Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy Services at Optimal Brain MN Clinic
Support for individuals, couples, and families—online across Minnesota and in our Oakdale/Woodbury & downtown Minneapolis clinic locations
Why People Come to Therapy (and why it’s normal)
What Therapy Looks Like at Our Clinic
Thoughtful intake & matching
We start with a brief phone intake to understand your goals, preferences (e.g., evening vs. daytime, in-person vs. telehealth), and fit with our providers and specialties. Please note, the schedulers are not clinicians.
First session: map your goals
You’ll review your history, strengths, and concerns with your therapist and co-create a plan. Clear goals keep us focused and help you notice progress.
Active Treatment
Sessions are collaborative and skills-based. Between sessions, your therapist may suggest simple practices (e.g., sleep routines, communication tools, grounding skills) to build momentum.
Review & adjust
We check in regularly to celebrate wins, remove roadblocks, and update your plan. When you’ve met your goals, we can space out visits, “graduate,” or shift to periodic check-ins.
Evidence-Based Therapies We Offer
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy):
Helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, then practice realistic, effective alternatives. Great for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and health behavior change.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy):
Combines skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Offered in individual therapy and DBT skills groups.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing):
A structured approach to processing traumatic or highly stressful experiences so they have less emotional charge in the present.
ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy):
Uses guided imagery and eye movements to help the brain re-store distressing memories with less physiological and emotional reactivity—often with a briefer timeline.
Brainspotting:
A neuro-experiential method that uses focused eye position and mindful attunement to access and process stored emotional material.
Additional modalities as appropriate:
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure-based treatments, behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based approaches.
Your therapist will tailor the approach to your goals, culture, identity, and preferences. When helpful, we coordinate with our in-house services (e.g., neuropsychological evaluation, medication management, Spravato treatment, dietitian services, family therapy) and your external care team.
How Long Does Therapy Take?
Therapy is not one-size-fits-all, but here are common patterns:
- Focused CBT for a specific concern: meaningful progress in 6–12 sessions.
- EMDR/ART for a well-defined target: often 4–12 sessions, sometimes more for complex histories.
- DBT skills training: typically weekly individual and/or group over 6 months to 1 year.
- Complex or long-standing concerns: may benefit from a longer course with periodic reviews and step-downs in frequency.
We’ll set a cadence (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) that matches your needs and adjust as you improve.
Therapy for the Whole Family
Children & Teens (with parent collaboration):
A neuro-experiential method that uses focused eye position and mindful attunement to access and process stored emotional material.
Adults:
Anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD, OCD, grief, stress and burnout, life transitions, sleep difficulties (CBT-I), health behavior change, perinatal mental health.
Couples Therapy:
Communication, conflict repair, trust rebuilding, intimacy concerns, life-transition stressors, and collaborative problem-solving.
Family Therapy:
Strengthens patterns of interaction, reduces reactivity, and builds practical tools for problem-solving and connection across generations.
Group Therapy (skills and support)
Group work is a powerful way to learn, practice, and feel less alone. Our offerings evolve with community needs and may include:
- DBT Skills Groups (adolescents and adults)
- Adult ADHD Skills & Strategies
- Parent Coaching / Parent-Child Skills
- Group for parents with neurodivergent children
- Men’s health
Ask about current start dates and openings.
What Makes Optimal Brain MN Clinic Different
- Integrated care: access to neuropsychological evaluation, psychological evaluation, dietitian services, Spravato treatment, other forms of therapy, and medication management when needed.
- Evidence-based + human: science-backed treatments delivered with warmth and cultural humility.
- Flexible access: HIPAA-compliant telehealth statewide and in-person appointments in Oakdale/Woodbury and downtown Minneapolis.
- Collaborative team: psychologists, therapists, and advanced practice providers who coordinate care around your goals.
- Trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirming, family-friendly.
Getting Started
- 1. Request an appointment at www.OptimalBrainMN.com or call 651-472-5915.
- 2. Complete secure intake forms (insurance, consent, goals).
- 3. Meet your therapist and customize your plan.
- 4. Begin sessions—online or in person. Evening appointments available.
Insurance & Fees: We accept many major insurance plans and offer private-pay options. Your cost depends on your plan’s copay/coinsurance and deductible. We’ll verify benefits before your first visit.
FAQs
With your permission, yes. Coordinated care leads to better outcomes.
Yes. We frequently integrate family or couples sessions to support your goals, even if your primary therapy is individual.
We set measurable goals, check progress regularly, and adjust the plan as needed. You should notice improvements in daily functioning, coping, and relationships
Book Appointments
Ready when you are
If you’re curious, stuck, hurting, or simply ready to grow—we’re here to help.
Call 651-472-5915 or visit www.OptimalBrainMN.com to request an appointment.