Minneapolis Therapists

I love working outside with nature as a therapeutic partner.  I see the benefits to my clients (and to myself) every day.  My style is relaxed, flexible and playful but also direct.  I’ve been in the field for over 17 years and I never stop feeling deeply privileged to be able to walk alongside the people I work with, to hear their stories, their pain and deep hopes, to witness their courage and to be a part of their growth and healing.  

My specialty has been working with children 0-6 and their families using the Child-Parent Psychotherapy model, but I also enjoy working with individual adults. I welcome children into adult sessions as well, when needed or when helpful to the therapeutic process.  Issues we can address include: emotional and behavioral regulation difficulties, attachment, anxiety, depression, grief and loss and trauma.  

Services can be provided in Spanish as well as English.  

kari@naturebased.care

612-562-1252

Whether you’re a nature lover or nature avoider, love to move your body or can’t stand to break a sweat, this therapy is for you. With today’s stressors, we all need nature more than ever. Take your therapy outdoors and gain the benefits of moving your eyes off the screen, engaging your senses, and really feeling your body in nature, all while addressing your personal goals.  

I use traditional and nature-based therapeutic techniques to support your healing. Issues addressed may include: depression, anxiety, fear of exercising outdoors, trauma recovery, climate distress, gender identity, relationship concerns, sexuality, identity development, chronic illness, and life transitions.  

I have extensive experience working with transgender and LGBQ+ communities and feel empowered when people of color, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, people of all sizes, and others marginalized by the mainstream take up space in nature. We all belong outside.  

My style is relational and collaborative, with a focus on empowering you to express the most authentic, actualized version of yourself. Integrating cognitive, emotional, somatic (brainspotting & sensorimotor psychotherapy), and ecologically-based strategies maximizes your ability to heal your wounds and live a fully engaged life.  

With 18 years of clinical experience working with diverse individuals, couples, and families in Minnesota, California, and Oregon, I have found that your experience in therapy will be most helpful when you connect with the right therapist for you. In our first session, we will work together to assess fit and maximize the likelihood of getting you the support and results you need.  

As engaging in therapy is a powerful and vulnerable endeavor, it may be helpful to know a bit about me. I am both a therapist and a human and in my free time enjoy spending time outdoors, often chasing my tireless dogs and chattering child through a local park; mountain biking, hiking, and swimming. I love the rich Minnesota arts scene and connect well with artists working on their mental health. I’m no stranger to a night of binge-watching my favorite TV shows and will certainly validate your need for some screen time! On my own journey, I have benefited from working with many healers and look forward to supporting you with your journey. 

xavier@naturebased.care 

612-428-2920

Hi, my name is Annie (she/her) and I recently completed my clinical internship at Minneapolis Nature-Based Therapy (part of the Multi-Cultural Clinical Practice (MCCP) Masters of Social Work program at Augsburg University) and joined the practice full time.  I work with clients of all ages and am under the direct supervision of Kari Kleven.  I am passionate about nature’s ability to provide us tools and resources to enhance our health and wellbeing. I have years of experience working with individuals, groups, and families of various backgrounds to make the outdoors more approachable. I recently worked with Three Rivers Park District and Scott County to develop and facilitate free wellness programming in the parks. Whether spending time engaging with nature is new to you, or you already consider yourself an outdoor enthusiast, I will meet you where you are on your journey. 

I strive to create a safe, welcoming space where you feel free to be yourself, without fear of judgement. I recognize that you are the expert in your life, and therefore embrace a client-centered approach, creating a space where we work together on the goals that are important to you. At the end of each session, I would hope you leave our time together feeling heard, accepted, and supported. I firmly believe that we all have individual strengths and abilities and therefore use a strengths-based, empowerment approach to help build confidence and trust in your own unique skills. It would be an honor to work with you, be trusted with your story, and come along this therapeutic journey with you. 

annie@naturebased.care

612-504-9139

I’ve been working indoors and outdoors with nature as a teacher and co-therapist since I was in grad school in 2006 and completed a certification in Ecotherapy through the Earthbody Institute in 2024. I have a variety of experience working with children and adolescents, adults, families and couples in schools, outpatient clinics, wilderness therapy, and residential treatment. I have a deep love for working holistically with clients and include awareness of our nervous systems, intrapersonal relationships, interpersonal relationships, and relationships with the wider world/culture and the natural world in the work I do. 

My work is trauma-informed and experiential and often includes a somatic component. I’ve been training in Dance/Movement Therapy since 2019 and offer limited movement-focused sessions in a studio space once per week.

I tend to be a good therapeutic fit for adult clients who have experienced trauma and are looking for a less verbal-focused form of therapy, creatives, activists who need more balance in their lives, people experiencing life transitions, parents of children with significant medical needs, couples looking to reconnect, and adult women seeking to unlearn past conditioning. I also very much enjoy working with adults and their aging parents to shift past/present relational patterns.

You can find me on hikes around town with my two kids (likely with some complaining), swimming in the lakes, XC skiing or awkwardly dancing to live music. 

becky@naturebased.care 

‭(612) 351-0427‬

Hello! My name is Arielle, I also go by AJ, and I am a clinical social worker with an MSW from the University of MN. I'm so glad you're here!

My approach to therapy is rooted in intersectional feminism, racial equity, and queer and trans liberation. As a bi/pan, gender-expansive clinician, I am especially passionate about working with folks from our LGBTQIA2S+ community. I bring a humanistic, sex-positive, strengths-based lens to this work.

I love incorporating nature, mindfulness, and somatic exercises into the healing process. My areas of focus include exploring identity and vocation, processing religious trauma, navigating relational challenges, supporting folks through transition, and holding space for adult children of emotionally unavailable/immature parents. My practice is informed by attachment theory, EMDR, AEDP, and Anchored Relational Therapy.

I seek to provide safe, affirming care through active listening, warm encouragement, and a person-centered approach. My clients know me as an uplifting, enthusiastic believer in their inherent worth and ability to grow.

I look forward to meeting you and cultivating a therapeutic alliance with empathy and an open mind!

aj@naturebased.care 

Hi, my name is Wensday. I use they/them pronouns. I am excited to explore nature based therapy with kids, teens, and adults. I’m especially energized towards working with trans and queer people and their families, as well as working to support those parenting trans and queer kids.

In my practice I combine a trauma informed strengths-based approach with elements of narrative, play, and somatic/sensory therapy. I offer a playful, direct, and relaxed space. We will co -reate this in a way that feels authentic and supportive to your process. 

During our time together in nature we will envision what you wish your life to be like, look like, feel like- and we will design paths to get there.  I will support your process with compassion and care, strengthening body/mind integration and well-being. 

wensday@naturebased.care.