Find a Therapist in Carver, MN

My therapy style is collaborative and client-centered. I believe therapy should meet you where you are—whether you’re looking to process deep emotional pain or just need support navigating day-to-day stress. I typically begin each session by checking in on what’s going well, what’s challenging, and where you’d like to focus. We’ll balance thoughtful exploration with practical tools for growth. I use a blend of evidence-based approaches, including: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): To reprocess trauma and reduce emotional distress. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): To strengthen emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and relationship skills. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): To help challenge unhelpful thought patterns and reduce emotional suffering. Family systems: To explore how early relationships influence present dynamics. Solution-focused therapy: To build on your strengths and set realistic, meaningful goals. Therapy is a space for both reflection and action—and together, we’ll find a rhythm that works for you.

I am a marriage and family therapist licensed in Minnesota with over 10 years of experience working as a therapist. Additionally, I am a licensed alcohol and drug counselor specializing in residential treatment. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns, including trauma, couples, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, obsessive compulsion (OCD), and attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD). I have also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse, and am certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) training.

To me, therapy is at its core a space for us to show up as we are, wherever we are. As a collaborative effort, I strive to help clients discover who they are as their most authentic, whole selves. This requires getting curious about the patterns in our lives, accepting and seeking to understand all the parts of ourselves we often try to avoid or fix (depression, anxiety), deconstructing the many systems that influence how we see ourselves, others, and the world, and unlearning what no longer serves us. I come from a perspective that everyone has trauma, whether that's from an imperfect childhood, a singular traumatic event, or the systemic effects of our deeply flawed society. As a result, we get stuck in "survival mode," and learn to suppress deeper wounds that are begging for our attention and care. Rather than focus on the surface-level symptoms and quick fixes, I am interested in working with individuals who are ready to get to the root and are committed to a process that can take time, is non-linear, and requires honesty and courage. My job is to create a space that feels safe enough to do so. With core values grounded in humor, authenticity, and compassion, I am here to help clients connect to their innate ability to heal, feel empowered to make meaningful change, and ultimately feel at home within themselves. I use a holistic, non-pathologizing approach to therapy rooted in relational, contemplative, systemic, and attachment modalities. I am also trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitization & reprocessing) to target and heal from post-traumatic stress.

Are most days a struggle? Heteroflexible Therapy is there to help. Whether you struggle with relationships, addictions, dealing with the loss of a loved one, or past issues of abuse we will work together to meet your personal goals. The practice offers a warm and accepting environment for individuals and couples. Therapy has the best chance of a positive outcome when there is a "good fit" between the client and the therapist. A 30 minute consultation is offered at no charge so that you and the therapist can determine whether you feel comfortable working together. Please call or email to set up a time convenient to your schedule. Heteroflexible Therapy, Ltd is an open and affirming practice for straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and transgender individuals. I work with adults, couples, and families and am open and affirming of alternative life styles and love relationships. Individual Therapy Connie Studer, M.A., LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, is skilled at recognizing the most effective therapy approach to help you find more satisfaction and joy in life. You are unique and the issues you face are unique. After the initial intake sessions we will work together to prepare a treatment plan with your personal goals for therapy defined. Periodically we will evaluate your progress toward meeting those goals. For some clients therapy will be brief; for others therapy may be more long term. In our practice we are skilled in several therapeutic approaches so that you can be assured that the most effective treatment for your issues will be available. Couples Therapy Most relationships are imbalanced in certain areas, leading to recurring power struggles and arguments. Areas such as sexual frequency, financial matters, and child-rearing are common conflict areas. It can be useful to explore these conflicts and imbalances with the aid of a relatively unbiased observer.In couples counseling the relationship is the client. Certain power struggles and cooperative dynamics may have become so habitual or automatic in an intimate relationship that the individuals within the relationship may have learned to simply "settle," accepting areas of chronic dissatisfaction within the relationship as "the way things are." The therapist draws the couple's attention to various patterns underlying stubborn conflicts without taking sides or laying blame. Since clients in couples counseling are encouraged to understand their individual issues as they relate to couple dynamics, supplemental individual therapy is sometimes suggested as a means to maximize and accelerate couples work. Same sex couples Relationships are difficult. They take work. Are you and your partner finding that you are not as connected as you once were? Are you finding that sex is not as fulfilling or that you have lost the intimate connection you desire? Perhaps you are merging families and want to learn how to integrate two families into one? Connie Studer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is skilled at working with couples to enhance their relationships however they define them; open, monogamous, or polyamorous. Preparation for Commitment You have chosen the person with whom you expect to spend the rest of your life. Perhaps you are planning a wedding or a commitment ceremony. What can you do to prepare yourselves as a couple for a future of love, support, and fulfillment? A course in marriagecommitment preparation (PrepareEnrich) has been shown to help couples gain skills that will be necessary in the years to come. You will learn skills to help you as a couple with: * Communication * Stress, including wedding stress * Conflict resolution * Financial management * Sex and affection * Children and parenting Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Trauma It is important to work on trauma resolution in a safe environment with a therapist skilled in trauma resolution. When you do this work you will likely find that you are able to have more honest and trusting love relationships in your life. With a combination of talk therapy and EMDR in a safe and non-judgmental environment clients have been able to gain a sense of calm and security in their lives. Substance Dependency and Relapse Prevention You are making an important step toward recovery from substance abusedependency. We realize that no one wakes up and decides to become an alcoholicaddict. For most, there are issues in our lives that are so painful we need to do something to deaden the pain. In our work we will begin by concentrating on recovery and relapse prevention then we will work on uncovering and dealing with the issues that led to addiction. TransgenderTranssexual Whether you are wondering if you may be transgender or are planning to transition, research shows that having a trained therapist is important to assist you on your journey. We will work together to investigate options available to you. It is important that all of your health care professionals communicate and work together to help you reach your personal goals. Connie Studer understands the steps needed to change genders and will work with you to define your health care team. Coming out process How do I tell my family, friends, spouse, and co-workers? Will they embrace me or reject me? These are very difficult questions and oftentimes it makes sense to have a trained professional to help you through the process. As a therapist who works in family systems, Connie understands the struggles and the risks of coming out. Therapy generally starts with the individual and then incorporates family sessions to facilitate communication and hopefully acceptance.

I believe in the profound value of every human being - and see the growth and development of each of us as something that contributes to the energy of life for all of us. I consider it a real privilege to be part of a field that tries to make people's lives better. I don't believe that a cooker-cutter approach to therapy works. In fact, research shows that most therapy approaches are helpful - but only to some people, some of the time. So, the key to finding therapy useful is to find the right fit for each person's needs at this time in their life. Therapy should be a comfortable relationship where concerns are discussed while we explore the things that can help us move towards our goals. We explore options, try things out, review what is helping (and what is not), and move a little at a time in a brighter direction. I bring twenty-five years of knowledge and experience to this conversation. Let's explore together! I work with clients to set goals that make sense to them and then try to bring the right therapy resources to help them meet those goals. If someone needs a practical solution to a right-now problem, we start there. If someone wants a place to feel seen and heard with compassion while they think their concerns through, we start there. I work hard to keep up with research and scholarship in the field so I can bring the best of what we do know to the people I see. There are many approaches I have found useful for folks over the years, but the main ones are solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic approaches, relationship and family psychology, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness and mindfulness-based approaches (meditation, MBSR, DBT). I have been a therapist for over twenty-five years - in private practice, small groups, and large health organizations. I spent ten years as a mental health provider working with medical teams in both primary and specialty medical care. So, I bring a lot of experience from a broad range of client challenges and situations to my work. I am also a life-long spiritual seeker of sorts, but I don't really feel as if I fit into any particular group. I have read and studied Buddhism and Christianity the most. I enjoy conversations about meaning and value and how these things can help us. I am also happy to explore spirituality as a resource if it contributes to energy or meaning for you. I also have six kids and one beautiful grandson - the best teachers in my life :)

If you’re here, you’re probably tired - of overthinking, over-giving, over-apologizing. Maybe you’ve spent years trying to be the version of yourself that others expected - responsible, nice, productive, “fine.” But under the surface, there’s tension. Restlessness. Shame. A quiet sense that you’re not quite living your life. If that resonates, you’re in the right place. In therapy, I offer more than coping tools (though you’ll get those, too). I offer a space to reconnect - with your voice, your truth, your full humanity. Together, we’ll unpack what’s been weighing on you: the patterns you’re tired of repeating, the pressures you’re done trying to live up to, and the self-doubt that keeps stealing your energy. I take a collaborative, down-to-earth approach. I listen closely, offer honest reflections, and help you explore your story with curiosity rather than judgment. We’ll work both with the present (how you’re feeling, what’s working or not) and the past (what shaped your beliefs about who you have to be). I weave together practical strategies with deep inner work, helping you not only survive but live more boldly and freely. Whether we’re exploring emotions, challenging stuck thoughts, working with parts of you in conflict, or practicing new ways of responding to life’s messiness - it’s all grounded in the belief that you already hold the answers. My role is to help you trust yourself enough to hear them. I believe that who you are at your core isn’t broken - it’s buried. This work isn’t about “fixing” you - it’s about liberating you from the pressure to be who you’re not. It’s about reclaiming your voice, your wants, your weirdness, your softness... your wholeness. If that sounds like the kind of work you’re craving, I’d be honored to walk with you.

You’re feeling disconnected, and there’s a sense of loneliness within yourself and perhaps with others around you. You’re feeling lost and stuck, immobilized by fear and anxiety. You find yourself lacking joy and meaning, and you’re trying to find what that is for yourself. You’ve come to a place where you know something needs to change. Maybe you are new to this work, or perhaps you have started doing some of your own work, but you are looking for some new, fresh perspective to help you continue moving into who you are more fully. There is no single therapy style or approach that fits every client, and I like to draw on a variety of modalities to fit everyone's unique needs. I am a master's-level therapist trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and I specialize in trauma recovery, depression, anxiety, grief work, and eating condition recovery. With an affirming, attentive, and non-judgmental approach, I seek to partner with you in this process towards healing and growth. If you are looking to break free from the confines of fear and self-doubt to live a more full and empowered life, you can call or email to schedule an appointment or free phone consultation today.

I have 35 years of experience helping people find a way to live a richer and more satisfying life. Therapy is about empowering individuals and coming face to face with adversities. Clients are helped to explore past experiences that impact current emotions and behaviors. In order to change you need to resolve internal conflicts that lead to emotional distress, unwanted behaviors and physical symptoms. I help to create a safe place to begin to talk about the meaning of your feelings and thoughts. I create a space where you can explore whatever is on your mind and we think together about your feelings, thoughts and dreams thus gaining a greater knowledge of self.

As a mental health counselor and life coach, I operate from the assumption that everyone is born with the ability to be well and thrive regardless of past or current circumstances, experiences, or genetics. I help people see they are already potentially well and not broken or ill. In my view, true mental health is not just the absence of symptoms; it consists of peace of mind, resilience, wisdom, love, understanding, gratitude, acceptance, forgiveness, and much more. I am dedicated to helping people access these qualities of innate mental wellness through deep listening, respectful dialogue, and education on fundamental principles that explain how the human mind works. I am grateful to be able to work from a framework that allows me to listen to the whole person and not through the lens of diagnoses or symptoms. My sessions are present-moment focused, conversational, positive, and informative. I meet people where they are and point them back to the source of their natural mental health and wellness that has never been lost, even though it may seem like it has. I could not ask for more rewarding or fulfilling work. I am inspired by the transformations I see every day.

(THERAPIST-COACH, AUTHOR, SPEAKER, 80% COUPLES IMPROVEMENT RATE) My dedication is to helping people make real change and achieve success in life. As both a PhD psychologist and licensed marriage & family therapist, I help both individuals and couples face a wide array of challenges. I use a multi-level approach to therapy, incorporating many techniques. My executive coaching work with business leaders has strongly influenced the way I do therapy. Clients frequently tell me that they appreciate my "coaching" approach of being more active and engaged compared to previous therapy they've encountered, rather than "just listening."

I welcome all races, ethnicities, and cultures as I honor your identity and its strengths throughout therapy. I believe it is an honor and a privilege to walk alongside those in their journey of finding healing. I view therapy as a collaborative approach, as the therapeutic process is a relational endeavor, and could be the first place you have felt truly seen and heard. I enjoy working with adolescents and adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, adjustment-related issues, trauma-related conditions, and those on the autism spectrum. I take a gentle approach to counseling and love to meet clients where they are in the journey of life. I am passionate about providing a welcoming and warm environment for everyone. At the request of a client, I can incorporate prayer into the therapeutic process with trauma and dissociation. You are taking an incredible step in your journey as you research and seek support, and you should be proud of what you've already accomplished. I'm excited for the opportunity to work with you and make purposeful change in your life. Call or email to schedule an appointment today.

My work is about helping you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Whether you're navigating individual challenges or working through relational patterns, I take a collaborative, curious approach: looking at where you’ve been, why certain patterns persist, and how we can move forward with clarity and purpose. Together, we’ll explore what gives your life meaning and what’s getting in the way of lasting change. I have worked with people to address a wide array of problems, including depression, anxiety, and relationship conflicts, limiting their ability to reach their potential. My background includes a degree in social work from NYU, a certificate in psychoanalytic psychotherapy from the Contemporary Freudian Society, and training for maternal and reproductive mental health. I learned to listen for what's not being said, spot a good defense mechanism from a mile away, and help people untangle the emotional stuff they've been carrying since childhood. Freud might raise an eyebrow, but he'd probably approve! If you’re feeling adrift, you don’t have to sort it out alone. Let’s talk.