work with children as young as 3 in a play therapy modality. Parents/guardians of child clients are involved in parent sessions and may be asked to be a part of the play as well. Play can be either directive or child-centered and helps children work through many concerns, including anxiety, mood disorders, family change, ADHD, behavioral concerns, and other life stressors.
email: amy@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-568-8505
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/amyengelhardlmft
Alexis Gerulis, BA (She/Her/Hers) is a third-year graduate student at Bethel University, working towards licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She is trained in a systemic lens, and has a passion for narrative therapy. She desires to work with individuals and families to reshape their view of themselves and their relationships, to work towards a more whole sense of self. Alexis is clinically supervised by Allison Peterson, MA, LP, PMH-C.
Through her past work as a program manager at a local nonprofit organization, she realized her desire to work clinically with individuals, couples, and families. She has experience collaborating with mental health professionals, licensed social workers, and a wide variety of public health representatives in order to promote success for adolescents, individuals, and families.
Alexis is open to working with clients of all ages, but has a special interest in working with families. She believes strongly in the importance of empathy and connection within her work; she strives to create a safe space for all of her clients, while working with them to achieve their goals.
email: alexis@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-405-9155
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/agerulis
Erica Landers, MA, Licensed School Counselor, (She/Her/Hers) is a pre-licensed LPCC Therapist supervised by Allison Peterson, MA, LP, PMH-C. She has experience working with children ages 11 years and up, teens, couples, parents, elderly, pregnant woman and families.
Erica wants to help empower her clients to transform and be in control of their life. She has worked with individuals from all walks of life. Her goal is to create a safe space where she can provide clients with support, compassion and understanding. She has experiences helping clients with anxiety, depression, grief, stress, trauma relationship troubles, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders and parenting issues.
Erica is open to working with people of all ages but has a special interest in working with teens and adolescents. She believes strongly in the importance of empathy and connection within her work; she strives to create a safe space for all of her clients, while working with them to achieve their goals.
phone: 612-367-7009
email: erica@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
teletherapy portal: www.doxy.me/elanders
Allison Peterson, MA, LP, PMH-C (She/Her/Hers) is a licensed psychologist and clinical director/owner of Mindful Families. Allison enjoys working with children age 8 through adolescence as well as adults and families.
She takes a direct yet affirming approach in addressing complex emotional and behavioral concerns. She especially enjoys engaging families in developing effective communication and behavior management skills. She utilizes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and clinical hypnosis in her work.
Allison has completed her Perinatal Mental Health Certification through Postpartum Support International (PSI). She is active in the perinatal community as a volunteer for PSI as MN Chapter PSI Coordinator supporting local families calling the national helpline. She has trained mental health professionals, medical and other birthing providers throughout the state. Allison is available for supervision and consultation on perinatal mental.
email: allisonpeterson@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-486-2956
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/apeterson
Anne Troff-Heck, MA, LPCC, (She/Her/Hers) is a licensed professional clinical counselor. Her goal is to provide a warm and non-judgmental environment where you can explore your concerns and feel understood. She believes that creating a safe place for someone to be vulnerable and trust leads to a more successful therapeutic experience.
Anne has over 13 years of experience helping adults with mood disorders, anxiety and panic attacks, trauma, life transitions, grief, stress management, women's issues, suicidal ideation and self-esteem. She is passionate about helping adults adjust to changes in their lives – both expected and unexpected.
Anne has completed the PSI Certificate Training for the treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as well as miscarriage and infant loss. Her role as a therapist is to help you to better understand your needs and strengths and develop goals to live a better life.
Anne uses Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), person-centered and humanistic approaches in therapy. She wants you to feel empowered to set healthy limits in your life, develop skills to cope with stress and mental health symptoms and find hope and meaning. You will find that she is genuine, encouraging and motivated to help by providing support and validation, education and skills.
email: anne@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-564-3020
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/annetroffheck
Skip Brenny, MS (He/Him/His) recently graduated with his masters in Marriage & Family Therapy from the University of Wisconsin.
Prior to grad school, Skip spent 15 rewarding but unfulfilling years in corporate America. Inspired by stories like, “Under the Tuscan Sun” and “Eat. Pray. Love.” Skip embarked on a sabbatical with hopes to both find himself and fulfilling work. Though nothing goes quite like the movies, Skip developed a profound appreciation for relationship, universal connection, and human consciousness. This led him to where he is today.
Skip was trained to be a volunteer mediator and met requirements as a “Qualified Neutral” in the state of MN. He understands the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences and is trauma-informed. As a gay man, Skip’s identity and journey offers insight into privilege and oppression. Skip has deep empathy for anyone who has felt othered or been impacted by oppression and injustice. He also pauses to understand his own privilege knowing its invisible to those who have it.
Skip brings a uniquely personal, fresh, and informal approach to working with clients. His experiential style is fed using a blend of narrative, attachment, family system theories. Skip leverages his past experiences with various types of holistic healing and will to offer guidance and referrals anytime appropriate. Most importantly, Skip insists levity, humor, and laughter are essential parts of healing, and this is woven into everything he does.
email: skip@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-306-7547
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/skipbrenny
Jamie Houk, MA, LPCC (She/Her/Hers) is a licensed professional clinical counselor with approximately 20 years of experience providing mental health services in a variety of settings. She enjoys working with and has experience in working with teens and adults. Her areas of expertise are the following but not limited to: anxiety disorders, depression disorders, PTSD & trauma, life transitions, relationship issues, stress management, and self-harming thoughts and/or behaviors.
It is important to her to build a therapeutic alliance and a synergy with her clients so that not only the symptoms can be addressed but the underlying root causes can be addressed as well. She works with the client to gain an understanding with what their personal experience is and what attempts have already been made to make positive changes.
She considers herself an eclectic therapist pulling primarily from Client Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Other areas of interest and utilization come from Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Clinical Hypnotherapy, and expressive arts such as music, art, books, videos, and sand tray therapy. Time within session is focused on solution-based goals while addressing any limiting beliefs and/or barriers.
email: jamie@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 651-301-8321
Becca Lee, (she/her), LICSW is a licensed independent clinical social worker with five years of experience in the mental health field. Her passion lies in providing support and guidance to individuals, children, adolescents, and families as they navigate life's challenges and transitions.
With a warm and empathetic approach, Becca creates a safe and nurturing environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Her specialized areas of focus include child and adolescent therapy, family therapy, and navigating life transitions.
Becca enjoys working with people on a variety of concerns, but she has experience assessing and treating depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and thought disorders. She also enjoys working with parents navigating parenting and their own mental health concerns.
Becca utilizes a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches, and solution-focused therapy, among others. She is working on completing a play therapy certificate that will give her a specialty in working with young children or those who do not benefit from traditional talk therapy. She believes in the importance of collaboration and actively involves clients in the therapeutic process, working together to explore insights, develop strategies, and foster positive change.
Becca has immediate openings for new clients, including evening and weekend appointments.
email: becca@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
phone: 612-430-9466
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/beccalee
Medication Providers
Kayla Nowak
MSN, APRN, CNP, PMHNP-BC, PHN
Kayla is passionate about providing patient centered care. She enjoys education and is a life-long learner. She completed her undergraduate degree at The College of St Scholastica with a major in nursing. She worked as a RN at the bedside in the emergency department, intensive care unit, and in the correctional setting. She graduated from Maryville University with her masters in nursing as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Her clinical interests encompass a broad spectrum of disorders including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Kayla offers psychiatric assessment and medication management to people ages 14+.
She enjoys getting to know each individual patient, providing patient centered care, listening to their needs, and working together towards a shared treatment goal. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, dogs, reading, being outdoors, or at her cabin.
To schedule an appointment call 612-486-2956
email: info@mindfulfamiliestherapy.com
teletherapy portal: https://doxy.me/kaylanowak