MEET OUR MINNESOTA THERAPISTS
ELLIE HOLBROOK
Reno, NV & Willmar, MN
My practice is full and I am not taking new clients at this time.
Ellie Holbrook, MA, LCPC, LPCC, CPC RYT500 earned her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from St. Cloud State University, in St. Cloud Minnesota. Ellie’s education and training has since emphasized various specialties in counseling psychology, business, yoga, and metaphysics.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor in the states of Minnesota and Nevada, Ellie strives to help individuals feel balanced and fulfilled by assisting clients as they identify personal goals and objectives, develop practical and blended solutions, and implement strategies that will enhance performance, awareness, and life satisfaction.
Ellie also encourages and facilitates self-discovery and awareness, insight, intrapersonal growth, and increased personal fulfillment, while supporting her clients and helping them evaluate their individual experiences and progression.
Throughout her career, Ellie has worked closely with individuals of all demographics
and backgrounds. She is dedicated to providing competent, confidential, and ethical
care to every individual she encounters.
Issues Ellie assists her clients with include: Emotional and thought-processing issues, such as depression, anxiety, and stress management; Relationship, marriage, and conscious uncoupling; Women’s specialty issues; Family, adolescent, and children concerns; Spirituality and identity development; Adjustment to life phases, roles, and transitions; Grief and loss, death and dying; Health and wellness optimization; Professional and academic performance; Mindfulness-Based Therapy; Internal Family Systems; EMDR; Integrative Yoga Therapy; Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy.
In addition to mental health services, Ellie Holbrook offers supervision to
licensees, interns, and practicum students. Ellie also offers professional
consultation to other practitioners in the mental health field.
JESS BAKKEN
Melrose & St Joseph, MN
Jess@sojourncg.com
I know going to see a counselor for help can be an intimidating experience. I also know life is full of transitions, some of them are by our choice, others are imposed on us. Once we are able to get everything out on the table so that I understand your situation, we will work together to target goals and begin the process of reaching those goals. With over 20 years of mental health experience, I have worked closely with individuals, couples, families and teens on a variety of issue. I have had the privilege of hearing peoples stories and helping them gain insight and tools along their journey. My orientation is integrative — merging traditional and holistic modalities of treatment. I view the treatment process as one which embodies the creation of a safe space for personal reflection, re-evaluation, healing, transformation, and manifestation. My goal is to assist each individual to come to know and value themselves.
Jess Bakken received her Master of Science degree in K-12 School Counseling at
Saint Cloud State University after pursuing undergraduate degrees in Community Psychology and Chemical Dependency Counseling. Jess is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Minnesota.
With over 20 years of experience, Jess has worked with women, families, and teens on a variety of issues including addiction, anxiety, depression,
divorce, self-esteem, codependency, abuse, trauma and grief/loss
As a school-based counselor, Jess provided counseling services in schools for students
and their families via individual, family, and group counseling. She offered support through issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma. In addition to
counseling sessions, she also provided in-school training to staff and parents. Her
focus on changing lives and restorating the family stems from the belief that family
truly matters no matter what age you are.
Jess uses the art of integrating time-honored holistic wisdom with conventional therapies to support the mind while incorporating the power of scent in client interactions. Utilizing scent therapy with clients to creatively redirect thoughts, elevate mood, build relaxation techniques, and access difficult memories for trauma processing.
Her orientation is integrative — merging traditional and holistic modalities of
treatment. Jess views the treatment process as one which embodies the creation of a
safe space for personal reflection, re-evaluation, healing, transformation, and manifestation. The goal is to assist each individual to come to know and value
themselves, releasing that which does not serve them, and focusing on promoting a healthy sense of mind/body/spirit vitality and well-being.
Jess cares deeply about the power of choice, change, and growth. She uses techniques to reframe thought patterns, uncover underlying self-truths, and relinquish self-sabotaging behaviors, which frees us to continue our journey to become the people we were meant to be. Jess believes everyone deserves to experience joy, self-acceptance, and a life well-lived.
WHITNEY BERG
Willmar, MN
whitney@sojourncg.com
Whitney Berg, MS, LMFT, PMH-C, earned her Masters of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in South Florida. Whitney received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota Morris. As her career has progressed, she has explored several training opportunities in various settings. These trainings include: Advanced Sandtray Therapy, EMDR, Perinatal Mental Health, ESA informed, and provides onsite task supervision.
While pursuing her Masters degrees and since working in the community, Whitney provides strength-based therapy for adolescents and adults. When working with Whitney you may meet Willow, the Golden Doodle (ESA). Willow can provide a calming presence, companionship, assist in deep breathing and emotional regulation.
Whitney believes the biggest goal of therapy is to expand one’s self and see that there are numerous possibilities to your preferred story. Whitney assists with teaching people how to heal their nervous system, so they can trust their intuition and find alignment.
Throughout her career, Whitney has worked closely with individuals of all demographics and backgrounds. She is dedicated to providing competent, confidential, and ethical care to every individual she encounters. Issues Whitney assists her clients with include:
Trauma informed therapy
Emotional and thought-processing issues
Women's Specialty issues
Family, adolescent, and children concerns
Spirituality and identity development
Adjustment to life phases, roles and transitions
Grief and loss, death and dying
Health and wellness optimization
Goal setting and attainment
Professional and academic performance
Experiential Therapy
Strength-Based Therapy
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." -Maya Angelou
Whitney Berg, MS, LMFT provides in-person therapy at our Willmar, MN location and also provides teletherapy throughout the state of Minnesota.
BREANNA GRONLI
Willmar, MN
Breanna@sojourncg.com
Breanna Gronli graduated from Simmons University School of Social Work December 2021 with a certificate in trauma. She completed her undergraduate degree with University of Minnesota Morris and graduated in 2013. She has been a social worker in various settings for about six years. Currently she is an LGSW and working with children who come from hard places. She takes all ages and has a specialty for children under the age of 6.
She has a certificate in corner house training and TF CBT. Breanna believes it takes one caring adult to make an impact on a child’s life. Her goal is to aid those who love a child who has faced trauma of some form, and give them tools to have a successful parent child relationship. Breanna not only works with the child utilizing play techniques, she also works alongside the parents to help them understand what their child is going through and how to best support them. Breanna has also received extensive training in Trust Based Relational Interventions, an evidence-based trauma modality created by Karen Purvis and her colleagues. The belief is you must first connect with a child in order to correct them. Breanna will work alongside foster and adoption parents to support and help them connect with the child(ren) they are caring for.
Breanna is also a MN Adopt trainer for the state of Minnesota and will train on foster care and adoption as well as the effects of trauma. No child is lost and when you can partner together to build your support system, anything is possible. Trauma is like a fingerprint and effects everyone differently, so no size fits all when it comes to healing.
“When you can connect to the heart of a child, everything is possible” – Karen Purvis
ABBEY GUGISBERG
Redwood Falls, MN
Abbey@sojourncg.com
Abbey Guggisberg received her Masters of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University in Prescott, Arizona. Abbey received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work, with a minor in Psychology, from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN.
Abbey has over 20 years (8 of those years in a high school setting) of mental health experience, Abbey has worked closely with families, and children on a variety of issues including chemical dependency, anxiety, depression, separation/divorce, self-esteem, abuse, trauma and grief/loss. Abbey believes that everyone has the strength and skills to help them overcome any obstacle that comes their way, they just need someone to help point them in the right direction.
Abbey works with her clients and families to understand family dynamics to nurture change and development. She tends to view change in terms of the systems of interaction between family members. She has extensive experience work with children with complex trauma has been nationally certified in the use of TFCBT. She believes that there is no such thing as a bad kid just bad behavior and in dissecting a family’s dynamics and history she can find a way to assist a family in functioning better as a whole.
LEANN HEIMER
Redwood Falls, MN
leann@sojourncg.com
LeAnn is currently in her Ph.D. program and received her Master of Arts degree from Adler graduate school. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, MN.
LeAnn Has experience in working with trauma and enjoys behaviors. She works with all ages, backgrounds, and demographics. LeAnn is dedicated to providing confidential, competent, and ethical care. She offers guidance through multiple issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, sexual abuse, and many others.
Her training is extensive with training in TF-CBT, Basic Forensic Interviewer (ChildFirst Protocol), Basic Accelerated Resolution Therapy practitioner, Gottman level 1 (relationships), PACER parent advocacy, and DC 0-5 which is specific training for children under 6. When working with LeAnn, you may meet Miss Luna (a German shepherd) who has a certificate in ESA.
LeAnn’s goals and hopes are that every individual she encounters will gain the tools and connections they are wanting.
The most important things in life are the connections you make with others.” – Tom Ford
CHELSIE KOCH
Melrose, MN
chelsie@sojourncg.com
Chelsie Koch received her Masters of Social Work degree from St. Cloud State University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from North Dakota State University. She has experience in working with a variety of ages and populations.
She recognizes the importance of human relationships and values the dignity and worth of each individual person.
Chelsie engages her clients along with other professionals as partners in the healing and helping process. It is important to her to provide competent, confidential and ethical care and services to each and every person.
Chelsie believes that psychotherapy is an effective way to treat conditions such as depression and anxiety. She also recognizes that each individual is unique and can respond to different types of treatment. Chelsie will help explore what works best and what is most effective for each person.
Her goal is to help each individual find and maintain personal satisfaction in their lives.
“Learn not to be afraid of change, but to embrace it. Use it to flourish. Use it to become who you always wanted to be”
JONELL SCHMIDT
Benson & Montevideo, MN
jonell@sojourncg.com
JoNell received her Masters of Science degree Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with specialties in trauma and substance use, from the Walden University out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She completed her Master's level practicum and internship hours with Woodland Centers in Willmar and Benson.
JoNell earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Sociology, and Child Development and Family Science (with minors in Family Crisis and Gerontology) from the North Dakota State University and is currently completing her post graduate internship hours with Sojourn Counseling Group under the supervision of Nicole Wellendorf and Ellie Holbrook.
JoNell has extensive experience working within the area of addiction, co-dependence, abuse, and the impacts of physical health on mental health. She has experience working with all ages, especially adolescents, adults, and the elderly. She is also trained in DBT skills.
JoNell feels that each individual has their own story and situation that is unique to them, and with this, each person, couple, or family needs a strategy that meets them where they are in their journey, as well as recognizing the importance of developing a working relationship, ensuring their dignity, and doing so in a competent, confidential and ethical manner for each and every person’s care.
She is passionate about supporting her clients in finding solutions that inspire them to take steps toward implementing the changes they desire, while also providing clients with a safe space to process their situations that have led them to seek therapy at this point in their life. She believes that every individual possesses the capacity to change by assisting by providing them with a variety of approaches.
JACKIE THORSON
Willmar, MN
jackie@sojourncg.com
Jackie Thorson received her Masters of Social Work degree from Saint Mary’s University- Minnesota in 2022 and completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work from St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. She has been a social worker in a variety of settings for the past three years and has experience in working with a variety of ages, backgrounds, and populations.
Jackie engages her clients and professional providers as a partnership, believing that the best work is completed in collaboration in the healing and helping process. She is dedicated to providing competent, confidential, and ethical care to every individual she encounters. She is passionate about each individual and wants to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the client to share their stories. Jackie is dedicated to working with her clients to reach the goals they set for themselves and to find strength and healing during their therapy journey.
“There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet” – Matt Haig
SABRINA LERE
Office Manager
sabrina@sojourncg.com
Sabrina Lere has a wide variety of talents with 20+ years of experience in the field of sales, marketing, creative design, bookkeeping, and office administration. In her current role as Sojourn Counseling Group's office manager and billing supervisor she supports our staff so our therapists can focus on you, our cherished clients.
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