Archive

Ash Hardell, MA

Mental Health Practitioner

Ash is a practicum student finishing their master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas. Ash uses they/them pronouns, and prior to counseling, they worked for seven years in the fields of LGBT+ education and professional advocacy. Through this work, Ash discovered their passion for working with under-served communities. Ash enjoys counseling older adolescents and adults on a variety of issues; however, they are especially passionate about identity work, gender exploration, gender transition, sexual health, and serving people from marginalized communities (e.g., BIPOC, queer, trans, nonbinary, asexual, aromantic, intersex, neurodivergent folks, people with disabilities, etc.) Ash uses Person-centered, ACT, and CBT methods, and their practice is collaborative, affirming, and works from an intersectional, anti-oppressive, and fat positive lens. No matter who you are, Ash would consider it an honor to help support your mental health and general wellness through a therapeutic partnership.

Ash is under the supervision of Tera Jansen, Psy.D., LP, CST, and while they are currently working from White Bear Lake, they are only seeing clients via telehealth at this time.

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Haewon Jun, MPS, LADC

School Based Mental Health Therapist

Haewon is a LPCC candidate who serves adults, adolescents, and families with a variety of mental health and chemical health diagnoses.
Education & Professional Activities

Haewon received her Bachelor of Science degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota in 2016. She received her Master of Professional Studies degree in Integrated Behavioral Health from the University of Minnesota in 2020. Haewon is a Licensed Alcohol and Drugs Counselor as well as an LPCC candidate.

Therapeutic Approach 
Haewon primarily uses an approach which incorporates existentialism and cognitive behavioral therapy. She values the uniqueness of each individual and the experiences that help build who they are, and hopes to provide an opportunity to take a moment and focus on self, raise curiosity about self, and prioritize self-care.

Haewon receives clinical supervision from Ann Becher-Ingwalson, PsyD, LADC, LPCC, DBTC and sees clients at Highview Middle School and Mounds View Area Learning Center through School-Linked Mental Health program.

Specialties
Depression
Generalized Anxiety
Substance use disorders and evaluations
Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Stage-of-life questions
Stress management
Mindfulness
Co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness
Suicidal Ideation & Self-Injurious Behaviors
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Grief and loss
Alternative relationship structures

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Xin Yueh Choo

Xin Yueh Choo (Sin YOU-Weh)

Bachelors of Science in Psychology

It is so lovely to meet you! I have my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a background working in a variety of settings, from non-profit organizations to hospitals, and I love the wide scope of services that counseling and psychology offers. I have found that the people I have served and worked alongside have taught me so much wisdom, compassion, and empathy – and that gives me hope for the future of mental health. I am a Master’s practicum student, and I look forward to establishing my areas of specialization and flourishing in the counseling field.

I have a person-centered approach, and my goal is to provide an encouraging, welcoming, and warm space for others to recenter and build their mental health to their goals. Growing up in a different country and living in the United States has given me a continuously growing bicultural perspective that feeds into my interest in exploring cultural backgrounds and upbringing. I am especially interested in working with individuals going through life transitions and enjoy being an anchor that people can hold onto when the waves of changes pull a little harder. Whether making meaningful career decisions or navigating unfamiliar systems, I would love to assist in the process and support you.

One of my favorite quotes is “time takes time.” I always find that patience, resilience, and hope persevere through and through.

Xin sees clients at our University location.

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Kimberly Stewart, PhD, LAMFT

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Stewart is a Post-Doctoral Psychology Fellow and a Licensed Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, with more than six years of direct client experience. She has worked clinically in community mental health, private practice, corrections, and VA settings. In addition, Dr. Stewart has been active in clinical research regarding PTSD, chronic pain, sexuality, gender identity, and the mental health of older adults.

Dr. Stewart takes a warm, relational approach to her work with clients, practicing primarily from narrative and family systems approaches. By integrating relevant research into her conceptualization of presenting concerns, Dr. Stewart grounds her humanistic style with established data and best practices. Dr. Stewart is particularly skillful in working with couple and family relationships and enjoys the opportunity to interact with relational problems in real time during the therapy session. Clients can expect to hear Dr. Stewart emphasizing self-compassion and relational awareness through observation, reflection, and reframing thoughts or language. It is Dr. Stewart’s position that problems rarely are inherent to the individual but rather are systemically created, by way of stressors in an individual’s environment (e.g., family, society, workplace). She believes individuals are inherently good and are doing the best they can to manage the challenges present in life and relationships. Dr. Stewart understands that clients are the experts of their own experiences and works collaboratively to help clients acknowledge and re-author identified themes, and to move forward in their healing toward more adaptive ways of being. It is important to Dr. Stewart to approach clients with cultural humility and to learn as much as possible about each client’s experience in the world, in their relationships, and in the therapy room.

Beyond her specialty in couple and family work, Dr. Stewart has special interest in working with clients who have the following concerns: trauma, sexual and/or gender identity, religion/spirituality or religious trauma, and existential concerns (e.g., meaning of life, aging, death/dying).

Education & Professional History
University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK) – Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, 2021
University of St. Thomas (Minneapolis, MN) – M.A., Counseling Psychology (Marriage & Family Therapy concentration), 2016
North Central University (Minneapolis, MN) – B.A., Youth Development Studies, 2006
Washburn Center for Children
Lorenz Clinic
Oklahoma City VA Health Care System – Geropsychology & Palliative Care Units
Joseph Harp Correctional Center
University of Oklahoma Counseling Psychology Clinic
Minneapolis VA Health Care Center – Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research
University of Minnesota – Program in Human Sexuality

Kim is an active presenter and has conducted workshops at various regional and national conferences, as well as at international conferences in Europe and Asia.

Kim sees clients at our University location.

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Sara Blessington, MA

Sara Blessington, MA, is a doctoral psychology intern providing psychotherapy and psychological assessment. Sara works with children, teens, young adults, and their families who struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship conflict. Sara approaches therapy from a relational and client-centered perspective. She believes the therapy relationship is the essential component of therapy. Sara’s therapeutic approach addresses thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as pieces of the same puzzle that interact with each other.

Sara completing her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University in Seattle, Washington. She holds a bachelors degree in Psychology from Eastern Washington University and a Masters degree in Psychology from Antioch University Seattle. Before graduate school, Sara worked for over 15 years with children, teens, young adults, and families in multiple community settings. She is a student member of the American Psychological Association. Outside of her clinical work in psychology, Sara enjoys hiking, traveling, and dinner with friends.

Sarah sees clients at the University Ave and Woodbury locations. She is supervised by Dr. Robin McLeod, Ph.D., LP

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Lydia Christianson, MS, BCBA

Lydia Christianson, MS, BCBA is a doctoral psychology intern working under the supervision of both Dr. Robin McLeod and Dr. Greg Picker. Lydia’s primary experience is working with children and adolescents with a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and behavioral concerns. Additionally, she has extensive experience in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and developmental disabilities. Her theoretical orientation is Cognitive Behavioral with mindfulness and skills incorporated throughout. Lydia also likes to use humor throughout the therapeutic process to help her patients and their families feel more at ease. Lydia has experiences in conducting psychological evaluations for bariatric surgery, ADHD diagnostic clarification, personality, and cognitive assessments.

Lydia received her Master’s of Science in special education and applied behavior analysis from the University of North Dakota. She is currently completing her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Capella University. In her spare time, Lydia loves anything baking. This includes both baking herself as well as watching baking shows. She also enjoys spending time on her parent’s farm and in the outdoors as much as Minnesota weather allows her to!

Lydia sees clients at our Woodbury location. She is supervised by Dr. Robin McLeod, PhD, LP.

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Cristin Callahan

Mental Health Practitioner

Cristin is working to complete her Master’s in Counseling and Psychological Services at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Cristin is a mental health practitioner with Natalis and hopes to ultimately pursue LPCC licensure. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Advertising Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2012.

Cristin uses a person-centered approach with clients in which she proves support to collaborate with the client to learn new coping skills, build confidence, and empower them in their journey to improve their mental health. She utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Cristin works with middle school aged adolescents in the School Linked Mental Health program at Chippewa Middle School. She also sees clients at the Natalis University clinic. She receives clinical supervision from Alex Kovic, MA, PsyD, LP.

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Caitlin Schneider, PsyD

Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow

Dr. Schneider grew up in Duluth and is excited to be back in Minnesota after completing her doctoral education and training in Indiana at the University of Indianapolis. During her training, Dr. Schneider developed expertise working with children and teens experiencing behavioral and emotional concerns. She has experience working in multiple therapeutic modalities including group therapy, school-based therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy. She completed her doctoral psychology internship at a community mental health center for children and adolescents working primarily with children who struggle with anxiety, depression, behavioral difficulties, and trauma. In addition to therapy, Caitlin also is trained in conducting psychological testing and evaluations with children and adolescents focusing on psychodiagnostics, ADHD, personality, and developmental assessments.

Therapeutic Approach
Dr. Schneider’s approach to therapy involves integrating cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and family systems principles. She strives to meet the individual needs of each client and family and collaborates with them to identify what therapeutic approach will be most effective in addressing their specific concerns. Dr. Schneider views the family system as important and works to include parents and caregivers in the therapeutic process.

Caitlin Schneider sees clients at the University Ave. and Woodbury locations. She is supervised by Dr. Robin McLeod, PhD, LP.

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Heather Simmer, MA, PsyD

Heather (she/her) joined Natalis in 2021 as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Psychology. She primarily works with adults and adolescents 15 and over. Her overarching approach to therapy is person-centered, relational, and multicultural feminist. In therapy she is neuroatypical embracing, body positive and disability sensitive. She most enjoys holding space for spiritual exploration, resolving moral injury, holistic healing, and creative intention building.

During her internship at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Heather earned a national certification in Primary Care Mental Health Integration. Because of this training, she is comfortable communicating with medical providers and addressing her clients’ mental health related needs. Heather has also earned a national certification in massage therapy and multiple complimentary alternative medicines. She ethically integrates these competencies in session for the purpose of mindful awareness of traumatic holding patterns in the body, and body-centered emotional self-regulation techniques. Heather does not provide massage therapy in session. She is trained in trauma-focused therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and creative art/movement-based interventions. She also uses Imagery and Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) for sleep- related issues, in addition to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBTcp) body-centered mindfulness interventions for chronic pain.

Education & Professional Activities
She received her PsyD in 2021, also from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota (an APA accredited doctoral program). She completed her predoctoral internship at the St. Cloud VA and has also enjoyed working in community mental health centers throughout the Metro area. She holds a BA in fine arts and a BA in Art History from the University of Minnesota. She has earned a certificate in Massage Therapy from Corinthian Colleges in Los Angeles, and in Structural Integration from the Structural Integration Institute in Miami. Heather has additional experience in education and actively volunteers with the Minnesota Psychological Association.

Heather practices at the Natalis Woodbury location.

Specialties
Women’s Issues
Men’s Issues
Non-Religious Spirituality
Neuroatypicality (ADHD and Autism)
Depression
Anxiety
Sleep Disturbances
PTSD
Trauma
Veterans
Military Sexual Trauma
Institutional Abuse
Human Sexuality
Decolonization
Chronic Pain
Life Adjustments
Grief and Loss
Creativity and Flow
Shame and Guilt

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Hans Erickson, MSEd. LPCC

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

Hans Erickson is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Minnesota. Hans provides individual and group therapy to adults 18 and older. He is trained in the following evidenced based treatments: Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) for clients with Borderline Personality Disorder or traits, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients integrate and reprocess single-event, chronic, and developmental trauma. Hans has been a DBT therapist since the inception of Natalis’ DBT program in 2017. He has also completed a year-long internship in Psychodynamic Therapy at The Training Institute for Mental Health in New York City.

Personal Statement/Approach:
Hans’ approach is integrative and adaptive. He draws from his training in Psychodynamic Therapy to help people gain insight into how they have come to be the way they are, DBT to help people assess and use skill to make changes in their present and future lives, Trauma-Informed Therapy to help people heal from traumatic events in their past, and Attachment-Based and Systems Theory to help explain how the structures of people’s past have influenced the way they behave and feel. In addition to this, Hans has a particular interest in helping people manage their issues within relationships such as fear of abandonment, co-dependence, boundary setting, and enmeshment. Hans believes everyone has the capacity to change, and that his role is to help people live their best, most fulfilled lives.

Educational Background and Professional Activities:
Hans has a Masters of Education in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College in New York City. He also has Bachelors of Science in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music in Boston. In previous iterations of his working life, Hans has been a commercial composer, a musical artist, an audio engineer, a teacher, an educational consultant, and a donut maker. Hans continues to work in music and audio. In his spare time he enjoys time with his kids, playing instruments, singing, time in nature, reading, exercise, and good friends.

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Archive

Ash Hardell, MA

Ash Hardell, MA

Mental Health Practitioner

Haewon Jun, MPS, LADC

Haewon Jun, MPS, LADC

School Based Mental Health Therapist

Xin Yueh Choo

Xin Yueh Choo (Sin YOU-Weh)

Bachelors of Science in Psychology

Kimberly Stewart, PhD, LAMFT

Kimberly Stewart, PhD, LAMFT

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Sara Blessington, MA

Sara Blessington, MA

Lydia Christianson, MS, BCBA

Lydia Christianson, MS, BCBA

Cristin Callahan

Cristin Callahan

Mental Health Practitioner

Caitlin Schneider, PsyD

Caitlin Schneider, PsyD

Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow

Heather Simmer, MA, PsyD

Heather Simmer, MA, PsyD

Hans Erickson, MSEd. LPCC

Hans Erickson, MSEd. LPCC

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

Natalis Psychology

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