About Grant

PHILOSOPHY:

My philosophy centers primarily around mindfulness.  Being mindful of feelings is about connecting with emotions as they arise, without pushing them away (denying) or over attaching to them (obsessing).  Most of us resist paying attention to our pain–and may even come to therapy to get away from it–but, by learning to be mindful, we are able to look at our issues with less anxiety.  Attending to our emotions fearlessly is vital, as we make most of our mistakes when we are reacting emotionally rather than just sitting, being present, and accepting them for what they are.  Mindfulness cannot eliminate suffering, but it can relieve the pain we cause ourselves by denying our emotions or getting stuck in them.  Mindfulness teaches us to be more gentle with our own feelings and more accepting of the emotions of others, improving the relationship we have with ourselves and others we care about.

BACKGROUND / RESUME:

I grew up in Decatur, Illinois and went to school in Maine where I lived for a number of years.  After moving to Minnesota in 1988, I began working with the developmentally disabled population and then shifted into working in a residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed pre-adolescent children. After four years of being a front-line counselor in both Wilder’s residential and evening treatment centers, I attended graduate school at St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas.

I received my MSW in 1994 with a focus in families and children.  My first post-graduate job was with Lutheran Social Service where I worked as an individual, couples, child, and adolescent therapist. Concurrently with that position, I also provided school social services in a local school district, preparing and running ten children’s groups every week that addressed a wide range of emotional issues from divorce and death to friendships and social skills.  While at Lutheran Social Service, I also worked with adolescent males in their outpatient, adolescent sex offender program, providing group, individual, and family interventions and therapy.

In 1998, I opened up my private practice in St. Paul and continue to operate my home-based therapy practice to this day.  I continue to enjoy working with adults, couples, families, teens, and children on a wide range of issues and with a diverse clientele.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

• LICSW Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, MN, 1996
• MSW Master of Social Work
  St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, 1994
• BA European History, English Minor, Concentration in Black and White Photography
  Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME, 1986

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

• ACSW Academy of Certified Social Workers, 1997
• NASW National Association of Social Workers, 1994