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.  

Fall 2026  - Kari is not able to accept new clients at this time.  

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. 

Fall 2026  - Becky may have openings soon, and is directly supervising Jenn Slesinski, who DOES have openings.  

Hi, my name is Wensday. I am a nature-based therapist excited to work with kids, teens, and adults. I recently got EMDR trained, and am currently accepting clients looking to do nature-based EMDR work. I’m especially energized by working with trans and queer people and their families, as well as working to support those parenting trans and queer kids.

My practice integrates talk-based therapy and body-based interventions in the natural environment, allowing us to tend to our relationships with the land, ourselves, and people who are important to us. We work with nature as a partner and a resource in our healing journey. This can look like sitting under a tree, smashing ice, chatting with our feet in the creek.

I combine a trauma-informed, strengths-based, racial equity and disability justice-informed approach with elements of play and movement/embodiment practice. I offer a playful, direct, and relaxed space. We will co-create this in a way that feels authentic and supportive to your process. 

I am often in Minneapolis, meeting with clients on sacred ancestral land stolen from the Dakota people, at Minnehaha Creek, and I am also open to meeting in other spots.

*I am able to accept most major insurance plans other than Medica/Optum/UBH/UHC/UMR 

Fall 2026  - Wensday does have current openings!  

Hello and welcome! I am so excited to be joining Minneapolis Nature-Based Therapy. I am eager to work alongside nature to bring about positive and lasting change in your life. As a clinical social worker who has worked within school systems for almost 10 years, I have witnessed how the anxieties of the modern world have eroded our relationships with one another and with nature. In this work, we reaffirm the connection with ourselves, one another, and the natural world.

My approach to therapy is highly collaborative, strengths-based, and solution-focused. I integrate aspects of Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy and Attachment Theory to help individuals integrate their past experiences and find self-compassion. I incorporate mindfulness-based practices and often use walking, play, writing and art therapy to build self-awareness and encourage reflection. I see clients of all ages and I specialize in working with families, young adults, and all who are LGBTQIA identifying.

The natural world is abundant with wisdom and I hope to guide you on a journey of healing within yourself, within nature. I often use humor and joy to connect and believe an authentic relationship is at the heart of the work. Please feel free to reach out and we can connect for a consultation!

Fall 2026  - Nora does have current openings!  

Hi there! I'm Melissa. Finding the right therapist is important and you deserve someone you can connect with. To help you make that decision, I share a bit about what it might be like to work with me below. If my approach resonates with you, please reach out for an initial consultation call. I look forward to meeting you!

I approach therapy from a psychodynamic, experiential, and attachment-based lens that incorporates mindfulness, somatic techniques, and creative expression. This all means that I may guide us toward tuning into our bodies and the natural world, inquire about your experience of our relationship as it unfolds, explore how your past informs your present, or encourage us to experiment with new ways of relating to our internal and external environments. With nature as a partner in our work together, our sessions can look like laying in the grass and watching the clouds, walking along a trail, throwing snowballs, or sitting on a bench by a lake. We can move a lot or a little, be playful, or embrace stillness. We can absolutely hug trees. Ultimately, how we “do” therapy together will always be a collaborative, creative, and transparent process that centers your unique needs and subjectivity. 

As a current MSW student at the University of St. Thomas working under the supervision of Arielle Johnson, I work with kids, teens, and adults on a range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, navigating neurodivergence, LGBTQIA2S+ identities, chronic illness, body image and concerns with eating, difficulties with relationships, career discernment, spiritual identity exploration, and complex developmental or relational trauma.

I value difference in beliefs and experience in all its forms and will welcome all of who you are into our therapeutic relationship. I strongly believe that our inner landscapes are just as ever-changing, awe-inspiring, and worthy of attention as the natural world that exists all around us. As you feel ready to do so, we can explore your inner landscapes together, slowly and with care. You deserve a life that celebrates your fullest self. I’m here to join you in discovering and building that life for yourself. 

*I am able to accept most major insurance plans other than Medica/Optum/UBH/UHC/UMR 

Fall 2026  - Melissa does have current openings!  

Hello and welcome! My name is Diana Erwin and I am honored to be part of your healing journey. As a clinical social worker specializing in nature-based therapy here in St. Paul, I believe that healing is most effective when we care for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

I have worked for nearly 20 years with children and families who faced challenges in life. I offer a tranquil space where you can pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself through the healing power of nature. I work with individuals, families and their children aged 7 and up who have experienced trauma as well as those who are currently experiencing ADHD, burnout, depression, anxiety, life transition, behavioral and relationship challenges. I understand that navigating these difficulties can feel overwhelming, but I am here to support you with compassion and practical tools.

In our sessions, we’ll explore ways to restore your inner balance using a combination of therapeutic approaches, including mindfulness, eco-therapy, and holistic practices. My goal is to empower you to find peace and clarity by fostering a deeper connection to yourself and the natural world around you.

If faith is an important aspect of your life, I am happy to integrate that into our work together, respecting your beliefs as a source of strength and healing. No matter where you are in your journey, I strive to create a nurturing, non-judgmental environment where you feel safe to explore, heal, and grow.

I look forward to walking alongside you on this path toward healing, helping you connect with your roots, find inner strength, and cultivate the peace you deserve.

Pika is a 3 year old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier therapy dog and loves playing with children and swimming. She is gentle and will share her fluff love with people. Bailey is a 4 year old Border Terrier, smart and has his mind made up. He has been volunteering in schools as a therapy dog. One of them can join your session if you like. 

Diana is also a certified Forest Bathing guide and offers forest bathing for individuals as well as groups. See her website for details: Forest Whisper Wellness and Healing

Fall 2026  - Diana does NOT have current openings.  Reach out if you would like to go on her waitlist.