Karen Kahler

MA, LMFT


I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a focus on couples counseling, trauma, parenting, and emotional connection. I completed my Bachelor of Computer Science Degree at University of Minnesota Mankato. I earned my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the School of Psychology at Argosy University (Twin Cities). 

Tim Herzog

MA, MFT


Previous to joining MN Counseling and Couples Center, I had been an information technologist for decades, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of Minnesota. As a midlife career change, followed by my own family change of divorce, I garnered a Master of Arts Degree from Adler Graduate School in Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Devastated by my own experience, I changed my life focus to determine what happened and learn how to help other couples avoid the pain that my family experienced. 

Edina Office

Londonderry Office Park

5780 Lincoln Drive #250

Edina, MN 55436

(o) 763.400.7475

(f) 763.400.7473


Contact us to schedule at:

763-400-7475 X1

OR

Click the REGISTER ONLINE button below to complete our online registration form. Once received, we will contact you to schedule an appointment!


 

 


Diane Sparish, MA

My education, training, professional network, and experience help me bring the wisdom of multiple experts to my work with you.  I hold a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Bethel Seminary.  I have advanced training in Discernment Counseling, the Gottman Relational Therapy Model, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and I am a Certified Prepare/Enrich Counselor.  With more than 20 years of business experience in leadership and professional development, I have a special interest in helping those with busy, successful work lives apply their many skills to their relationship and family life. 

Vitaly Sukochev

MA, LMFT

I have over 20 years of experience working in the field of psychotherapy involving clinical experience, education, consulting and management. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) obtaining a Master’s Degree in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. Additionally I hold a both a Doctoral Degree in Social Science and a Master’s of Theology in Pastoral Counseling.  I am professionally trained and certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).  

Jana Sczepanski Palkert 

MA, LMFT, CST, RN


I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and a Licensed Registered Nurse. I have over 30 years of experience working in the mental health and medical healthcare fields. I completed my bachelor's degree from St. Catherine University and my master's degree from the MN School of Psychology and Behavioral Science at Argosy University.  Additionally, I am an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and a Certified EMDR Therapist through EMDRIA.   As an MN Board Certified MFT Supervisor, I provide consultation to colleagues and other professionals on marriage, couples and sex therapy. 

I have extensive training in Couples’ and Individual Counseling utilizing many therapeutic approaches to work with the restoration of relationships.  The clinical frameworks that I draw from to help clients are CBT, Mindfulness, Family Systems, Codependency, Human Development, Attachment Theory, Development/Complex Trauma and more. I also integrate emerging neuroscience research about the brain and how early experiences affect human development. My clinical background includes helping couples and families working with diverse populations and cultures both nationally and internationally;  including African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Hmong, Eastern Europeans Russians and Ukrainians. I am bilingual, speaking both English and Russian. 


My current clinical interest includes working with couples and families experiencing relationship difficulties. I address concerns such as infidelity, addictions, communication issues,  complex conflict cycles, family/blended family issues including parenting concerns, work/academic stress, anger management, ADHD, emotional/behavioral disorders, depression and OCD/anxiety.  I have extensive experience and expertise using both EMDR and TF- CBT to help clients work through past and current trauma, abuse, PTSD or betrayal trauma (Post Infidelity Stress Disorder). It is my hope and desire to help families and couples heal to find restoration and happiness in their lives. 

I see client at our Edina office. Contact me at: Vitaly@MN-CCC.com

Aaron Kolstad

MA, LAMFT

I am a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Sociology from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a Masters of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University. My additional training includes: Gottman Level 1 for couple’s therapy and being a certified Prepare and Enrich facilitator for pre-marital counseling.

​My passion revolves around working with couples and individuals wanting to evaluate their relationships and uncover their own sense of self, as ways of finding more satisfaction and happiness in connection with one another and themselves.  My foundational experience comes from working in adult inpatient and outpatient treatment programs geared toward transformative change on an individual, couple and family level. I am a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist candidate through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). My approach is the integration of Douglas Braun-Harvey and Patrick Carnes' work and EMDR Therapy.  

Current I have decided to take a short break from my out-patient therapy practice to focus my professional efforts on developing trainings and on my supervising roles. Therefore I am not accepting new clients at this time. I hope to resume my out-patient practice in the near future.  

For more information contact our administrative assistant Annie at:  admin@MN_CCC.com

I am passionate about helping people feel their best, navigate life’s challenges, improve relationships, and meet their goals.  Much of the work I do involves working with individuals and couples experiencing concerns such as communication challenges, conflict, waning passion, gaps in sexual desire, infidelity and other violations of trust, sexual concerns, sexual pain, and sexual or other trauma.  I also have a special interest in working with people preparing for marriage, questioning the future of their relationship, considering separation or divorce, experiencing blended family concerns, or facing challenges in becoming parents – including infertility, miscarriage, and perinatal/postpartum depression/anxiety. 

I believe how we feel about pleasure, sexuality, intimacy, our body, our relationships, and our right to happiness determines the quality of our relationships and the quality of our lives. If you are feeling disconnected, stuck in a rut, and exhausted, I can help.  Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, I want to offer you a fresh, unique way of being that best fits and revitalizes you and your relationships. Working together, I will guide you into new ways of thinking about, discussing, and experiencing connection, intimacy, and desire.  I help people ask for and receive what they want from relationships, sexuality, and everyday life.  

I see clients at both our Maple Grove and Edina offices.  Contact me at: Diane@MN-CCC.com

Annie Rickard, BA
Administrative Assistant


I am the Administrative Assistant at MN Counseling and Couples Center.  I oversee all of the administrative

functions for the providers and the counseling center in general. My responsibilities include handling of all client administration including scheduling, client billing and accounts payable. 

 I have worked in a variety of environments including in-home services, private practice and community mental health. I am trained as a 3rd party neutral, certified in anger management, a Gottman Level 1 couple’s counselor, CBT and EMDR through EMDRIA. I offer an integrative approach that is strength-based and client centered.


I have experience working with adults, couples, families. I explore with each client through many lenses including, family of origin, conflict management approaches, attachment theory, emotional expression and relational strategies; My goal is to build a therapeutic relationship that can support and encourage change toward the life you want to live.


My approach to therapy is collaborative, non-judgmental, goal oriented with empathy, acceptance and awareness mixed in. My style of therapy is based on a systemic lens, emotionally focused, and utilizes relational theories and prosocial strategies. I am passionate about exploring each person's unique perspective.


I have a passion for distressed couples who are seeking change and are motivated to take action. It is a desire of mine to meet you where you are in life, define where you want to go and walk along side you as you take steps toward those goals.


I see clients at our Edina office. I can be reached at Karen@MN-CCC.com

Our Team

I have lived in the US for many years and consider this home now. I have worked with diverse clients from different ethnic, psycho-social and religious backgrounds. Over my career, I have worked with couples, individuals, and children in various clinical settings. I have worked with clients with co-occurring disorders of mental health and chemical dependency in both in-patient and out-patient settings.

I am trauma-informed, gender-responsive, multi-cultural, non-judgmental and very humanistic in my approach to working with my clients. I work collaboratively with my clients to understand their needs and work with them to help meet their goals. I apply both Western and Eastern models of psychology and philosophy in my work based on my client's needs. 

My current areas of focus for the last few years have been working with couples and adults experiencing relational difficulties; struggles with addiction and other co-occurring disorders, difficulty with emotional connections and intimacy, conflict, communication, parenting, affairs, betrayals and mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mood disorders.  As a Certified EMDR Therapist, I incorporate EMDR to help my clients work through their past hurts, past wounds and significant traumas both from past and present that are impacting their lives and their relationships. My passion is to help couples connect better by helping them identify and understand their needs, recognize the strengths within themselves and in each other, and learn to address and navigate the differences. 


I see clients at our Maple Grove office.  Contact me at: Reema@MN-CCC.com

Janell R. Johnson,  MA

I received my Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis and completed a Bachelor's of Arts Degree at the University of Minnesota. Additionally, my educational background includes completing a second Master’s Degree in Creative Nonfiction Writing and Literature from the University of Alaska Anchorage. 

I am a graduate of the University of Minnesota MS with a bachelors degree in Education. I have 27 years of management experience. Additionally, I hold a license in Educational Training and Executive Administration. Prior to joining MN Counseling and Couples Center, my experience included working as a  Senior General Manager for MRS, in addition to both regional and district manager’s positions at NHA.

I am pleased to be a part of the MNCCC team and happy to help support the clients we serve. 


Contact me at: admin@MN-CCC.com

I have a strong passion for helping others, and I draw on both my personal and professional experience when working with clients. Therefore I made a career transition from the corporate world to follow my passion to become a marriage and family therapist. With now many years of experience working with couples, adults, teens, and families, I bring warmth, humor, compassion and openness to create a space for my clients to work on their own discovery and healing.  My approach to therapy is centered around building a trusting relationship with my clients where it is safe to work on difficult, painful issues.


My experience includes marriage and couples counseling; working through issues of communication, relationship conflict, parenting concerns, sex and intimacy, affairs, separation, and divorce. I have also worked with individuals and families struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, gender identity issues, suicidal thoughts, co-parenting, blended family issues, and behavioral concerns. My specialties include working with couples and families struggling with complex communication and conflict cycles that have become difficult to understand and manage, causing hurt and emotional distance in the relationship. 


I have taught Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in groups and have also used these skills with individuals who benefit from improved coping skills and mindfulness. Depending on the client’s needs, I make use of Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people move toward healing. 
I thoroughly enjoy working with clients and feel honored to be a part of their journey.


I see clients at our Maple Grove office. Contact me at: Janell@MN-CCC.com

My passion is working with couples and individuals on healing their relationships and helping them to reconnect in meaningful ways. I have worked with couples and individuals addressing relationship difficulties such as infidelity/affairs, conflict and communication issues, life transitions, pre-marital counseling, relationship loss, contemplation of divorce (discernment), emotional disengagement, and sex/intimacy issues. I also have experience working with adults, adolescents and families facing issues including depression, anxiety, body image struggles, self-esteem, divorce/blended family and grief.  An additional clinical focus is helping couples who are struggling with the emotional challenges of infertility. Infertility is one of the most stressful experiences a couple goes through. Counseling can help couples open up communication, manage stresses, work through grief/loss, and support healthy sex/intimacy. 

As an emotionally focused couples therapist, a specialized area of my practice includes working with couples who, through challenges such as breaches of trust, betrayals or other emotional injuries have struggled to find emotional closeness and intimacy. These couples often report difficulty in healing past emotional hurts and understanding how to navigate complex conflict cycles.  I work to help couples heal emotional injuries in addition to understanding and working through the conflict cycles to find deep, meaningful connections with their partner or spouse.  Additionally combining my education and experience in the medical field as well as in psychotherapy, I use concepts from neuroscience help my clients gain understanding and insight into the brain/body connection as it related to emotional reactions and behaviors.

I strive to provide a welcome and safe environment for couples, individuals and families to unload their heavy, emotional burdens and leave feeling lighter and more connected to themselves and those most important to them. It is my belief that while everyone has challenges, through healing, there is hope to find a more fulfilled life.


I see clients at both our Maple Grove and Edina offices. Contact me at: Mallory@MN-CCC.com

I am passionate about working with people to understand their unique experiences and perspectives. I strive to provide a calming presence and a safe environment where people can be vulnerable, honest and share without feeling judged. It can be difficult to be vulnerable. Providing an environment to allow for transparency and honesty is my first priority to facilitate growth and improvement. I pride myself on building relationships with this in mind and I believe in every human being’s ability to reach their desired goals.

I have been working in the mental health field providing individual, couples and family therapy. Additionally, I have specialized experience providing co-parenting therapy and working with Hennepin County Child Protective services providing parenting assessments. My other experiences include 9 years of leading a high school mentoring program and 15 years in a corporate setting. I have had the unique pleasure of gaining insights through my experiences within all of these cultures.


My therapeutic approach involves identifying desired change and using evidence based-techniques to help clients work towards improvement, increasing empowerment, gaining acceptance and building confidence. My framework comes from Attachment-based Therapy which supports securely attached relationships by building trust, vulnerability and increasing emotional safety. I also utilize Structural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to provide interventions to support clients as they identify and overcome internal distress and conflicts. 


I specialize in working with couples to identify processes that are not serving the relationship in a positive way. I work to identify ineffective communication, behaviors and the resulting undesirable consequences within the relationship to bring awareness to each person. Furthermore, by identifying the process and needs of each individuals, we can work at integrating new communication skills  to promote vulnerability, trust and support. 

 My goal with clients is to help them understand how past experiences, in addition to current boundaries and expectations, may be affecting thoughts, feelings and behaviors.  I focus on communication patterns to identify intent and impact; helping clients increase awareness and gain additional understanding. I also look at environmental experiences and social injustices to ensure each individual can reach their full potential. I am always learning and trying to improve my therapeutic abilities therefore I make it a priority to check in with my clients to gather feedback and continually assess progress. I believe in the power of strong relationships, effort and overcoming challenges together.


I see clients at the Maple Grove and Edina offices. I can be reached at Aaron@MN-CCC.com

Reema Bhattacharya 

MS, LMFT

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapy. I am a Certified EMDR Therapist, trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Reality Therapy and a Facilitator in Prepare/Enrich.  I have worked in the mental health field for over 10 years, first in Singapore and then in the USA. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with Honors from the University of Pune, India. I completed my first Master's degree in Counseling from the University of South Australia, Adelaide, and then graduated with a Masters in Science (Marriage & Family Therapy) from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN.

I particularly enjoy helping clients strengthen and heal their emotional bonds in order to find greater satisfaction and joy in their relationships.  I have years of experience working with couples, adults, and families; drawing from a psychosocial-spiritual perspective.  My experience includes general mental health concerns, spiritual guidance, chemical dependency, and relationship issues. I am also trained and experienced in providing divorce and parenting mediation as a qualified neutral on the Minnesota Supreme Court ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) roster. I am trained in the transformative approach where the focus is to assist each party stay in control and work through differences smoothly, without lasting resentments. 


I have a desire to help couples heal and improve emotional connection and intimacy, work through betrayals, and understand conflict cycles/resolution. I have a special interest in treating both chemical and sexual addiction.  Additionally, I provide Christian Counseling and Christian Marriage Counseling to those clients seeking that therapy approach. 


I see clients at our Maple Grove office. Contact me at: David@MN-CCC.com

I joined The Dibble Institute, an outlet with the focus on Universities Relationship Education for youth, as an outreach educator.  The Dibble Institute is an organization committed to helping young people learn good relationship skills and retain them throughout their adult life. Researchers and theorists who have produced such programs as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), IMAGO, Gottman Method, Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP), Prepare/Enrich, Beyond Affairs Network, FOCCUS, Love Thinks, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, etc. contributed to this curriculum. They have studied the impact marital breakdown has upon formerly married couples, their children and on society as a whole; and sought to develop therapies to help strengthen and revive marriages that have withered. Ironically, many of the aforementioned researchers and theorists have gone through their own divorces and, as I have, dedicated their life’s work to deflecting divorce away from maritally distressed couples. My role at The Dibble Institute was filtering the marriage saving education curriculum for middle and high school use.

I have training in the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program from the University of Denver, Prepare/Enrich of University of Minnesota, FOCCUS of Creighton University, Dialectical Behavior Therapy of the University of Washington and Discernment Counseling from The Dougherty Institute. After becoming certified to use many of these therapies I used them in pre-marital preparatory sessions, troubled couples counseling, and seminars for married couples. I have also used this same material in corporate settings presenting ‘Winning the Workplace Challenge’ to managers and leaders, a program I am also certified to train. I am a counselor on the Crisis Text Line to help persons manage crisis’s and find hope in their seemingly overwhelming situation. I am a member of Peacemaker Ministries and Braver Angels, both organizations exist to create opportunities for people to speak and understand their various differences.      

I have worked with couples in out-patient community settings, churches, and crisis intervention centers. I have experience working with individuals and couple who have had affairs, family of origin trauma such as incest or abuse, PTSD, ‘irreconcilable’ differences, betrayals, and financial collapse. I helped many of these couples to find their love and promise again.  With advanced training in Discernment Counseling, I help couples determine if their marriage should be dissolved or rekindled.  With Solution Focused and Dialectical Behavior Therapy I can help couples with briefer therapy sessions.  

By meeting and publishing with the academics of today’s most innovative therapies, I have gleaned the best elements of their material. Using these evidence-based solutions and materials for the past 15 years I am committed to helping the clients I work with enjoy and have flourishing relationships. 


I see clients at the Maple Grove office. I can be reached at Tim@MN-CCC.com

Dr. David Lippitt 

PhD, LMFT 

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an ordained Lutheran pastor with over 40 years experience in the pastoral counseling and mental health fields. I completed my undergraduate degree from Luther College, my M.Div. degree from Luther Seminary, my M.S. degree in family therapy from St. Thomas of Villanova University, and my Ph.D. in family psychology from Capella University.  I have held numerous positions throughout my professional career including Pastor/Ministry, Out-patient Chemical Dependency Counseling, Mental Health Clinician, and Adjunct Professor at the College of Behavioral Science at Argosy University teaching a variety of online courses.

Mallory Wolfgramm
RN, MS, LAMFT

I am a licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Nurse. I hold a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing and a Masters of Science Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University. I have experience as a registered nurse working in psychiatry: both inpatient and outpatient settings. As a Marriage and Family Therapist I have experience as a case manager and in private practice working with individuals, families and couples. Additionally, I have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), an empirically validated therapeutic approach to working with couples and families. The EFT approach helps reinforce attachment bonds and facilitate the creation of secure connections between intimate partners leading to increased intimacy and fulfillment in their relationship.

My work and passion centers on healing and strengthening relationships. I believe secure emotional and intimate connections with others; along with self-awareness and acceptance, are foundational to joyful living.  I have many years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families in all areas of relationship healing and wellness.  I work from a pro-marriage/pro-commitment stance and have a desire to help couples heal and rebuild their relationship.  


As a Certified Sex Therapy,  I specialize in working with couples or individuals experiencing sex/intimacy concerns, sexual dysfunctions, sexual fears/anxiety, sexual trauma, low sex marriage/partnership, desire discrepancies, gender identity/orientation, compulsive sexual behaviors (sex/porn addiction) and more.


In addition to my focus on sex therapy,  my private practice is also specialized towards working with individuals and couples experiencing a crisis or  betrayal in the relationship such as the discovery of an sexual/ emotional affair, the disclosure of a sex/porn addition/compulsive sexual behaviors or those discerning their relationship. I also see clients who are interested in Intensive Counseling. 


I offer a comprehensive approach providing individual sex addiction treatment in addition to a focus on partner betrayal trauma and healing as a couple. I utilize a number of approaches in helping couples including the work of Patrick Carnes, Douglas Braun-Harvey, Doug Weiss and Pure Desire Ministries. Treatment highlights insight, awareness, psycho-education, and effective skills/solutions to help clients stabilize, manage symptoms, understand the addiction cycles, heal and work towards healthy communication, intimacy and emotional connection. I am working towards a Certification in Sexual Addition Therapy (CSAT). 


 I have been trained in Discernment Counseling, a treatment approach that is very specific to working with couples facing a crossroads of considering  divorce/separation or reconciliation; where one of both partners are leaning out of the marriage or relationship and uncertain about their longterm commitment. Discernment Counseling helps couples explore their options to determine what the best approach would be and whether they want to give their marriage another try, consider a healing separation,  or uncouple.  


​It is my hope that you will experience an environment of compassion and non-judgement as you begin your healing  journey.


I see clients at our Edina office. Contact me at: Jana@MN-CCC.com




Our Services

Maple Grove Office 

Arbor Lakes

7835 Main Street N. #220

 Maple Grove, MN  55369 

 (o) 763.400.7475
(f) 763.400.7473

Lori Cao 

MA, LMFT

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I completed my graduate degree through the Minnesota School of Psychology at Argosy University. As a DBT trained and EMDR Certified Therapist, I have a specialty in addictions and trauma as it impacts individuals and their loved ones. Additionally, I offer support to mental health professionals as an EMDRIA/Trauma Recovery Approved Consultant, AAMFT and MN Board Approved Supervisor, in addition to a Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy Approved Supervisor.