Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Minnesota

My goal is to help you optimize your mental health and quality of life through a personalized evidence informed approach to care.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Certified Life Coach with 30 years of professional clinical experience. I have worked in both outpatient and inpatient programs developing and leading mental health programs. I have owned a private successful practice since 2010 that was initiated to help people thrive through life's challenges. I was drawn to this field by a deep interest in human behavior transformative impact of helping others thrive and navigate through challenges that created lasting positive change.

I specialize in a variety of treatment approaches serving men and women. Let me support you in navigating difficult transitions tailoring your treatment to meet your needs.

Life can become heavy in ways that are difficult to explain. You may feel overwhelmed by anxiety, carrying grief that no one fully understands, recovering from painful experiences, or simply wondering why you don't feel like yourself anymore. Sometimes you've spent so much time caring for others that you've lost touch with your own needs.

I believe therapy is a place to slow down, get curious, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that may have been overlooked or burdened by life's experiences. I work with children, adolescents, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, stress, and major life transitions. My goal is to create a warm, accepting space where you can feel seen, understood, and supported as we uncover your strengths and move toward a more meaningful and connected life.

I’m a bilingual therapist working with adults navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, and major life transitions. Many of the people I support feel overwhelmed by overthinking, internal pressure, difficulty managing stress, and the uncertainty of what comes next.

In our work together, I focus on helping you make sense of what’s happening internally and develop practical ways to respond to stress and emotions. I integrate cognitive, somatic, and neuroscience-informed approaches to support both emotional and nervous system regulation.

I believe therapy should feel human. It can be structured but still fit your individual needs. I offer a space where you can show up as you are, while also doing meaningful work that leads to real shifts in how you experience and respond to life.

My work is deeply rooted in empathy, lived understanding, and respect for each person’s unique healing process.

I am a survivor of domestic violence, and I understand firsthand the complex emotional impact of trauma, including fear, loss of control, self-doubt, and the long path toward safety and healing. I also experienced the loss of a parent during childhood, which gives me a deep appreciation for how grief, attachment wounds, and early loss can affect emotional development and adult relationships.

These experiences do not define my clients’ journeys, nor do I assume their experiences mirror my own. Instead, they allow me to sit with pain without minimizing it, rushing it, or trying to “fix” it. I understand how important it is to feel believed, respected, and heard.

Clients should also know that I value transparency, trust, and collaboration. Therapy with me is a space where your voice matters, your boundaries are honored, and your strengths are recognized. I am committed to providing trauma-informed care that is compassionate, steady, and grounded in both clinical skill and genuine human connection.

Hello there, my name is Josie! I enjoy being a therapist because I have experienced the benefits of therapy myself, I enjoy working with people, and I believe life is worth living, but sometimes we need an extra person in our corner to help us navigate the ups and downs of this life.

I am a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner based in Minnesota. I specialize in diagnosing and providing medication management for mental disorders such as ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Psychotic disorders, Mood Disorders, Substance use Disorders, Eating Disorders, and more.

I believe that you are the expert in your own life. Oftentimes people seek therapy as a way to cope with difficult environments, navigating a complex and rapidly changing world without the support they need to overcome obstacles. I have worked with disenfranchised folks most of my life - many impacted by systems involvement, lack of access to services, homelessness, and intimate partner violence. Past clients have shared they genuinely appreciate having a helping professional who meets them where they are at in life, supports them in achieving realistic goals, and keeps dignity, respect and honesty at the forefront of the work.

Hello, I’m Dr. Stella Essien, Welcome!

As a dual board-certified Nurse Practitioner (FNP & PMHNP), I have a passion for compassionate, equitable, and accessible mental health care practice that brings evidence-based, person-centered services to individuals and families across Minnesota.

Whether you're navigating anxiety, or addiction recovery, depression, or stress, I am here to support your path forward with warmth, professionalism, and purpose.