MEET OUR THERAPISTS
ELLIE HOLBROOK
Reno, NV & Willmar, MN
ellie@sojourncg.com
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.
ANNA CHATELLE
Reno, NV
anna@sojourncg.com
Anna takes a strengths based, direct and honest approach with her clients. She believes there is much to be gained from true understanding and compassion for the path thus far, and it is her honor to support clients in finding the clarity they seek and the solutions for the "what's next". She fosters personal development for both couples and individuals, and drives a growth oriented mindset with her clients.
Anna graduated from the University of Nevada with a B.A. in psychology, and earned her Master's in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. Additionally, Anna is trained in coaching. She works specifically with helping new moms and couples navigate the challenges of adjusting to parenthood, partners of first responders, and anyone seeking to break old patterns and learn to live in a manner aligned with their true values.
AUBRY DANIEL
Reno, NV
Aubry@sojourncg.com
Aubry received her Masters of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with a speciality in Military Family Therapy from Northcentral University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Anthropology, from the University of Montana.
Aubry completed her Master's level practicum and internship hours at a private practice in Washington State and is currently completing her post graduate internship hours with Sojourn Counseling Group in Reno, under the supervision of Elizabeth Dear and Ellie Holbrook.
Aubry has experience with all age groups treating a variety of concerns such as anxiety, depression, complex trauma, narcissistic abuse, ptsd, behavioral management, grief, and relationship struggles. She has done extensive work with adolescents and young adults and is well-versed in the military lifestyle personally as a child, then spouse, and professionally as a clinician.
Aubry is passionate in complex trauma work and believes whole-heartedly that the number one healer of trauma is connection. She works with clients to reconnect them with their mind and body, and then collaboratively identifies the external connections and relationships to power self-worth and understanding.
Aubry believes accessing internal resources through mindfulness and systemic awareness are what help heal the past, communicate in the present and focus on a hopeful future.
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.
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”
JAIME LARSON
Willmar, MN
jaime@sojourncg.com
Jaime is currently working as an intern with Sojourn Counseling Group to complete her supervision hours to become a certified Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned her Master’s in College Counseling and Student Development from St. Cloud State University and has been working for the past 15 years in secondary and higher education. Her work at the secondary level has been focused on serving and supporting teens as they explore their post-secondary options and when she was employed in higher education, Jaime worked with high risk students to assist them in successfully transitioning from high school to the college setting.
At Sojourn, Jaime counsels persons of all ages, primarily focusing on teens. She specializes in CBT and DBT and takes a person-centered, restorative approach to her work.
“I believe people need to be heard and listened to. Through patience and empathy, I foster a natural love of learning by valuing the whole person to become independent workers, critical thinkers and life long learners. I do this by creating a safe space for all to be able to share their story.”
SYDNEY OREN
Reno, NV
sydney@sojourncg.com
Sydney received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Nevada-Reno. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Northwestern State University and also holds an Associate of Science and Certificate of Achievement in the Health Sciences from TMCC.
Sydney completed her Master’s level practicum at the Reno VA Hospital Outpatient Mental Health Clinic and is currently completing her post-graduate internship hours with Sojourn Counseling Group under the supervision of Caitlyn Wallace.
Sydney specializes in grief, trauma, and teens/adolescents and has worked with individuals that are living with a wide variety of mental health concerns. She has been trained in the CAMS framework for suicide prevention and EMDR for the treatment of trauma. She believes in a strengths-based and solution focused approach and works to create a safe environment for clients to grow.
“Never give up on someone with a mental illness. When “I” is replaced by “we”, illness becomes wellness” – Shannon Alder
Ariana Plummer
Las Vegas, NV
ariana@sojourncg.com
Ariana received her Masters of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Ariana completed her Master's level internship hours at a private practice in Las Vegas, and is currently completing her post graduate internship hours with Sojourn Counseling Group in Las Vegas, under the supervision of Ellie Holbrook.
Ariana has experience with all age groups treating a variety of concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress management, identity challenges, behavioral management, and relationship struggles.
Ariana has a passion for helping others and helping them reach their goals. She believes that every individual, couple, family is unique, and she tailors her sessions accordingly. Ariana works from the Collaborative therapy approach and empowers her clients by working as partners in the therapeutic relationship to engage in meaningful conversation about what they want to change.
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.
MARLENY SORIANO
Reno, NV
Marleny@sojourncg.com
Marleny earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Master of Arts in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Nevada and works with preteens (10-13), adolescents, individuals, couples, and families.
Marleny believes that therapy is a unique experience for each person and strives to personalize her approach to each client. As a systems therapist, Marleny believes that relationships play a significant role in a person's story and experiences.
Therefore in therapy, she works with her clients to explore their relationships with friends, family, and themselves and how those relationships impact their lives. Marleny places emphasis on identifying and validating emotions as well as processing experiences in a dynamic way.
Through processing feelings and experiences, clients can find some relief in the weight of traumas they have lived. Marleny also believes that people can create fulfilling relational patterns that promote their happiness and well-being through healthy boundaries.
Marleny is trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). She uses this treatment modality to help her clients work through past traumas and negative beliefs that heavily weigh on them.
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
EMY WOODRING
Reno, NV
emy@sojourncg.com
Emy received her Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University.
Emy completed her Master’s level practicum and internship at both a private practice and a nonprofit center and is currently completing her post-graduate internship hours with Sojourn Counseling Group in Reno, under the supervision of Craig Merrill and Ellie Holbrook.
Emy has experience with all age groups treating a variety of concerns such as behavioral management, depression, anxiety, self-harm, relationship struggles, family conflict, and personal development. She has a wide range of experience working with children, adolescents, and families.
Emy is passionate about helping her clients to be creative in finding solutions to their problems while encouraging understanding and acceptance in a non-judgmental and empathic space. She uses a combination of Solution-focused and Collaborative therapies to empower clients in their journey of change.
SHANNON WILLIAMS
Reno, NV
shannon@sojourncg.com
Shannon Williams is a certified EMDR therapist specializing in trauma and somatic based interventions. Her philosophy in care believes that self-knowledge, empowerment, and healing of our unresolved traumas are key to a more functional and fulfilled life.
Shannon received her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University in 2014 and is currently pursuing her PhD in International Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She holds active licenses in the states of Nevada, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the CNMI.
Through this journey she has worked with a diverse client base from all walks of life. Shannon believes it is also important to honor our cultural differences and the special trauma that may come from belonging to a marginalized or oppressed group. Part of learning about ourselves and growing is understanding how the intersections of race, gender and sexuality impact our mental wellness.
Shannon is dedicated to working with her clients to reach the goals they set for themselves and to find strength and healing. Some issues that Shannon specialize in include: PTSD and other trauma-based disorders; Dissociative Disorders; Mood Disorders; Women’s specialty issues such as: Perinatal mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, and empowerment; Sex therapy.
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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