Anxiety is designed to help protect the body from harm. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it produces feelings of fear and uneasiness that sharpen the senses and alert the brain to risks, helping an individual solve problems. However, many people experience anxiety when they are not in danger or feel intense worry that is disproportionate to their actual situation. This can take a toll on physical health, creating issues such as a rapid heartbeat, muscle aches, sweating, shaking, fatigue, nausea, and stomach problems. It can also cause feelings of dread, irritability, and restlessness. Additionally, excessive anxiety can lead to avoidance, which limits an individual’s social interactions and opportunities and can put a strain on relationships. These symptoms hinder an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks at work, school, or in relationships, and can decrease one’s overall quality of life. Many individuals experience high-functioning anxiety where they are able to handle their responsibilities and appear successful and composed, despite intense internal stress. However, even those who hide their anxiety well will have long term consequences if it is not addressed. 

If you experience significant anxiety that is affecting your well-being, it may be helpful to seek the help of a therapist. Therapy can provide a safe space to discuss your anxiety and the underlying factors that are causing it. Often, an individual’s thoughts and beliefs have a major influence on the way they react to situations. Negative thought patterns can cause a person to identify neutral experiences as threatening and spiral into worry without even realizing it. A therapist can give you the tools to reframe your thoughts in a more positive light as well as offer tools such as relaxation and mindfulness techniques to quell anxiety when it arises. This allows individuals to foster resilience to life’s challenges and live a more restful and fulfilling life.

Art therapy is a therapeutic resource that allows individuals to get in touch with their feelings and beliefs by harnessing their creativity. Clients integrate both their mind and body in art therapy sessions which allows them to gain new perspectives on their experiences and access and express emotions that may be difficult to verbalize. Sessions are led by a clinical art therapist who provides clients with a variety of creative mediums such as drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, and more. The client and art therapist collaborate to choose the materials and creative processes used in sessions. These activities are meant to encourage self-expression and foster healing in a safe environment. In art therapy sessions, the therapist helps guide the client into being an observer of their artwork, bringing insight into the meaning and significance of their creative expression. 

Art therapy is beneficial for people of all ages and backgrounds and artistic skill is not necessary. It focuses on the process of creative expression over the product that is created. It can be incredibly impactful for those who struggle with verbal communication or have experienced trauma, as the symbolic, kinesthetic, and sensory aspects of the sessions allow clients to articulate their emotions in a comfortable and contained way. Everyone holds creativity, but sometimes it goes dormant. Art therapy can provide a low pressure space to simply enjoy the process of making art and reconnect with the creative side of yourself. Doodling or sketching while talking to a therapist may also take some of the pressure off, therefore increasing the effectiveness of the sessions. 

According to the American Art Therapy Association, “Art therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change.” Art therapy is a unique tool for emotional and mental healing and provides clients with resources to face challenges in their lives. For more information about Art Therapy at Minnesota Renewal Counseling and Consulting and if it is right for you, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Christian counseling integrates the principles of psychology with the wisdom of Christianity to provide Christians with a faith based approach to therapy. This form of counseling acknowledges that God’s truth is revealed both through special revelation (truth shown through scripture or works of God) as well as general revelation (truth reflected in the sciences, such as psychology). It also recognizes that an individual’s faith is incredibly essential to their identity and directly influences their choices, beliefs, and perspective. Therefore, our office provides Christian counseling for individuals who seek to incorporate their faith into their therapeutic journey. 

Christian counselors are licensed mental health professionals who are also trained in the doctrines of Christian theology. During sessions, clients discuss their concerns in an environment where biblical principles and resources are considered to be an important aspect of the therapeutic process. Counselors may use resources such as prayer and scripture reading and meditation to explore how faith can be a valuable resource for healing. Clients will direct how much of their faith is integrated into the sessions. 

Some topics commonly addressed in Christian counseling include anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief and loss, and relational conflicts. These challenges are approached through a faith-based lens. Not only is Christian counseling a valuable tool for clients struggling with non-faith related issues, but it can also be a resource for those who are experiencing doubts or questions about their beliefs and are seeking clarity and guidance. Christian counseling aims to promote spiritual and emotional healing, deepen the client’s relationship with God, and find solutions to life’s challenges that honor the client’s faith. It is important to note that Christian counseling and traditional therapeutic techniques differ in their theories, methods, and scope of practice. For more information about Christian Counseling at Minnesota Renewal Counseling and Consulting and if it is right for you, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured and goal-oriented therapy designed to help individuals work through and overcome a variety of psychological ailments. It recognizes that our thoughts and beliefs directly affect our emotions and reactions to experiences, and therefore our reality. According to the American Psychological Association, CBT is based on several core principles, including: 

1. Psychological problems are based partly on inaccurate or unhelpful ways of thinking. 

2. Psychological problems are based partly on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior. 

3. People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways to cope with them, thus relieving their symptoms and becoming more fulfilled and successful in their lives. 

CBT therapists will focus on changing negative thinking and behavioral patterns to help their clients be more resilient to life’s challenges. This may look like teaching clients how to identify distorted beliefs that are causing problems and reevaluating them in a realistic way or encouraging clients to face their fears instead of avoiding them. In sessions, the therapist and client work together to develop an understanding of the problem and create a treatment strategy. CBT places emphasis on the active participation of the client, who are encouraged to apply techniques and skills they learn in sessions in the real world. This allows the client to make their thought and behavior patterns more positive, which develops practical coping skills. CBT therapists emphasize the present events the client is facing, rather than what has happened in the past. Some client history is needed, but the focus is primarily on creating healthy habits for moving forward in life. 

Individuals who are facing challenges such as depression, anxiety, chronic stress,  obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), phobias, personality disorders, eating disorders, and addiction may benefit from CBT. It is also helpful for those who are simply seeking to improve their well-being and develop more effective coping strategies. For more information about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Minnesota Renewal Counseling and Consulting and if it is right for you, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Your relationships with your loved ones, particularly with your chosen spouse or partner, are incredibly important. Therefore, it is wise to be investing in the health of your relationships. In couples therapy, a licensed therapist works with both partners to identify, address, and resolve relational issues. Couples therapy is a great resource for partners who are experiencing persistent conflicts, communication breakdowns, or emotional distance. Therapists can provide a litmus test to the health of the relationship and guide the couples to a healthier dynamic. Couples therapy can be helpful at any stage of the relationship, whether you are facing major challenges, a new life stage, or simply seeking to enhance your connection. 

Typically, sessions are conducted with both partners present. The therapist leads discussions about the relationship, using techniques such as role-playing, active listening, communication skills training, emotional regulation, affection and intimacy building, and couple’s exercises and homework. The therapist provides a neutral space where both partners are free to express their feelings and concerns and work together to develop solutions. 

The value of a couples therapist is they see things from an unbiased perspective and are able to recognize harmful dynamics or behavioral patterns in the relationship that the clients may not see. Couples therapists can offer new insights and strategies for growth. In sessions, the voice of each partner is equally appreciated and heard. The goal of couples therapy is to strengthen the relationship and bring the couple closer by addressing and resolving conflict, recognizing and correcting unhealthy behavior, improving communication methods, understanding each partner’s perspective, clarifying and aligning goals, enhancing relational skills, and restoring trust and emotional intimacy between the couple. Additionally, couples therapy supports individual growth for each client, helping each partner identify their own needs and behaviors. This creates a healthier and more balanced relationship. 

There are many different kinds of couples therapy treatments, each with their own theories and methods. For information about which kind of couples therapy would be the best fit for you and your partner, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Depression is a common and serious mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 8.3% of adults in the United States have had at least one major depressive episode. People who experience depression often struggle with irritability, persistent low moods, guilt, self-worth issues, difficulty concentrating, and sometimes thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Depression can also cause physical symptoms such as fatigue, changes in appetite or weight, changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or hypersomnia), physical aches and pains, digestive problems, and slowed movements or speech. Symptoms range from minor to severe and can have a major impact on an individual's quality of life, preventing them from managing work, school, relationships, or responsibilities at home. If you are experiencing depression, it is important to know that you are not alone and recovery is possible. Our therapists are available to help you through depression towards a more enjoyable life. Therapy is a safe space to express your struggles without judgment or stigma. 

Depression is rarely caused by one specific event; rather it is often due to several factors. In sessions, therapists will work with you to identify and challenge the experiences, thought patterns, and beliefs that trigger depression to help you understand the root causes of your feelings. By understanding how your brain works, you are better resourced and able to pursue healing. Therapy can also provide you with strategies to cope with and manage depressive feelings, such as mindfulness and relaxation techniques or finding activities that bring you happiness. The goal of therapy is to help you overcome depression so you can live a more fulfilling and joyful life. 

Sometimes imbalances in a person’s brain chemistry can cause depression and medication is needed for treatment. We work with psychiatrists to prescribe and monitor antidepressant medications that can help stabilize neurochemical levels and alleviate symptoms of depression. For more information, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org. 

Depression can have serious consequences for well-being, and when left untreated increases the risk for self-harm or suicide. If you or a loved one are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or in the Twin Cities metro area call CRISIS (274747) or text MN to 741741. These resources and more are also available on our crisis resources tab.

The end of a marriage is a complex and painful event that affects not only the individuals involved but also their families and communities. Divorce marks the end of a significant chapter in one’s life and can come with many emotions such as anger, sadness, guilt, fear, relief, confusion, loneliness, and more. These feelings are a natural response to loss and are part of the grieving process. With divorce also comes many legal, financial, and personal decisions that must be made, which can feel overwhelming. While the support of friends and family is incredibly valuable during divorce, sometimes therapy is needed to work through emotions, gain clarity, and develop strategies for moving forward. 

Therapy is a space to process and understand the raw emotions that come with divorce to promote emotional healing. A therapist can provide resources to cope with the difficult feelings that arise. They can also help you identify the behavior patterns and beliefs that contributed to the end of your marriage, which will help you find peace and move forward. Additionally, a therapist will work to understand your specific situation so they can support you in making important decisions. For parents who are getting divorced, one of the most important decisions that must be made is how parental responsibilities will be divided. Divorce impacts children in a profound way, so it must be navigated intentionally. A therapist will work to help parents manage conflict and communicate respectfully so they are able to support their children during the transition and be successful co-parents. 

Minnesota Renewal Center also provides referrals for mediation services that provide a neutral third party to efficiently address and resolve disputes. The goal of mediation is to help both parties reach an cooperative agreement about issues such as child custody and co-parenting plans, financial matters, property division, and more. For more information about divorce therapy at Minnesota Renewal, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT) is a resource meant to help couples move out of relationship distress and into a more fulfilling and loving relationship. According to the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, EFT is based on attachment theory and highlights the importance of secure emotional connections in relationships. The goal of EFT is for clients to recognize and challenge the negative patterns in their relationships that cause damage. 

EFT is a short term therapy that typically takes between 8 to 20 sessions, depending on the needs of the couple. The process involves three stages: 

1. Cycle de-escalation: helping the couple understand their negative interaction patterns and how they create a cycle of disconnection. 

2. Restructuring interactions: fostering positive patterns of communication and interaction and leading the couple to a more secure attachment bond. 

3. Consolidation: encouraging the couple to use these positive patterns and deeper connection in their daily lives to create a more resilient relationship. 

EFT recognizes that the most important things in life are our relationships with our loved ones, and that strong bonds are crucial for relationship satisfaction. Many couples develop destructive patterns of interacting with each other during conflict. However, these patterns can be changed and improved through vulnerability and empathy, allowing the couple to experience a more secure relationship. Research shows that over 70% of couples treated with EFT have moved from feeling “distressed” to feeling happy with their relationship and 90% of couples report their relationship has “significantly improved.”

Our EFT therapists understand the importance of couple relationships and that improving them is worth the effort. They are trained to identify harmful patterns that prevent couples from having a close and loving relationship. Additionally, our EFT therapists know how to help couples establish healthy ways of connecting, develop a strong sense of togetherness, and to stay connected in the face of difficulty. To find out more about EFT and if it is right for you and your partner, email inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Difficult life events that remain unresolved can be stored deep within the brain and negatively impact our lives. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective psychotherapy treatment used to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences and distressing memories. By using bilateral stimulation, EMDR therapy helps clients reprocess these difficult memories with the goal of bringing relief to present symptoms they are experiencing. Through EMDR, new associations are created between the traumatic memory and more adaptive memories. This results in new learning, the elimination of emotional distress, and the development of cognitive insights. EMDR is thought to be similar to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM sleep and it has a direct effect on the way the brain processes information. 

In an EMDR session, a specific problem or trauma is often the focus. The client calls to mind what was seen, felt, and heard, as well as the thoughts and beliefs about that event. While the client focuses on the traumatic event, the therapist facilitates bilateral stimulation through means such as guided eye movements, audio, or tactile sensors in the palms of a client’s hand. The client maintains “dual attention” by being present to their current surroundings while also recalling the memory. The client may experience intense emotion during the recalling of a disturbing memory, but the response is usually lessened by the end of the session. It is important to note that EMDR does not put clients into trances or hypnotic states. While the therapist leads the process, the client is always in control. 

There are eight phases to EMDR therapy sessions including history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. The number of sessions depends on the client and the complexity of their trauma. A single incident of trauma can be processed within three to four sessions, but the majority of issues are compounded and require more. Many people start to notice improvements within a few sessions with long term results emerging as therapy progresses. An average estimate for the duration of EMDR therapy is six months. 

EMDR is an empirically supported treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Multiple controlled studies have found EMDR to decrease or eliminate trauma symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and hypervigilance. EMDR is also being used to treat depression, anxiety, phobias, and eating disorders. If you’re struggling with unresolved trauma, EMDR may be a powerful tool in your healing journey. For more information about EMDR, visit the EMDR Institute, Inc.

Families are integral to our identity and when healthy, offer a deep sense of belonging and support. They are designed to be a unified system where each member plays a key role in the family and is equally valued and respected. However, families face many challenges in life which may impact their ability to effectively communicate with each other and can lead to difficult dynamics. These challenges might include major life transitions, physical or mental health struggles, addiction, grief, trauma, divorce or separation, financial stress, parenting challenges, general conflicts, and more. If one family member is facing a problem it usually impacts the rest of the family and can disrupt the family’s balance. This phenomenon underlines the importance of healthy communication between family members so they are able to effectively handle challenges when they arise. 

Family therapy is a valuable resource for improving and healing relationships within a family system. Our therapists come alongside families to support them in working through their conflicts. Similar to viewing a Pointillism style painting (where small dots are used to create an image and one must step back to view the full picture), it can be difficult to see harmful patterns of behavior from within the family as the focus is placed primarily on daily interactions rather than the overall familial dynamic. Therefore, family therapists can act as a guide who sees the entire family structure with an unbiased perspective and is able to offer new insights and strategies for growth. In sessions, the voice of each family member is equally appreciated and heard. The goal of family therapy is to uplift each family member and strengthen the family unit by recognizing and correcting unhealthy patterns, creating and enforcing boundaries, fostering spaces for healthy conflict, improving communication methods, and building trust and empathy amongst family members. For more information about Family Therapy at Minnesota Renewal Center and if it is right for your family, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Gottman method therapy is an approach to couples therapy designed by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, a married couple who studies the science behind relationships. They developed the Gottman method based on findings from their research on what key factors predict relationship success versus relationship failure. 

The Gottman method compares a healthy relationship to a house, calling it the “Sound Relationship House”. This house is held up on both sides by trust and commitment, showing that a fulfilling long term relationship relies heavily on these two components. Inside of the house are seven additional components essential to a successful relationship which include: 

1. Building love maps: understanding your partner’s world, such as their hopes, dreams, values, and experiences. 

2. Sharing fondness and admiration: nurturing positive feelings like affection and gratitude. 

3. Turning towards instead of away: responding to your partner’s bids for connection. 

4. The positive perspective: viewing each other and the relationship through a positive lens. 

5. Managing conflict: handling disagreements in a constructive manner. 

6. Making life dreams come true: supporting each other’s life goals. 

7. Creating shared meaning: developing a shared sense of purpose and core values. 

The Gottman method also recognizes four negative communication patterns that often predict relationship dissatisfaction which include criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. A major part of the Gottman method therapy is recognizing and correcting these behaviors to encourage healthier interactions. 

In sessions, a therapist focuses on the areas of concern identified by the couple and guides partners through exercises and discussions based on the principles of the Gottman method. According to the Gottman Institute, “Interventions are designed to help couples strengthen their relationships in three primary areas: friendship, conflict management, and creation of shared meaning.” The Gottman method theory aims to create more resilient, fulfilling, and loving relationships by addressing core issues and providing couples with the resources to manage conflict and love each other well. For more information about Gottman Method Theory at Minnesota Renewal Center and if it is right for you, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Grief is the natural response to the loss of someone or something important. It can be expressed through many emotions including sadness, anger, confusion, shock, guilt, numbness, and more. Grief can arise from many life events such as death of a loved one, trauma, divorce or separation, a miscarriage, losing a job, losing a friendship, illness, or major life transitions. 

According to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, there are five stages of grief that many individuals experience after undergoing a significant loss including:

1. Denial: Individuals are often in shock or numb after experiencing loss. To cope, many people deny the reality of the situation. 

2. Anger: As reality sets in, it is common to feel angry. This anger can be directed at oneself, at others, at the person who was lost, or simply at the situation. 

3. Bargaining: After feeling denial and anger, many people turn to bargaining with a higher power or with fate in an attempt to undo or delay the loss. 

4. Depression: Once the gravity of the loss is realized, it is normal to feel a deep sense of sadness or hopelessness. 

5. Acceptance: The last stage of grief is acceptance, where individuals begin to recognize the reality of the loss. Acceptance is not feeling normal or fine about the loss, but it is finding a way to live with grief. 

It’s important to note that every person grieves differently and these stages are not linear. Additionally, it is not necessary to go through these stages in order to experience healing. There is no “right way” to heal from loss, everyone has their own journey. 

Facing grief and loss is complex and difficult. While family and friends can be great sources of support, sometimes navigating grief requires people outside of your inner circle. If grief is impacting your physical health, ability to manage your job or family responsibilities, or is causing crippling depression or distress that prevents you from moving forward with life, therapy may be helpful for you. A therapist can be a resource to guide you through your grief and lead you to experiencing healing.

Life is filled with profound changes that can significantly impact our well-being. These changes can range from exciting milestones to challenging adjustments to seasons of loss, and they often require adaptation and resilience. Some examples of major life transitions include marriage, divorce or ending a significant relationship, moving, starting a new job, retirement, the birth of a child, or the loss of a loved one. While life transitions can offer opportunities for growth and reflection, they can also bring about emotional distress and can require support to navigate. 

Adjustment disorder is a mental health condition that can occur in response to a stressful life change. It is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, irritability, and anxiety, as well as physical symptoms such as sleeping disturbances, fatigue, changes in appetite, and body aches. These symptoms are your body’s reaction to feeling threatened by a new situation, and can have other consequences such as withdrawing from relationships, neglecting responsibilities, and reckless behavior. It is important to recognize when the stress of a transition becomes overwhelming and begins to interfere with your daily life because if left untreated, adjustment disorder can lead to more serious mental health issues. 

Therapy is a valuable resource that can aid in dealing with difficult life transitions. In sessions, a therapist can encourage you to explore the complex emotions you may be feeling and provide strategies to cope with them. They can also help you identify the negative thought patterns that can cause you to spiral and reframe them to be more productive. This helps promote resilience for future life transitions. It is tempting to want to “numb out” when faced with difficult situations and to ignore their impact instead of facing them. However, processing life’s changes is very important in order to accept your situation and live in the present. Therapy can provide you with the tools to move forward from change and live a more fulfilling life.

Raising children is an incredibly rewarding yet challenging experience. Parents are the primary caregivers, teachers, and mentors for their children and are responsible for their physical and emotional well-being, education, and social and life skills. This is a major duty and is overwhelming for many people, especially when there are other difficulties involved. Factors that complicate parenting include behavioral problems, mental or physical health struggles, trauma, conflicting parenting styles, family conflict, financial stress, difficulties with discipline, balancing responsibilities, adjusting to new roles, and more. Therapy can be a valuable support system for parents struggling with the demands of raising a child. 

Parenting therapy can help individuals identify and address specific concerns or general patterns of behavior that are causing problems in the relationship. Therapy aims to foster positive dynamics between parents and children, provide parents with strategies for enforcing boundaries, allow parents to discuss tough moments and learn how to navigate them better in the future, and to give parents the tools to create a stable and healthy environment for children to grow up in. 

When done as a couple (or two individuals who are co-parenting), therapy can also help parents improve communication to create a more cohesive and effective parenting approach. 

Every stage of parenting looks different, as the needs of a newborn are much different from those of a teenager. Additionally, every child has unique experiences and struggles and requires distinctive parenting strategies. At Minnesota Renewal, we provide parents with support and guidance that is tailored to their situation. The goal of therapy is to help you be the most resourced parent you can be. By taking care of yourself, you are more equipped to take care of your child and find the joy in parenting. If you are struggling with any aspect of parenting or simply want to seek support in your journey, therapy may be helpful for you.

Children express themselves much differently than adults do because of their unique developmental stages. This means that children often have difficulty articulating their emotions verbally in a traditional therapeutic setting. Play therapy provides children with a space to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through the “language” of children: play! Through play, children make sense of the world around them as they project their feelings and thoughts onto their surroundings. They are also able to build rapport with their therapist in a more comfortable and natural setting. Additionally, children who are reluctant to attend therapy may be more motivated to participate when play is incorporated. They may even look forward to play therapy sessions, which increases the effectiveness of the therapy. Play therapy aims to promote emotional regulation, build social skills, improve self-esteem, foster resilience to life’s challenges, increase one’s understanding of their experiences, and encourage healing from trauma and abuse. 

Play therapy takes on many forms. The therapist may plan activities or they might utilize child-led play where the child guides the direction of the play in the session. Play therapy can also involve parents or caregivers who collaborate with and support the child in the session. This allows adults to witness the therapeutic techniques used in session so they can implement them at home. We recommend play therapy for children from the ages of 3 and 11. Children who are experiencing challenges such as grief and loss, trauma, abuse, divorce or separation, physical health struggles, anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social or academic development difficulties, learning disabilities, or difficulty coping with life transitions may benefit from play therapy. Play therapy is most effective when a trusting relationship is built between the therapist and the client and the child’s parent or caretaker is invested in the therapeutic process. For more information about play therapy and if it would be beneficial for your child, please reach out to inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Healthy blended families are a remarkable gift and can offer healing, closeness, and support to their members. However, there are many complexities that come with blending families which require intentionality in order to maneuver well. These challenges may include adjusting to new familial dynamics, managing loyalties and conflicts, co-parenting, establishing boundaries, building new relationships, and more. When two family members have friction, it impacts the rest of the family in a profound way. Additionally, the life transitions and changes that come with blending families are often difficult to manage and can cause disagreements. 

Sometimes it is necessary for step-families to participate in therapy to work through past hurt or areas of conflict. This allows the family members to establish healthier dynamics and build trust within the family. Our therapists use a collaborative and empathetic approach in sessions, valuing the voices of all family members and providing a safe space to articulate feelings and experiences. The therapist will work to understand the family's dynamics so they can tailor their approach to meet their specific needs. The goals of therapy are to strengthen the family unit by improving communication, recognizing and correcting unhealthy patterns, resolving conflicts, and building empathy and respect amongst family members. 

Individuals who might benefit from therapy include children in step-families who are struggling with managing loyalties and adjusting to new dynamics, step-parents who are having trouble stepping into their new role and building relationships with step-children, and biological parents who seek to have a better relationship with their ex-spouse while integrating a new partner into the family. Therapy can also strengthen and unify the blended family unit as a whole, helping the family move forward from past conflict and focus on improving the future. For more information about how step-family therapy is done at Minnesota Renewal and if it would be right for your family, inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.

Spirituality is a deeply personal and significant aspect of many individual’s lives. It encompasses a broad range of beliefs and practices, but usually includes belief in something beyond the self, whether that is a higher power or an inherent connection to others and the world. An individual’s faith has a major impact on their values, perspective, and experiences, so it is often helpful to consider one’s beliefs in their therapeutic journey. 

Therapy can be beneficial for individuals seeking to pursue their spirituality and have a deeper understanding of the impact their convictions have on their lives. Spirituality can help individuals cope with difficult life events by providing meaning and purpose, offering comfort, and asserting moral guidelines for how to live. A therapist can give individuals a safe space to talk about their belief systems and how they can be a pillar of support during challenging times. Therapy also provides an environment to express questions and doubts regarding religion or spirituality. 

Despite spirituality’s benefits for well-being, many people have negative experiences with religion that make it a complex and difficult subject. Sometimes spirituality is used to manipulate, control, shame, or abuse individuals which leads to religious trauma. This can have severe and long-lasting effects that are often difficult to overcome. Therapy provides a space for healing and recovery from spiritual abuse and religious trauma with the goal of processing and overcoming these experiences, rebuilding trust in your beliefs, and promoting self-worth and well-being. 

People who work in vocational ministry can also have negative experiences when it comes to spirituality, whether it involves ministry burnout, isolation, role conflict, or feeling pressure to live up to a certain standard. For these individuals, therapy can be a place to identify and work through the challenges that come with leadership roles in a ministry setting so they can sustain their sense of purpose and continue to serve well. 

It is important to note that therapy that focuses on spirituality is very different from Christian counseling in its approach and scope of practice. Spirituality integrated into therapy utilizes traditional therapeutic methods while Christian counseling integrates the principles of psychology with the beliefs of Christianity. If you are seeking a faith based approach for your therapeutic journey, Minnesota Renewal also offers Christian counseling. For more information, navigate to the “Christian Counseling” page under the services tab.