Mankato Marriage and Family Therapy Center

10/27/2025

🌈🐾

🐾✨ Honoring Our Beloved Animals – October 27th ✨🐾

In Mexican tradition leading up to Día de Mu***os (Day of the Dead), each day holds a special meaning to remember and welcome the spirits of those who’ve passed.

Today, October 27th, is the day dedicated to the souls of our animal companions — the pets who filled our lives with unconditional love, laughter, and loyalty. 🕯️💛

It’s believed that on this day, their spirits return home to visit us. Families light candles, set out water, food, photos, and favorite toys on an ofrenda (altar) to honor them and guide them back with love.

At Mending Spirits, we carry the memory of every animal who has touched our hearts — those who have found homes, crossed the rainbow bridge, and those still waiting for their forever families. 🌈🐶🐱

Tonight, we light a candle for all the beautiful souls who remind us that love never truly leaves — it just changes form. 💫

Art by Ladybug Art
***os

10/19/2025

Every day is different and we are all a little different every day.

Being capable doesn’t mean we have the same capacity everyday. Give yourself some space to breathe in your week.

10/15/2025

💜

Tomorrow, October 16, is Purple Thursday. 💜

Purple is the color of Domestic Violence Awareness, symbolizing survival, courage, and peace. Nicollet County employees and community members are encouraged to wear purple to raise awareness and show support for survivors of domestic violence.

Domestic violence affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and awareness is a powerful step toward prevention and healing.

If you are currently in an abusive relationship, or if you’re concerned about someone who may be, help is available.
Call CADA (Committee Against Domestic Abuse) at 1-800-477-0466
Text 507-223-4200
Email advocacy@cadamn.org

Visit www.cadamn.org for more information and resources.

10/10/2025

October 10th is World Mental Health Day!
Take some time today to take care of you 🧠💚

10/09/2025

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

1 in 4 pregnancies end in a loss. These losses are often kept quiet or are too painful to share. Whether a loss occurred last month or many years ago, your story matters.

This month comes with many reminders, often painful ones, but can also remind us that grief has no timeline, healing doesn't mean forgetting, and you are not alone.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, please contact us at https://mmftc.com/contact.html or call our office at 507-625-4884.

Call now to connect with business.

10/07/2025

Whether looking for services for yourself, you and your partner, your child, or all of the above, MMFTC is here to support you in all of life's struggles and the relationships impacted by them.

Inquire today at https://mmftc.com/contact.html or call the office at 507-625-4884

10/06/2025

Feeling connected to others helps fight mental illness.
No matter the ailment, no one deserves to fight alone.

Mental Illness Awareness Week is here! 💚

This year’s theme is Building Community: Supporting Mental Well-Being Together. Mental health affects everyone — and no one should have to face challenges alone.

Join NAMI and communities across the country in raising awareness, fighting stigma, and building support. ➡️ nami.org/MIAW

09/24/2025

Meet our staff:

Erin Kingland, MS, NCC

Erin earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from South Dakota State University ( ), where she focused on mental health services, human development, and family studies.

Before becoming a therapist, Erin worked with children ages 6–18 in childcare, frequently collaborating with their families, and supported undergraduate students as they navigated the exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) transition to adulthood. She completed her graduate practicum and internship at MMFTC in 2023 and was proud to officially join the team afterward.

Erin provides therapy for youth ages 12 and up, adults, couples, and families.
Growing up around farming, Erin learned the value of community, resilience, and lending a hand when it’s needed most. She carries that same appreciation for connection into her work, utilizing intersectional, strengths-based, and collaborative approaches. Erin appreciates the challenges that come with change and loss, whether everyday or life-altering, and working with long-term and short-term mental health conditions.

Outside of counseling, Erin enjoys reading, embroidery, singing in a local choir, traveling, and spending time watching Minnesota sports with her husband and their dog.

If Erin sounds like a good fit for your goals, she’d be honored to walk alongside you in your journey.

For more information, please contact us at https://mmftc.com/contact.html or call our office at 507-625-4884.

09/15/2025

Meet our staff:

Emily Jaeger, MS, LPCC

Emily shows up authentically in her work—bringing warmth, compassion, and a touch of humor when it helps. She deeply respects the wisdom and strengths each person brings to therapy, and sees her role as both a supportive companion and a thoughtful guide in helping clients find new ways to grow, heal, and connect.

She works with individuals, couples, families, and other relational structures—primarily with adults and teens (16+). Clients often come to Emily for support with trauma, relationship struggles, self-worth, anger, anxiety, and depression.

Emily creates a safe, affirming space for people of all backgrounds and identities, including LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and Neurodiverse communities. She tailors her approach to meet the unique needs of her clients, drawing from modalities such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Bowen Family Systems, and Coherence Therapy.

What guides her work:
✨ A compassionate, collaborative style
✨ Knowledge of how the brain develops and adapts to life experiences and environment—and how change is supported at a brain level
✨ A relational perspective that views challenges in context and helps create healthier, more fulfilling connections

Emily earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Minnesota State University, Mankato (a CACREP-accredited program) and is independently licensed as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
Outside of therapy, Emily enjoys spending time with her partner, friends, and family, along with her dog and two cats. She also loves reading, art, caring for her houseplants, and spending time outdoors.

If you’re looking for a therapist who brings warmth, humor, and genuine respect while guiding you through life’s challenges, Emily would love to meet you.

09/08/2025

Struggling with suicidal thoughts, addiction, or overwhelming emotions? 988 is here to make crisis support more accessible for yourself or someone you care about. No matter where you are in the U.S., you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

09/05/2025

Meet our staff:

Jennifer Ceminsky, Ed.D., LPCC

Jennifer brings a thoughtful, grounded energy to her work as a therapist—something clients often describe as a “calming presence” that helps them feel at ease. She brings warmth and curiosity, creating a supportive space where people can slow down, feel heard, and begin the work of healing and growth.

Jennifer works with individuals, couples, and families, and finds great meaning in supporting people through life’s challenges—whether that means navigating anxiety, trauma, depression,
relationship stress, or simply feeling stuck. Her style is relational and integrative, and she tailors her approach to meet each client’s needs. Drawing from mindfulness, somatic therapies, and
polyvagal theory, she helps clients reconnect with both their emotional and physical selves.

She’s EMDR certified and often incorporates elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), internal family systems (IFS), narrative therapy, and DBT skills into her work. With a strong background in both clinical practice and education, Jennifer holds a Master’s
degree in Clinical Psychology from Mississippi State University and a Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Minnesota State University. She spent 16 years teaching college
psychology before returning her focus to clinical work and now also serves as a board-approved supervisor for LPCC-track therapists in training. She’s been a part of MMFTC since 2018.

Outside of therapy, you’ll often find Jennifer baking something delicious, spending time on the lake, planning her next travel adventure, appreciating nature, or enjoying time with family and
friends. She values these everyday moments of connection and joy, and sees them as an important part of well-being. Jennifer believes that healing isn’t just about feeling better—it’s also about building a life that feels meaningful and connected.

05/15/2025

Meet our staff:

Melissa Keltgen, MS, LMFT

Melissa's journey into the world of therapy began with a harmony of interests - literally. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2001 with a double major in Music and Psychology, blending the emotional depth of the arts with the science of the mind. By 2005 she had earned her Master of Science in Professional Community Counseling with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Minnesota State University, Mankato and became a licensed marriage and family therapist in 2008. She has provided therapy at MMFTC since 2010.

Melissa is especially passionate about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and has experience providing this type of therapy with adults and adolescents. She has facilitated DBT-inspired skills groups and also provided skills training and individual DBT therapy since 2006. She uses a variety of therapeutic approaches based on client need or request. She centers therapy around client's strengths and values. She enjoys the relationship she builds with her clients and provides a safe space filled with respect and compassion.

Melissa aspires to support clients through a variety of challenges from chronic medical conditions, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, life transitions, situational stressors or severe and persistent mental illness. She has experience coordinating care with psychiatrists, case managers, and ARMHS workers.

Outside of the therapy room, Melissa brings the same care and creativity to her personal life. She enjoys making music, attending her children's activities, digging in her garden, walking, painting, spending quality time with her spouse and kids, and enjoying sunsets and starry nights. Whether she is nurturing a client's growth or a row of sunflowers, Melissa brings empathy, patience, and a deep commitment to helping others thrive.