River Valley BHWC - Northfield



We are now accepting appointments at our Northfield location! Our new clinic is located at 158 Water St N, Suite 3, Northfield, MN. The three level office condo is now constructed into 8 offices and a large playroom for play therapy. We recognize the growing need for mental health services in every community and are eager to bring our expertise to Northfield and the surrounding areas. Please share this with your south of the metro friends.

Please take a moment to meet our clinicians that will be taking appointments at this location (some may still be taking appointments in Savage).

Therapists / Clinicians

Leah Wellstone
MA, LMFT, CEDS

Location(s): Savage, Northfield

Profile

Leah Wellstone is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, a Minnesota Board LMFT and LPCC Supervisor. She provides individual, family, couple and group therapy, as well as consultations and supervision.

My work is grounded in family systems and attachment theories. I believe that people change in the context of a relationship. I’m drawn to creative modalities and use music, humor, drumming, poetry/writing, art, movement and experientials to access healing.

I have over 20 years of experience in a variety of settings and across the lifespan. They include: community mental health, working as a therapist in elementary, middle, high school, alternative high schools, pregnant and parenting youth programs and college counseling.

Two areas of passion and expertise are eating disorders and grief/loss. Early in my career I worked as a grief therapist and also volunteered in hospice care. My own experiences with death have shaped the way I see the world - I am a fellow traveler with clients as they navigate the sacred space of grieving.

Most of my career has been spent working with the eating disorder population in residential, inpatient and outpatient settings. Although I have sought specialized training in the treatment of eating disorders, my clients have been my greatest teachers.

Other Areas of Clinical Experience: Life transitions, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Body Image, Parenting/Blended Families, Parenting Young Adults, Couples/Uncoupling/Engaged or pre marital, Women/Empowerment, Preparing families for the transition to college/adulthood, Pre and post divorce, Ambiguous loss.

Meg Witt
MA

Location(s): Northfield

Profile

Meg graduated with her Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler Graduate School. Her training includes assessments, individual and group psychotherapy for adolescents and adults. She has worked with individuals, couples and groups with college aged students where she provided an assortment of assessments and treatment services based on the needs of the client. Meg's preferred treatment approaches include: client focused strengths based approaches, mindfulness practices, acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral techniques. Meg also has extensive knowledge of holistic health related wellness techniques which include supplementation, diet and lifestyle management.

Age range: 15 and up

Clinical Services:
Diagnostic Assessments and Individual Therapy. Expertise areas include working with adolescent and young adult LGBTQ+ populations, individuals coping with depression and anxiety, major life transitions and behaviors of concern related to self-injurious behaviors, suicidal ideation, and relational concerns.

Shelby Leske
MA

Location(s): Savage, Northfield

Profile

Shelby received her Masters Degree in Counseling and Psychological Services from St Mary's University and is working towards licensure as a professional clinical counselor. Shelby has worked in community mental health settings for the past 7 years and has extensive experience working with adults experiencing severe and/or persistent mental health concerns. In addition, Shelby has received substantial training in supporting persons who have experienced sexual violence in both therapy settings and a crisis center. She has also co-led groups for women who have experienced sexual violence at Shakopee Correctional Facility. Shelby primarily works with adults 18+ and has extensive experience providing services concerning depression, anxiety, PTSD, low self-esteem, psychosis, sexual violence and crisis intervention.

Shelby has an eclectic approach to therapy and draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solutions-Focused Therapy. She also practices harm reduction.

Shelby describes her therapeutic style as person-centered, relational and client driven. "I believe that each person is the expert on their life and that we all need support at different times throughout our lives, especially in navigating difficult times or situations. It is my goal to provide a safe and welcoming space for you to feel empowered in making decisions and build skills that suit your individual needs and desires. I believe therapy should be interactive and client-driven, and I will meet you where you are at - whether you are considering changes or ready to make them. I like to acknowledge and work through both things that we have control over and the outside forces that impact our daily lives, and bring in humor when appropriate."

Britin Thomsen
MA

Location(s): Savage, Northfield

Profile

Britin is a mental health therapist under supervision, working with adolescents, young adults, and adults. She received her master’s in Sport and Exercise Psychology and her master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2021 and 2022. Her experience includes providing individual therapy, group therapy, and psychological testing for ages 6-70+ years old in rural mental health, treating anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain, ADHD, mood disorders, family relationships, life adjustments and major transitions.

Britin strives to create a warm space where clients can express themselves authentically and
nonjudgmentally. Her theoretical orientation is eclectic, predominately using a person-centered approach, a strength-based model, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Britin is passionate about athlete mental health and helping athletes improve their emotional well-being, sport enjoyment and performance. She has extensive training in working with youth to college athletes on the mental demands of sport, individually and in team settings at the high school and collegiate level.

She is currently accepting clients aged 13+ and specializes in athlete mental health, injury, anxiety disorders, depression, body image, eating disorders, life adjustments, mood disorders, stress management, and transitioning out of sport.

Christine David
MA, LAMFT

Location(s): Savage, Northfield

Profile

Christine earned a degree in Psychology from Hamline University and a Master's degree from Adler Graduate School. She began working in the health and wellness field in 2009 and has worked in the mental health field since 2012. Christine sees clients of all ages (5+) and uses play therapy with her younger clients. Christine takes a non-judgemental approach in her work with clients and practices Person-Centered therapy which acknowledges that each person has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change. She utilizes various other therapeutic techniques depending on the needs of her client including Strengths-based, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused, and Mindfulness.

Christine has experience working in student mental health and enjoys helping both students and their families with school behavior and family relational concerns. Other areas of concern that she sees in therapy include parenting struggles, student life balance, work life balance, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, and trauma. In addition, Christine works with clients who are seeking
to decrease destructive habits and/or build more positive health supporting habits into their lives.

Christine has a special interest in supporting the many people who seek therapy during times of life-transitions including new school, move to a new city, young adult transitions, newly married, new parents/new baby, prenatal/post partum, in addition to supporting clients living with long-term or chronic illnesses. For clients that have interest in integrating holistic health and wellness into their healing journey, Christine has experience in using dietary changes and lifestyle modification to support positive mental health. Christine believes it takes courage and strength to reach out and ask for support and is honored to be a part of each client's journey toward healing and growth. Christine is currently accepting new clients.

Hollis Wunderlich
MA, LPCC

Location(s): Northfield

Profile

Hollis is a 2014 graduate of Trinity International University with an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and is currently credentialed as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Hollis has worked in the mental health field since 2009 providing individual and family services in a variety of home, community, and school-based settings in Southern Minnesota. Hollis’ clinical background includes a special emphasis in working with children, adolescents, and their families. She also enjoys supporting adults of all ages. 

Hollis’ approach to therapy is rooted in a person-centered and strengths-based focus. She believes in meeting clients where they are and providing them with a welcoming space that instills hope and guides them towards wholeness. Hollis uses evidence-based practices that draw from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma informed care, family systems theory, and play-based strategies. She is also able to integrate faith informed insights and approaches into therapy when requested by clients. Hollis believes her role as a therapist is to come alongside individuals and families to share helpful tools and insights with grace and compassion. 

Hollis is currently accepting new clients at the Northfield location and through telehealth. She has extensive experience conducting diagnostic assessments and providing psychotherapy to ages 6+ for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, life transitions and stressors, trauma, grief and loss, relational stressors, child behavioral concerns, family system issues, and parenting challenges.

Administration

Ranee Hopkins

Profile

Our front desk staff provides a warm, welcoming environment to assist clients in scheduling intakes and follow-up appointments, managing record requests and care coordination, ensuring timely email correspondence, confirming insurance eligibility, and collecting payments.

River Valley's "Cue to be Well"

River Valley's "Cue to Be Well" is a free monthly newsletter, curated by psychologists and other wellness professionals, containing wellness strategies, healthy recipes, clinic updates, special offers, and the like. We appreciate everyone here in this exclusive circle and would like to give back in any way we can.

Check out the archive to enjoy wellness strategies and recipes right now!

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