Kenwood Center



Therapy	Workshops	Books

Staff

The multidisciplinary Kenwood Center team includes licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers and professional counselors. The staff works from a Narrative Therapy base to develop insight into the stories of the client’s life. Therapists also draw from their varied educational backgrounds, experiences and research on the best ideas of current theories and practices in the field. Methodologies include: Social Constructionism, Collaborative, Solution-focused, Motivation Enhancement, Restorative Justice, Spiritually-sensitive, Mindfulness Meditation, Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, Gottman Marital Therapy, and more. Clients have access to all our therapists on staff as well as outside professionals, our clinical library and bookstore, videotapes, audiotapes and DVD’s. The therapists at Kenwood Center are dedicated to continual co-research and improvement with clients and colleagues.

At Kenwood Therapy Center, a therapist will ask questions about your life and concerns to facilitate a meaningful conversation of re-authoring your life according to your intentions, purposes, values, beliefs, hopes, dreams, visions, and commitments to ways of living. Therapists want to creatively consult some of the personal and professional stories, resources and ideas you may or may not have fully considered in the hope that they might provide new possibilities and ways to address the concerns that brought you to the center. You are also invited to creatively express yourself through writing, words, art, music, movement, logic, etc. In addition, therapists are trained in and may suggest other helpful, collaborative and research informed therapy approaches and ideas.

		Walter H. Bera, PhD, LP, LMFT, LADC Walter is Center Director and Founder with more than 25 years of clinical experience. He holds Minnesota Licensure as a Psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist and Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Walter has authored articles, books, videos and curricula and is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor as well as an adjunct faculty member at a number of area universities. He is a Karate Sensei, Kali/JKD and Mindfulness Meditation practitioner.

		Hana Ra Adams, MA, LMFT, PsyD Hana is a Korean-American Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who loves working with families, children, adolescents, couples, adults, and older adults. She has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, community mental health centers, in-home therapy, nursing care, and school settings. She offers bilingual and a wide range of culturally appropriate services. She can help with an array of behavioral, emotional, and mental health issues working with people collaboratively to create new solutions and stories for their lives. She has experience working with people dealing with anxiety, depression, relational conflict, adoption issues, grief/loss, and identity concerns. She has special interest and experience with infant/perinatal loss. She is an American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program fellow.

		Ben von Ende, MSW, LICSW Ben is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker whose past experience has included work in outpatient mental health clinics, nonprofit agencies, forensic facilities and school-based settings. He has worked extensively helping people with a wide variety of problems including anxiety, trauma, physical and sexual abuse, compulsive behavior, and couple and family communication and conflict. He enjoys working creatively and collaboratively with children, adolescents, adults and families.

		Kelsey Kreider Starrs, MSW, LICSW Kelsey is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Her advanced training is in narrative therapy, and her way of working also includes solution-focused and motivational interviewing. She enjoys collaborating with adults, young adults, adolescents, families, couples, and groups who have encountered issues including Depression, Anxiety, domestic violence, eating disorders, life transitions, chemical dependency, phobias, trauma and perinatal death and loss. She is particularly interested in holistic healing, mindfulness, and transforming identities through life transitions. Kelsey considers therapy a sacred space and is deeply honored to join people there to co-create new possibilities for their lives.

		Heather K. Klein, PhD, LP Heather is a licensed psychologist who enjoys working with children, adolescents, adults, families, groups, and couples who are experiencing a variety of developmental, emotional, and behavioral issues. She has acquired specialized training in narrative therapy and often incorporates solution-focused and other creative approaches in the therapeutic process. Heather has interests in the areas of research, supervision and training, and teaching. Specific areas of interest include: therapy process and outcome, parenting, human sexuality, adjustment to divorce, intimacy, and crisis intervention.

		Paul Ellison, MEd, PsyD Paul is a postdoctoral clinician that has extensive experience working with children, adolescents and families. As a Special Education teacher and School Psychologist, he has specific expertise concerning academic, emotional and behavioral issues. Paul has specialized training in Narrative and Solution Focused Therapy. He has clinical experience treating patients with mood and anxiety disorders, as well as dealing with marriage and family situations. Over the last 28 years, Paul has coached a variety of sports and has had the opportunity to work with state champions, All Americans and professional athletes. He believes in working together with clients to find unique solutions.

		Romy Sundem, MA, LMFT Romy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with children (ages 5+), adolescents, adults, couples and families in collaborative ways. Romy combines Narrative practices with other theoretical approaches to best meet the client’s needs/goals. Romy’s previous experience includes: in-home family therapy, day treatment, school settings, mental health centers and private practice. Romy works with a wide range of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, attention deficient/hyperactivity, post-traumatic stress, abuse, school issues and couple/family communication. Romy’s Bischon/Poodle mix, Copper, joins her at the office several days a week. He is well trained, friendly and loves to cuddle.

		Sarah Gravelle, MS, LMFT Sarah is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who enjoys working collaboratively with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as people important in their lives. Sarah works with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, past trauma/abuse, gender and sexuality, parenting, family/couple communication, and a variety of life change adjustments. She has experience working with both gay and straight individuals and couples. Sarah enjoys combining Narrative Therapy with a variety of theoretical approaches to best meet each client's goals. Sarah's previous experience over the last twelve years includes not only work as a therapist, but considerable experiences in professional roles in both non-profit and for-profit organizations. She also has considerable experience coaching youth volleyball and enjoys spending time with her family including her infant son, as well as her pets.

		Michael O'Brien, LP Michael is a therapist and expert with 30 years of experience seeing individuals, couples and families. He has special experience with shame, sexual addiction and victimization and how these issues can affect families and relationships.

		Trish Thacker, MSW, LICSW Trish has provided therapeutic services in a variety of settings for the last 15 years. She focuses on the unique needs and goals of each client, and incorporates attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, object relations, and cognitive-behavioral approaches in her work with clients. She has had specialized training in trauma counseling and utilizes EMDR, which is a particularity powerful tool to promote healing. Trish sees children (ages 6 and up), adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She is experienced in working with depression, bipolar, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorders, and cutting/self-injurious behaviors. Areas of specialized training include: eating disorders, trauma, childhood abuse, sexual abuse, sex addiction, and co-dependency. Trish is also an experienced presenter and seminar leader. She has provided education and training on topics including but not limited to: pre-marital counseling, neural development of children and adolescents, the neurobiology of trauma, the biology of anxiety, the mind-body connection, sex addiction, co-dependency, boundaries, forensics/psychopathology, family dynamics, marriage counseling, the development of resilience, relationships, team building, anger management and more.

		Sharri Rogers, MA, LAMFT Sharri is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive experience working with adolescents, couples and families. She has expertise working with trauma, sexuality, sexual behavior problems, addictions, sexual abuse victimization and offending as well crisis intervention. Sharri uses a respectful, collaborative, and strength based approach that always separates the person from the problem. Other areas of interest and experience include family conflict, divorce, depression, anxiety and parenting issues.

		Richard Scanlon, MA, LP Richard has been a psychologist since 1991 and has long history and experience working with children, teens and adults with a wide variety of problems and really enjoys individual, couple and family therapy.

		Jane Carlson, Kenwood Center and Narrative Books Administrative Staff Jane Carlson (Building Manager) works as the Narrative Books, LLC and Kenwood Client Intake Coordinator. She completes new client intakes, insurance verification, book orders, workshop registration, and other administrative tasks. Jane plays a pivotal role in keeping the Kenwood office running smoothly.