Counseling Services Staff
To schedule an appointment, call Counseling Intake at 651-647-3186.
Urban Counselors | Rural Counselors | School-based Counselors | Support for Separated and Divorced
Urban Counseling
Tim Eiesland, MSW LICSW
Senior Program Manager
Education: B.A. Major: Psychology, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
MSW: University of St. Thomas & College of Saint Catherine
Licensure: LICSW, MN Board Of Social Work
Advanced Training: Certified Couples Communication Instructor, Anger Regulation Facilitator, Crisis Intervention & Suicidality & Verbal De-Escalation Agency Trainer, Critical Incident Stress Management training, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Clinical Experience: 12 years post masters experience providing counseling services to adults, couples and families
Locations: Catholic Charities Seton Services Building 1276 University Ave. W. St. Paul
St. Christopher Place, 286 Marshall Ave. St. Paul
The two most rewarding parts of my job are: First, I get to work with amazing clinicians who are committed to working with those most in need and who are extremely talented and fun. Second, the positive influence of my clients, interns and clinical volunteers really enhance and impact the enjoyment of my work.
Jean Gregg
Clinical Counselor and Supervisor
Education: BA Psychology Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY; MSW Tulane University School of Social Work, New Orleans, LA
Licensure: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
Experience: Continued education in many areas, with a main focus on developing a holistic approach to mental health; certification in teaching the Couples Communication Program
Thirty-six years of experience doing individual, couple, family and group counseling
Location: Seton Services, 1276 University Avenue, St. Paul
It has been a gift to work with clients who allow me to share some of their most difficult struggles and painful memories as they move forward in learning to recognize their own goodness and to create some happiness in their lives. I have always valued Catholic Charities’ policy in making space for clients who have little or no money – that they are just as deserving of excellent clinical work as folks with more financial resources. It is a joy to work with such a creative, bright, supportive team. I love this group!
Kelsey Starrs
Intake and Clinical Counselor
Education/Licensures: Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, Licensed Graduate Social Worker
Advanced Training: Narrative Therapy Certificate Program, to be completed May 2010
Clinical Experience: Three years of experience providing psychotherapy to individuals, families and groups who have encountered issue including Depression, Anxiety, domestic violence, eating disorders, life transitions, chemical dependency, phobias, trauma and more. Special interests include holistic healing for mood disorders, mindfulness training and transforming identities through life transitions.
Location: Seton Services and Mary Hall, St. Paul
The most rewarding part of my job is the opportunity to collaborate with people to co-create new possibilities in their lives. Whether the interaction is one intake call or a long-term therapy relationship, I am energized by partnering with people on an exploration of what could be for them. I consider it one of life’s greatest honors to be invited into the sacred space of therapy with people and to witness their incredible power to transform their lives.
Emilia Godínez
Psychotherapist
Education: BA in the Liberal Arts from University of Notre Dame
Sophomore Year Abroad Studies at La Universidad de Anahuac in Mexico City
Educational Classes for High School Spanish Teaching through St. Mary College, South Bend, IN
Philosophy Studies through Continuing Education Program at the University of Minnesota
MSW from Boston College
Licensure: Licensure through Indiana and Minnesota to teach at the high school level; LICSW through the State of Minnesota as of 1998
Advanced Training: 2-year Fellowship in Psychodynamic and Analytic Work
Clinical Experience: Internships at the Children’s Home Society in Boston and the Modern Employee Assistance Program; Social work position at Regions Hospital directing a depression group and doing discharge planning; Spanish counseling services at CLUES for individual, couples and families; Fellow for 2 years and staff person for 11 years at Hamm Clinic proving psychotherapy predominantly in Spanish for individuals, couples and families. Provided translation services for psychiatric staff.
I work for Catholic Charities because I prefer to work for an agency where all Spanish-speaking immigrants and all the poor can be received; and I enjoy the spiritual component of Catholic Charities, which resonates with my Mexican Catholic culture. I chose this field because I enjoy listening to people and consider it a privilege to sit in the sacred place of a client’s greatest vulnerability. The most rewarding part of my job is alleviating human suffering, oppression and misery. I enjoy the intensity and intimacy of this work.
Timothy Lynch
Billing Representative
Location: Seton Services, St. Paul
Laurie Koltes
Urban Counseling Volunteer
Education: MS Nutrition, MA Counseling Psychology
Licensure: MA, LP
Advanced Training: Motivational Interviewing
Clinical experience: I have been a volunteer with Counseling Services since 2002.
Location: St. Paul
This experience has offered me many rewards from consulting with excellent experienced clinicians to an opportunity to help those who otherwise may not be able to come to counseling. The variety of clients I see has increased my counseling skill and knowledge. I appreciate the opportunity to volunteer at Catholic Charities!
Patrick Shannon, LADC
Urban Counseling Volunteer
Education: Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Licensure: Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)
Location: Seton Services, St. Paul, Fridays
I always wanted to do this work. I went back to school after I retired. I feel lucky to do this with Catholic Charities.
Rural Counseling
Jeanne E. Follstad, LICSW
Rural Counseling Supervisor
Education: BSW & MSW from Augsburg College, Minneapolis
Licensure: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Experience with individuals, couples and families addressing a variety of mental and emotional health issues
Location: Offices in Red Wing, MN and Faribault, MN
I am a social worker because I am called to serve people in need. My greatest sense of accomplishment is when my clients reach their goals and their highest personal potential. I am fulfilled when I see a light of understanding and awakening as clients reach an understanding and acceptance of themselves and their world.
Monica Sowden
Mental Health Therapist
Education/Licensures: MSW, LGSW
Clinical Experience: I have been with Catholic Charities since the start of my career. I have worked in both the Urban and Rural clinics as well as in the housing sites. I have training and special interest in the areas of trauma and substance abuse, and particularly the intersection of the two.
Location: Monticello
I chose clinical social work because it was the best career fit for my life’s mission. There are many rewards to this work: watching someone begin to transform their life through understanding, knowing that I am making a small difference in a person’s life, and having the privilege to work with my clients, who have tremendous life stories.
Paula Pridie
Rural Counseling Volunteer, LGSW
Education: BA in Psychology, minor in Eglish at MN State University, Mankato; MSW from the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas in 2009
Licensure: Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
Advanced Training: My husband and I have volunteered with Catholic Engaged Encounter for 24 years and worked with the engaged couples in our own parish for 14 years. Because of this experience with couples, I consider myself to have more expertise in couples and relationship work. However, I am equally passionate about working with mentally ill adults.
Clinical experience: I have been employed in the mental health field for 21 years (22 as of September 2010) at the Wilson Center in Faribault and the Owatonna Hospital on the mental health unit. I interned with Catholic Charities Rural Counseling from 2008-2009, and have volunteered as a mental health professional since graduation in May 2009.
Location: Faribault
I especially like working in Catholic/Christian environment where I am allowed to integrate spirituality into the healing process at my clients' request. I feel blessed that I am able to work with people from all walks of life--each one opening up my mind and my world and my heart just a little more than it had been before I knew them.
School-based Counseling
JoEllen Flak
Supervisor of School-based Counseling
Education: BSW, St. Francis College, Fort Wayne, IN
MSW, University of Minnesota
Licensure: LICSW, MN Board of Social Work.
School Social Worker II, MN Department of Education
Advanced Training: Therapeutic Interventions with Children, Use of Guided Imagery in Counseling
Clinical Experience: 23 years post masters experience providing counseling services to children and their families
Location: St. Matthew’s Catholic School, St. Paul, MN
The two most rewarding parts of my job are: First, experiencing the creative energy and compassion that come from working with children. Witnessing their growth and amazing courage in the face of adversity. Secondly, the privilege of being part of two awesome teams, working together to make a greater impact on the lives of those we serve. I love my work!
Jane Keple
School-based Counselor
Education: University of Minnesota, MSW
Licensure: LICSW
Location: Risen Christ School, Minneapolis, MN
Christine Linde
School-based Counselor
Education: MSW, University of Minnesota
License: LICSW, MN Board of Social Work and School Social Worker, MN Department of Education
Clinical Experience: 7 years providing counseling services to children and families
Location: Odyssey Academy, Brooklyn Center, MN
It is a true joy to work with children every day. I strive to be a positive guide and mentor to them on their life journey. I feel so blessed to be a witness to their creativity, courage and resilience.
Jennifer Littlewolf
School-based Counselor
License: LICSW
Location: Community of Peace Academy in St. Paul
Alli Selleck
School-based Counselor
Education: BSW, University of St. Thomas
MSW, Augsburg College
Licensures: LGSW MN Board of Social Work and School Social Worker, MN Department of Education
Clinical Experience: Seven years experience working with children and families
Location: Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis MN
The most rewarding part of my job is working with the students and being there for them during the good times as well as the hard times. The students I work with continue to inspire and amaze me everyday! I have the best job!
Support for Separated and Divorced
Adaire Lassonde, SSND
Coordinator of Services for Separated and Divorced of Catholic Charities since 1986
I've been a Pastoral Minister in parishes for 11 years, working with issues of separated and divorced persons. Before that I spent 13 years in the classroom in small towns and in the inner city of St. Paul.
Education: Masters degree in Counseling and Psychology from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Mediator with certified training.
My publications deal with second marriage, separation, divorce and issues of the divorced Catholic. I've presented at many groups in the Twin Cities area as well as national conferences.
The most rewarding parts of my work are being a non-judgmental, compassionate ear to those whose pain is hard for them to describe, and being able to offer supportive and educational services to people, from those who are thinking about separation, those experiencing the aspects of the divorce process, those who have been divorced for a time and need to work out issues that are bothersome, to those who minister to the separated and divorced.
Counseling Services
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