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Kippie Palesch, MA, LPCC • (952) 240-1621
Kippie A. Palesch, MA, LPCC is a Licensed Professional Clincal Counselor, a Certified EMDR Clinician, and owner of Stable Living, LLC. She specializes in trauma therapy for adults as well as couples counseling. With a warm, creative approach, Kippie helps clients tap into their inner strength and work towards authentic well-being. She sees it as a privilege to help clients learn to trust themselves, engage fully in life and develop meaningful connection. Living and working on her lovely 23 acre farm in Minnetrista, MN, she has served clients from the Twin Cities area including cities such as Excelsior, Wayzata, Waconia, Victoria, Delano, Watertown, Mound and Maple Plain.
In addition to traditional talk therapy, Kippie is also passionate about incorporating animals into the healing process. As an equine-assisted psychotherapist, she knows that horses help heal and provide opportunities for growth and learning. Studies show that horses have the potential to influence people in powerful ways. Through this interactive therapy, horses provide an opportunity to overcome fear, anxiety, depression and addiction as well as a variety of other mental health and behavioral issues. Working alongside Kippie and her horses helps build confidence, provide insights into relationships as well as engrains a template for healthy attachment.
Kippie is also a certified Eye Movement Densensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) clinician. EMDR is type of psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. By using EMDR, people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference.
Having raised four children into early adulthood, Kippie now finds time to enjoy many activities including horseback riding, camping, yoga, travel, cooking, and reading. Her six horses, golden retriever, tabby cat as well as everyone’s favorite hound dog, Gitana, are also a great source of joy for her. Kippie would welcome the opportunity to learn about you and what brings you health and happiness.
Todd Monger, MA, LPCC • (952) 221-5625
Todd Monger, MA, LPCC specializes in the area of clinical counseling and sports psychology. In addition to providing part-time counseling services for Stable Living, he also serves on the Board of Directors for Hope Rides and is the Director of Programs & Development at Bien Aime Farm in Greenfield, MN a program dedicated to supporting adoptive families. For 17 years Todd served as the Clinical Director of Student Success at North Central University overseeing academic, disability, career, and mental health counseling support services to the college population. Todd is gifted in communicating and connecting with people in creative ways that make a lasting impression.
Todd is also committed to assisting individuals and organizations in harnessing their full potential by identifying and removing the obstacles that prevent advancement in life. With a strong arm in leadership, Todd is passionate about developing experiential workshops for organizations, including staff development and corporate team building.
With a background in both social work and clinical counseling, Todd has also worked extensively with children and adolescents. Todd believes in the healing power found in utilizing equine experiences as a catalyst to bring about deep insight, positive change, compassion, and understanding in this great journey called “Life.”
Originally from Australia, Todd now resides in Medina, MN with his wife and two daughters who have both benefited from the gifts horses provide. While his daughters long for the day that they’ll own their own horse, the family has settled in to raising alpacas and chickens while embracing the rural lifestyle in as many ways as possible.
Jill Damron, MA, LPCC • (320) 434-1887
Jill Damron, MA, LPCC is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who has been working with children, adolescents and adults for over 10 years. Jill views therapy as a space for people to enter into healing work through deeper connection with themselves, family, community, animals and the natural world. Jill has practiced in a variety of different settings, including day treatment, outpatient clinics and community mental health. She works with individuals and families impacted by trauma, addiction, domestic violence, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, lack of family connection, overwhelming life events and problematic social structures. She also works with individuals with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, experiencing problems in school, difficulties with parenting and navigating different aspects of personal identity. Jill believes that our minds and bodies are always working toward healing, and integrates different therapy approaches to support children, teenagers, adults and families in moving toward what they have identified as important to their healing. These approaches include somatic psychotherapy, experiential therapy, EMDR, interpersonal neurobiology, person-centered therapy, CBT, DBT skills and various insight-oriented therapies.Jill is dedicated to racial justice and equity in all aspects of society, including mental health. She is also actively involved in the Institute of Chicana/o Psychology through participating in trainings and community conversations. Additionally, Jill is dedicated to the rights and wellness of the LGBTQIA+ community and in caring for the Earth. With deep appreciation for the beauty of Minnesota, Jill enjoys exploring trails with her dog, Aela, finding new coffee shops and restaurants, and spending time with her spouse, friends and family.
Melissa Patterson, MA, LPCC, LADC • (612) 819-4278
Melissa Patterson, MA, LPCC, LADC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor. Melissa specializes in helping youth and adults find hope and direction through life’s challenges. Previously a Licensed School Counselor for over 15 years, Melissa is well versed in helping children from kindergarten through 12th grade thrive through difficult transitions. Melissa works to develop a deep relationship with individuals, young and old, guiding them towards personal growth and relational fulfillment.
Melissa is highly skilled in utilizing a person-centered approach using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Motivational Interviewing, and Strength-based Counseling through her creative approach that also includes art and play therapy with children. She excels at teaching emotional regulation, anxiety reduction techniques, refining social skills, reducing depression, relieving grief and loss, educating on parenting issues, as well as working with those struggling with addiction.
Melissa also has extensive experience working with prevention and treatment of addictions for adolescents and adults. Group facilitation is a strong suit for her, enjoying the process of youth and adults growing and sharing with each other. Bring hope and healing, she provides support for children and families affected by addiction, a passion and expertise of hers developed after years of study and practice.
“I would love the opportunity to work with you or your child. I am a mother of three myself. I know that life is a journey and we sometimes hit the bumps without knowing how to cope. You are doing the best you can with what you have. Let me partner with you and help guide you towards your goals.”
Ashley Wurdeman, MS, LAMFT • (651) 231-9746
Ashley N. Wurdeman, Master of Science graduate, is pursuing licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy. Having worked at an adolescent day treatment center, Ashley specializes in children and young adults. Through her work and schooling, she has developed amazing insight and skill in tough topics such as depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, ADHD, bullying, self-harm, suicidality, as well as under/over-achievement. Ashley realizes that difficult experiences often lead to difficult times, but may also lead to tremendous growth and change. Ashley is passionate about helping youth find their way to health and happiness.
With a warm, personalized approach and a client-centered focus, Ashley helps to re-establish secure relationships, set healthy personal boundaries, and provide insight into all types of problematic behaviors in order to help clients and their families grow to their fullest potential. Offering traditional in-office visits as well as telehealth or experiential equine-assisted therapy, Ashley focuses on relationships. Partnering with horses is a powerful way to experience healthy connection with ourselves as well as others and creates a vehicle for growth and learning in clients.
“When ‘I’ becomes ‘we’ – Illness becomes wellness”; and Ashley would be honored to begin the journey of wellness together with you. As a mother herself, Ashley understands the unique struggles parenthood can bring into each season of life and is particularly passionate about working with children, adolescents, families, and building upon the relationships that exist between them.
Fabio Azeredo, Ph D • (612) 704-3339
Fabio Azeredo, Ph D, (he/him) has been working as a mental health clinician for over 20 years. Having long been licensed in Brazil, he is currently pursuing his license as a Psychologist as well as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.
Fabio has worked with children, teenagers, and adults to navigate through life transitions and crises. Along with his clinical skills and knowledge, he does so by listening and providing guidance to individuals and engaging families in developing strategies that make sense to them.
Fabio is highly specialized in the psychodynamic/ psychoanalytical approach. He has vast experience in helping individuals of all ages including couples and families find their strength and best coping skills. Along with meeting with clients, Fabio will also be teaching at Saint Mary’s University’s Masters in Counseling and Psychological Services Program.
Fabio has a long history of standing for human rights. Gender and racial equality and the rights of persons with disabilities have been paramount in Fabio’s personal and professional life through his work in grassroots organizations, parent’s associations, and, most recently, working for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In this spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, reading and going to the movies and theatre.
Andrea Hollingsworth, MAMFT, PhD • (612) 417-1107
Andrea Hollingsworth, MAMFT, PhD, believes in the power of compassionate relationships to bring about healing and transformation. She grew up on a 40+ acre horse farm in Ramsey, Minnesota, and rode horses throughout her childhood, teen, and young adult years. Andrea went on to study Marriage and Family Therapy, and later, Religious Studies. After a long stint in academia—where she researched and taught in the fields of spirituality and the neuropsychology of attachment—Andrea is thrilled to be returning to more regular clinical work with adults, adolescents, and children.
As a counselor, Andrea has helped individuals navigating issues such as complex trauma, addiction, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and stressful life transitions. She especially enjoys working with adult women seeking support through significant life transitions, and people seeking spiritual deepening and growth. She believes the added presence of horses in therapy brings an opportunity to heal and grow at an even more profound level.
Andrea is rooted in the theoretic schools of family systems (including internal family systems), attachment theory, and interpersonal neurobiology. Her therapeutic practice also blends techniques from mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. In all cases, Andrea is convinced that stronger, healthier connections (with self, others, animals, and beyond) are the vehicle for positive change.
A mother, wife, yogi, book nerd, writer, and lover of the wilderness, Andrea lives in Maple Grove, MN with her husband and son. When she is not counseling, she enjoys working as a
Business Consultant helping leaders bring greater levels of compassion into their organization. She is also honored to be Acquisitions Editor at
Wildhouse Publications.
