Brainerd Lakes Area

*WAITLIST ONLY*

Jennifer has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2011. She works with individuals, couples, and families, using a systemic approach along with emotionally-focused, cognitive behavioral, and brain-based theories. She is a board approved supervisor by the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy and The MN Board of Behavioral Health. She has experience working with a variety of diagnosis. She has additional training on ADHD, Level 1 Autism, trauma, neuroscience, integrative medicine, and couples/family work, and is working on Emotionally Focused Couples and Family Therapy certification.

She approaches therapy with empathy and compassion, although she's not described as "warm and fuzzy." EI: A lot of times, people will try to make us “feel better” vs letting us feel our feelings. It doesn’t always “feel good” but pain is a needed emotion. Jennifer feels a good, accurate diagnosis is important as it gives us a “road map” for a treatment plan. She thinks "living in society's box" is cause for many symptoms and self-acceptance and self-love is a therapeutic goal for all. 

As a systemic therapist, Jennifer considers culture and community in the treatment of mental health. As such, Jennifer is the chair of the LAC: a group of community and mental health agencies, and community members that meets to discuss gaps in the community and how to address those gaps to better the mental health and wellness in our community. 

She has 2 kids, enjoys arts/crafts, games (video and board), and travel. She loves to learn and read.

Favorite quotes: You can be a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously....life is a working hypothesis.   

jennifervaughn@acquirementalhealth.com

(218)-820-6626

Accepting New Clients ages 18+

Brainerd Office & Virtual

Teddy graduated from Saint Thomas University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota with a Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services. He completed clinical internship at Mount Olivet Counseling Center in Minneapolis focusing on adult one-on-one psychotherapy and group counseling. 

Teddy previously worked for Crisis Connection in Richfield, MN and for Canvas Health as a Crisis Worker and Volunteer Supervisor managing the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for the state of Minnesota and dispatching Mobile Crisis Teams across the state.

Teddy moved to the BLA in October 2017 and began clinical practice with Birchwood Therapy Services in Baxter. 

He has completed Trauma-Focused training specializing  in EMDR and other trauma focused psychotherapy interventions. 

Teddy is a Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy approved LPC/LPCC supervisor in 2021 to assist post-graduate practitioners to develop their skills in the mental health field. 

Teddy provides therapy services under Oak Tree Therapy Services LLC

Accepting New Clients ages 12+

Brainerd Office & Virtual

Christine became interested in becoming a therapist when her son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, now Level 1 Autism. He was diagnosed at a very late age which led to a lot of frustration, confusion, and hard work on both of her and his part. This drove her passion to want to help others on their mental health journeys.

She believes that humor and laughing are good for the soul, so she tries to bring that to the therapy room when appropriate. She is a laid-back, down-to-earth, open-minded person and tend to not focus on being structured. She tries not to assign homework as life is busy enough already for most. She is blunt as she feels that people come to therapy to find answers and results, they cannot find themselves to promote change. While bluntness does not mean unempathetic or without compassion, it may mean discomfort in the moment and difficult to hear, initially. However, she is there to sit with her clients through the uncomfortable feelings of change.

Her models/theories of interest are Cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and integrative behavioral couples. She works with individuals, couples, and families. She has a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy.

“To thine own self be true."

Accepting New Clients ages 0+

Brainerd Office & Virtual

Charles is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) in the state of Minnesota. He has his Clinical Master of Social Work from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and has been a licensed social worker in Minnesota since he received his Bachelor of Social Work from the College of Saint Scholastica in 2019.  

Prior to Acquire Mental Health, he worked for Lutheran Social Services in the Youth Services Division helping runaway and homeless youth.

He has experience with Trauma, Depression, and Anxiety, as well as Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders. He works with all ages through a trauma-focused, person-centered approach incorporating Cognitive and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy. This promotes emotion regulation through recognition and the use of coping techniques to help endure distress and reinforce positive reactions. He believes in the necessity of developing a sense of hope for the future by building a trusting relationship through authenticity, empathy, and support.

He is married and has children and stepchildren. They are between the ages of 9 and 24. He enjoys traveling and has driven cross country several times in the last few years. He also enjoys tabletop gaming, video gaming, crafting, home improvement, reading, and spending time with his children as well as his many pets. In his free time he loves to be outside and spending time with friends and family. 

Accepting New Clients ages 10+

Brainerd Office & Virtual

Taylar is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker that supervises individuals entering the social worker field and those obtaining licensure. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Minnesota State University Moorhead and Master of Social Work from St. Cloud State University.

"My approach to therapy has been to try to destigmatize it. I hope everyone feels comfortable and safe.  I really want to meet everyone where they are at, yet I also know that I want to try and challenge my clients I work with. This may come with feeling uncomfortable or dismissal, but I truly feel it is part of the growth in their therapy journey and I am with them through that as long as they need."

Taylar uses many models in her approach, including: Sand Tray Therapy, CBT, DBT, Psychodynamic, strength-based, and is EMDR trained.

Outside of work, you can find Taylar enjoying quality time with her family & friends, traveling, camping, going out on the boat, biking, walking their dog, campfires, board games, and watching the MN Vikings. She has been married for 10+ years and has 3 amazing kids. She treasures cozy movie nights with her family & watching her kids find their passions - in their sports & hobbies. 

She has held onto important reminder from her older sister while she was in grad school - "This Too Shall Pass"

Taylor practices out of Greater Minds Therapy LLC

Accepting new & returning clients for assessments only

Virtual

Lindsay's specialty is treating those who need guidance and support in managing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. She is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (supervisor-level), licensed professional clinical counselor, and certified trauma professional. She has undergraduate degrees in the visual arts (BA), community psychology (BS) from St. Cloud State University, and a Master's degree (MA) in Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders from Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. 

Lindsay has worked in the treatment field since 2009, serving both adult and adolescent populations. She has experience with individual and group counseling, assessment, education/prevention, supervision, various leadership roles, and design and implementation of new programs. 

Outside of work, Lindsay's passions are travel and the visual/performing arts. 

Lindsay practices out of Lindsay Cure-Hendrickson Integrated Therapy, LLC

Accepting New Clients ages 18+

Brainerd Office

Annette is a dually-licensed Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor who works with individuals to identify where they’re at and where they want to go using a variety of evidence-based motivational and person-centered therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Positive Psychology, SMART Recovery, and reality-based skills-grounded harm reduction.

Annette earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University, MN, in 2013. Her Master’s thesis was on “Compassion Development in AA Sponsors”. Annette’s graduate internship was at Lino Lakes Correctional Facility dual diagnosis TRIAD Unit where she trained for both her LADC and LPCC licenses.

Additionally Annette has worked as an LADC and LPCC Trainee at DHS CARE Anoka and Research Therapist with the U of M Medical School and Fairview Health chemical health treatment. She also assisted in the startup of an Intensive Outpatient Program in Anoka, providing groups and interventions to court-ordered individuals.

Most recently Annette spent 6 years in private practice in Coon Rapids and Crosby, MN, the latter during the COVID-19 pandemic and its direct aftermath. For the last year she served as Clinical Supervisor and Treatment Director at MSHS Brainerd.

Annette is thrilled to be joining Acquire Mental Health as a dually licensed mental health and chemical health counselor and therapist, welcoming back returning clients and looking forward to working with new clients.

*WAITLIST CLOSED*

Shana Crouse has a Master’s in social work (MSW) and is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW). She received her master’s and bachelor’s degree in Social Work from The College of St. Scholastica. She has been working in the field for close to ten years and has experience working with families, couples, adolescents, and children. 

Her experience includes work with various mental health issues, parenting concerns, grief and trauma, and children with disabilities. Her approach is client centered and strengths driven. She works with her clients to achieve their desired outcome from therapy by frequently checking in on goals and progress, as well as leaving space to address new concerns. 

She enjoys spending much of her time outdoors with her family and on her Harley. She is available for in-person as well as telehealth sessions.   

WAITLIST ONLY

Kari was interested in helping people well before her degree. For over 10 years, she has helped people make lifelong changes as a public speaker. She has had a private hypnosis therapy practice since 2011. As she begins this next chapter, she am looking forward to working with clients both consciously and subconsciously to help make long term change. She enjoys family, music and she finds a lot of peace on the lake and in the forest. She has a soft spot for animals and children. She was born, raised and am raising her family in the Brainerd lakes area. She loves her hometown and loves Acquire's want to help and be present in this community. 

Therapeutically, she tends to take a holistic, solution focused approach. However, she realizes situations, personalities, and diagnoses can effect therapy so she selects a theoretical view based on my client. She is person centered and offers a non-judgmental view as she understands that everyone goes through different experiences. She takes a collaborative perspective to help the client make the changes that they feel are necessary. She feels the client is an important part of creating a treatment plan—it is done together.  

She holds many national certifications in hypnosis including pediatric hypnosis.  She has a MS in clinical mental health counseling. Her specialties include hypnosis, forensic psychology, children and adolescents. She works with all ages, providing individual, family, and couples therapy. She is currently working on certifications in trauma, ADHD and grief counseling, and she works with a variety of diagnoses. She provides sessions via telehealth and out of the Brainerd office.

"Positive Suggestions Promote Positive Perspectives." 

*WAITLIST CLOSED*

Miranda lives in Baxter, Minnesota with her two kids and enjoys drawing and painting, spending time with loved ones, traveling and going on adventures, learning and exploring, good food and naps! 

Who is she as a therapist? If you were to speak with her clients, you would notice that therapy looks different for each one of them. Everyone is different – what clients need, and their readiness for change will be different too. Because of this, each session is tailored to the individual need of each person she sees. She hopes to be personable, relatable, open, empathetic, understanding and truly invested in doing everything in her power to enable people to leave her office feeling better than when they walked in. All while having the understanding that some of our struggles cannot be “fixed”, but there is always an opportunity to heal and grow. Miranda honors the vulnerability that client’s experience when walking through the door and works to make sure they feel safe and comfortable. She uses check ins and open communication to see if her client is responding well to the type of therapy that is being provided. Lastly, she understands that it is not always comfortable for someone to open up, and that peeling the layers can be a tough process. She does not follow a passive approach and is proactive (unless you are only looking for a listening ear). You will not experience long uncomfortable silences (however she does honor thoughtful pauses). She works to gently guide you into addressing the issues you need to address to live the life you want. She believes this work has been a lifetime in the making. Life experience has offered her valuable insight, and she truly cares for her clients and their wellness.

In the end, she knows theoretical approaches and empirical evidence only means so much to her clients. However, she does use a variety of different approaches based on client need, and makes her decisions based on best practice. She is a researcher by nature and she spends a lot of time researching and looking for the very best treatment options. She has enthusiasm to learn and grow in her work, which she shares with clients to help them gain a deeper understanding about how the brain works, and how to better understand their behaviors and choices. 

“Let your actions be your voice” 

Miranda provides therapy services under Wishing Well Therapy Services.

WAITLIST ONLY

Jennifer is a mental health therapist and an instructor at CLC. Jennifer is passionate about connection, the importance of human relationships, and honoring the dignity and worth of all people. She enjoys spending time with friends, singing, reading, and doing life with her spouse and family. 

Jennifer utilizes education, training, and practice experiences to provide a holistic and humanistic approach in the therapy session. She balances the art and skill of therapy by utilizing evidence based research with compassion and empathy. Her specialties and areas of interest include: depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment patters, poverty understanding guilt and shame, systemic barriers, self-esteem, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

Jennifer is person centered and practices a relational approach, integrating various modalities in the therapy experience, including: EMDR, CBT, and DBT skills. 

She strongly believes in the NASW (National Association of Social Workers) code of ethics that guides her profession, and in particular she devotes her style and practice to honoring the dignity and worth of each and every person.

Jennifer celebrates diversity and marvels at the resilience and perseverance of the client's she serves. It is her goal to provide a safe and secure place to unpack all of life's worries and struggles so she can walk with individuals on their paths to hope and healing.  

Jennifer provides therapy services under Sacred Healing LLC. 

Accepting New Clients ages 16+

Brainerd Office & Virtual

Katherine Raming, Kat, is currently pursuing a master's degree in social work. She has a strong passion for human rights and advocacy. She employs a compassionate and holistic approach in her practice, focusing on challenging maladaptive thought patterns and building healthy boundaries. 

As a mother of two boys, she enjoys staying active and find inspiration in nature and art. 

She looks forward to supporting her clients' growth through meaningful engagement.

Accepting New Clients ages 8+

Brainerd Office & Virtual

Hailea obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Arizona State University in 2023. She is currently a student at Walden University where she is working towards her master's in clinical mental health counseling. 

Prior to her internship at Acquire, Hailea worked at Greater Minnesota Family Services where she worked as an assistant and counselor helping run a behavioral day treatment center for young children with autism, ADHD, trauma related behaviors, and kids in-and-out of foster care.  

In therapy, Hailea commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Therapy, and Person Centered Therapy. She primarily works with individuals ages 8 and older. She is open to meeting with children able to participate in talk therapy, couples, and families.  

Hailea was born and raised in the Brainerd Lakes Area. When Hailea is not working you can find her hanging out with friends and family, watching football, binging Netflix, and traveling. 

Accepting New Clients ages 6+

Brainerd, St. Cloud Office & Virtual

Ginny obtained her BA in counseling psychology from Morningside University and is currently in the MSW program at Capella University. Ginny is certified as a behavior skills specialist in PCIT and has twenty years of experience in the field of social work. Ginny began her career working with children and adolescents in the residential setting, spent over six years working in the child welfare field, and has experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental health symptoms. 

Ginny takes a strength-based approach to therapy and believes her role is to empower individuals to create change in their own lives. Change can be uncomfortable and having a supportive, empathetic, and consistent presence can help aid the process. 

Ginny loves spending time with her husband and two children playing outside, going on outings, or having a game or movie night. In her spare time Ginny enjoys watching football, listening to 90’s music, and having game nights with her friends.