About Me
When you hire someone, you interview them. You ask them for their resume. If you are going to hire me to be your therapist, I would expect to give you my background. Treat the first session with me like an interview process. There is a therapist, doctor, mechanic, and hair stylist for everyone. See if I am a fit.
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A native of the Worthington, Minnesota area, Andrea Walker owns and operates The Sanctuary Counseling Services of Worthington, MN. Andrea began her work in the counseling field with her 9-month internship at Stronghold Counseling Services of Sioux Falls in 2013. She practiced under supervision in Marshall and Worthington, MN until 2017. She was officially licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Minnesota in 2017. She then became licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in South Dakota in 2018. She previously served as a member of the Executive Board for the Southwest Crisis Center, which provides services to victims of domestic violence in southwestern Minnesota. In 2018, she received the Faces of Hope award for her work with victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She is an active member with the Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
EDUCATION
2014 Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Capella University, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Graduated with High Honors 3.875 GPA
INTERNSHIP
2013-2014 Stronghold Counseling Services
Sioux Falls, SD, Marriage and Family Therapy Intern
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LICENSES
2018 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counseling
and Marriage & Family Therapists
2017 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Minnesota Board of Marriage & Family Therapy
POSITIONS HELD
1/2018 – current THE SANCTUARY COUNSELING SERVICES
WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA/SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist – Owner/operator of private practice offering counseling services for couples, families, and individuals with sensitivity to culture, gender, spirituality, and traditions; utilizing narrative and family systems modalities for anxiety, depression, trauma, conflict, and life transitions. Providing diagnostic assessments and ongoing therapy.
2015-2018 SOUTHWESTERN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA
Mental Health Practitioner/Licensed Associate Marriage & Family Therapist – Responsible for providing mental health counseling services for individuals, couples, and families of various cultural backgrounds and SES status utilizing CBT, DBT, solution focused, family systems, and narrative therapy modalities.
2014-2015 WESTERN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
MARSHALL, MINNESOTA
Mental Health Practitioner/Licensed Associate Marriage & Family Therapist Responsible for providing in home mental health counseling services for individuals and families in a 5-county catchment area with various cultural backgrounds and SES status, utilizing CBT and family systems modalities.
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PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
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American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
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Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT)
CONTINUING EDUCATION
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Antiracism in Therapeutic Practices, 10/2023
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Experiences of MFT's of Color in MN, 10/2023
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Cultural Humility in Relationships: Responding to Self and Others, 10/2023
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Using Emotionally Focused Therapy to Help Individual Clients, 10/2023
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When Things Get Complicated: An In Depth Look at Working with the Intersection of Severe Dissociation & Neurodevelopmental Issues in Transgender/Non-Binary Populations, 10/2023
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Counseling Grief Clients Certification Training, 11/2020
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Approaching Eating Disorders as Mental Health Professionals: Assessing, Treating, and Preventing Eating Disorders While Challenging Biases, 10/2020
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Cultural and Historical Traumas: Invisible Barriers to Healing and Change, 04/2020
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Dan Siegel on Attachment, Trauma & Psychotherapy: Neural Integration for Resilience & Well-Being, 03/2020
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Labor Trafficking Dynamics in Midwest Rural Communities, 01/2020
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Ethical Dilemmas and Decision Making in Behavioral Health: How to Practice in a Safe and Ethical Way, 12/2019
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Gottman Level 1 - Bridging the Couple Chasm, 06/2018
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Life Space Crisis Intervention, 05/2018
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Brains of Addiction: From Trauma to Repair, 05/2018
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Southwest Crisis Center Sexual Assault Advocacy, 10/2017
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Great Start MN Clinicians Group, 02/2017
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AMH Crisis: Module 1, 03/2015
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Intro to DC:0-3 Diagnosing MH & DD in Very Young Children, 02/2015
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ECSII Training, 02/2015
Trainings in care of:
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Depression
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Anxiety and Phobias
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Relationship Difficulties
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Life Transitions
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Difficulties with Self-Esteem
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Eating Issues
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Professional/Career Issues
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College/Graduate School Issues
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Medical and Health Concerns
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Pain Management
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Stress Management
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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
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Sexual Abuse
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Spirituality
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Gender Identity Support
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LGBTQ+ Counseling
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Grief, Loss, or Bereavement
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Other Issues