The Shock Connection: Mental Health Counseling MN & WI

02/11/2026

Mental health professionals, community organizers, artists, and residents alike are describing the moment as a collective trauma that is rippling through entire neighborhoods, cultural communities, and the state as a whole.

01/19/2026

On sorrowful days, many parents and caregivers are searching for ways to support their children as they hear about violence and traumatic events in the news. We’ve gathered trusted guidance and reputable resources to help you have age-appropriate, supportive conversations that can reduce fear and build a sense of safety. Visit our website to read Talking With Children About Violence in the News: Guidance for Parents and Caregivers and find tools to support your family during difficult times: https://namimn.org/talking-with-children-about-violence-in-the-news-guidance-for-parents-and-caregivers/

Via Early Risers Podcast

01/14/2026

01/07/2026

Apply Now for the Liberation Scholarship!

MAMFT is kicking off 2026 with our first round of the Liberation Scholarship! This is an opportunity for members who are historically minoritized and underrepresented in our field, such as Black, Brown, Indigenous, Trans, Q***r, and Disabled MFT’s to apply for scholarship funds to support their journey as an MFT in this community.

If you or someone you know would benefit from some financial support, check out and submit your application at the link below

https://forms.gle/w8MtDrVM6TLAvkaQA

If you're interested in helping us fund this scholarship, know that every little bit helps and is given directly to providers in our community! You can donate by reaching out to us at treasurer@mamft.net.

12/19/2025

12/19/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what it truly meant to show up, for my clients, my work, and myself.

This year asked for presence more than answers.
For slowing down.
For staying with what was uncomfortable instead of rushing past it.

2025 reinforced something I hold deeply: healing happens in spaces grounded in dignity, empathy, and self-compassion. Not pressure or performance.

As I move into 2026, I’m choosing to show up:
✨ with steadiness instead of urgency
✨ with curiosity instead of self-criticism
✨ with compassion as a daily practice, not a goal to achieve

If this year stretched you, changed you, or quietly exhausted you, you’re not behind. You’re human.

Here’s to entering 2026 with intention, honesty, and care, just as we are.

11/22/2025

Lilo & Stitch isn’t just a story about a little girl and her blue alien; it’s a lesson in love, belonging, and the kind of acceptance that can change a life. ✨

The best in our community show up like Lilo seeing people’s humanity, offering safety, and reminding them they’re not alone.

Today and every day, may we be a Lilo to those in our community who are being targeted or living in fear, especially by ICE. May we offer protection, dignity, and connection when it’s needed most.

“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” 💙🌺

11/20/2025

Recognizing that you need help is not becoming helpless; it's the opposite. It’s taking action, moving out of being stuck and into a realm of expanded possibility.

Need help FINDING help? Take your next step toward recovery by reaching out to our Mental Health Helpline M-F 9AM-5PM: mentalhealthmn.org/get-information-or-a-referral/

11/13/2025

🌟 Your Name, Your Story 🌟

Names hold history, identity, and power. Changing your name can be an act of growth, affirmation, and self-discovery.

Read my latest blog about why people change their names and the dignity and empowerment behind claiming the one that fits 👉 [

Considering the power of a name: how changing it can honor identity, embrace personal growth, and bring dignity and empowerment to every stage of life.

11/13/2025

Great article written by my friend Amy https://longevity.stanford.edu/midlife-101-majoring-in-what-comes-next/?fbclid=IwdGRzaAOC6IVjbGNrA4LncmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHh-0iLbrlLu4u0BstTTc_r5mf6D7LOO_3hj35iPnxTXAchP2X4oTdPTZKRQm_aem_cL0_rRe25eWjVEpE0BZjUA&sfnsn=mo

For Matt Parker of St. Paul, Minnesota, a one-two punch of big life changes motivated him to enroll in a class at the University of Minnesota’s new Midlife Academy. Parker, 55, worked as a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 25 years before retiring in 2024 to start a securit...

11/13/2025

Guess what? My website is SEOing its way to the top

The Shock Connection Counseling offers gentle, trauma-informed therapy to help you heal, grow, and reconnect with your spark. Serving Minnesota and Wisconsin with online and in-person counseling for trauma recovery, relationships, and life transitions.