Mental Health Professionals
The Solutions team of certified psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists work hard to make our mission a reality by providing top-quality service to individuals in need. Our talented and committed staff are truly what makes Solutions an exceptional organization and community.
Moorhead
Open All | Close AllDr. Hanisch previously worked at Prairie St-John's Clinic in Moorhead, providing psychiatric services to children, adolescents and adults and was appointed Chief of Staff in 2005. She has consulted at Innovis Health System, Douglas County Hospital and Tri-County Hospital. She is currently on staff with Sanford Health and is contracted with Solutions on a part time basis.
Professional memberships include the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Hanisch is licensed in North Dakota, Minnesota and Texas.
Prior to working at Solutions, Ms. Lovehaug worked at Southeast Human Service Center as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Child Family Therapist. Before that, she was an In-Home Therapist with The Village Family Service Center in the Family Based Services Program. Ms. Lovehaug has extensive experience working with children and families and with child protection issues. She is a Certified Facilitator in the Wraparound Process and Family Group Conferencing.
Ms. Lovehaug began her practice at Solutions in 2005, and is the Outpatient Services Supervisor at the Moorhead location. She provides individual and family using brief solution focused, structural/strategic, narrative and cognitive-behavioral therapy modalities. Her areas of specialty are with children and families, especially young children with behavioral difficulties, anxiety and trauma, and children and families involved in the foster care and adopt systems. She also works with families undergoing infertility treatment. She provides clinical supervision for staff seeking licensure.
Ms. Lovehaug is a certified trainer in Parent-Child Interactional Therapy, an evidence-based therapy designed to improve relationships between parents and their children. She strives to maintain the fidelity of this treatment model in her work and clinical supervision. She works hard to help families see the change and to be a part of the solution for their children. She finds it rewarding to see positive changes in family relationships.
Church related activities and volunteering have been important for Ms. Lovehaug, and she has been involved on mission trips. She is a member of The Power of 100 in the Red River Valley. She enjoys hiking, creating scrapbooks, and traveling in her spare time.
In 2008, Ms. Narum came to Solutions, where her practice has been with children, adolescents and adults. She has been a clinical supervisor for community based children’s therapeutic services (CTSS) and is now the manager of Solutions’ school based services. She has been trained in a number of evidence-based practices. Ms. Narum oversees and provides services using the Incredible Years model, training teachers and parents, and providing group therapy for the children. Her specialty areas are conducting cognitive-behavior therapy, trauma-focused therapy with children, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), family therapy, and group therapy.
Authenticity, honesty, and meeting clients where they are at are values Ms. Narum brings to her work. She enjoys working with clients with complexities and finds meaning in assisting her clients to move closer to the kind of life they are wanting to have.
Ms. Narum is active in her church, as a member of the council and as a confirmation instructor. She enjoys going to the lakes, reading, gardening, and playing Bunco in her spare time.
In 2009, Ms. Gast joined Solutions, where she has directed early intervention services, including the management of several grants focused on children’s services. She has been trained/certified in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Child Parent Psychotherapy, Incredible Years Child, Parent and Teacher programs, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Trauma Informed Care.
Ms. Gast likes diversity in her job, and works with clients ranging from infancy to adults, as well as teachers and childcare staff. She is committed to helping children with trauma backgrounds and behavioral difficulties. She also enjoys her work with community leaders for program development.
Seeing families change the cycle of abuse and learn new ways to support the children so that they can have safe, healthy caregivers is a driving value for Ms. Gast. She works to bring compassion and understanding to her work, and as a parent to three children herself, understands how difficult parenting can be. In her off time Ms. Gast is on the advisory board for the Social Work program at Concordia as well as an Adjunct Professor in the Social Work department. She coaches her sons’ soccer teams, and enjoys watching hockey, going to sporting events, and reading.
She was employed by Heartland Family Services in Council Bluffs, IA as a therapist to work with adults receiving substance abuse treatment and seeking mental health services. She completed evaluations, provided crisis management and developed treatment plans. She ran groups using the Matrix Model. She also provided Trauma focused CBT and Parent Child Interaction Therapy for children and parents. She worked as a Child and Adolescent Therapist in Prairie St. John’s partial hospitalization program prior to coming to Solutions in 2013.
Ms. Moen is licensed as an LICSW in both North Dakota and Minnesota. She works with a wide range of clients, from children to adults. She provides Incredible Years programming for children at local elementary schools. Her specialty areas are in infertility issues, trauma-informed practice, and behaviorally-based models such as Incredible Years and Parent Child Interactional Therapy. She enjoys working with children and adults, as well as with families. She finds meaning in being a part of her client’s journey to well-being, and strives to bring competency and integrity to her work.
After hours Ms. Moen engages in volunteer activities at her church, and enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, and cheering on the Minnesota Twins.
In 2000 Dr. Witte joined Solutions as the Clinical Director. She provided therapy and assessment services and specialized in parental capacity evaluations. Because of rapid agency growth and the increase in Dr. Witte’s administrative responsibilities, her direct practice reduced over time, and her primary role is presently as a clinical supervisor. Dr. Witte has supervised numerous psychology students, interns, and post-doctoral residents over the years. She also supervises other mental health professionals seeking licensure. In 2013 Dr. Witte became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral. She teaches Ethics for Behavior Analysts at the University of North Dakota and oversees student practicum placements at Solutions. She has been a leader in this area, presenting at local conferences, developing and running a weekly study group and providing supervision for those seeking similar certification.
Professional groups include the American Psychological Association, North Dakota Psychological Association, Minnesota Psychological Association, Association on Behavior Analysis – International, Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and she is a Diplomate of the American College of Forensic Examiners.
Ms. Waterman joined Solutions in 2014. She has provided therapeutic services in elementary schools and is a clinical supervisor for CTSS programming. She provides outpatient therapy to individuals, families and groups, and has expertise in treating trauma, anxiety disorders behavioral difficulties, and attachment issues.
Specific training includes Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Refugee Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment, Cognitive Processing Therapy, the Incredible Years Child and Parent programs and working with children on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum. Ms. Waterman is motivated to help families reach their goals and to sustain success. She works hard to understand every family’s unique situation and to meet them where they are at, creating the best opportunity for success.
After hours Ms. Waterman enjoys going to the lake, spending time with family, walking and playing with her dogs, trying new foods, and traveling. She volunteers at 4 Luv of Dog rescue, providing foster homes for dogs who are looking for their “forever” homes.
Dr. Paulson has extensive training and experience with psychological testing, particularly in personality assessment. He has had training in psychoanalytic therapy, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, family therapy, marriage therapy, and sex therapy. Dr. Paulson was formerly with the North Dakota Department of Human Services and prior to starting at Solutions he was the Chief Psychologist at Southeast Human Service Center, where he supervised numerous mental health professionals and trained scores of pre-doctoral psychology students and psychiatric residents.
Dr. Paulson is a Licensed Psychologist in both North Dakota and Minnesota, and he is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.
Mr. Bakken founded Solutions Behavioral Healthcare Professionals in September, 1999. He functions as the Executive Director, and also provides clinical oversight to community-based services. He specializes in providing behaviorally-based interventions to individuals with autism and also severe personality disorders. He is licensed as a Psychologist (MS) in Minnesota and an Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA) in North Dakota. He is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
Providing evidence-based interventions and gathering information about the outcomes of intervention are both central to Mr. Bakken’s role as an administrator and a supervisor. Mr. Bakken has served on the board of directors for a number of non-profit agencies. He is currently the president of Act Up, which is a social justice theatre group. He was formerly on the board of Lost and Found Ministries, and president of the church council.
Mr. Bakken is an avid golfer and has run marathons. He likes to watch sports of all kinds, and is enjoying learning social dance.
Mr. Hill is trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Incredible Years for toddlers and infants, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the suicide and crisis intervention models, SafeTalk and ASIST.
Mr. Hill was formerly employed by White Earth Tribal Mental Health as a Mental Health Practitioner, and then a Program Manager. In addition to supervision and management duties there, he completed Rule 25 Chemical Dependency Assessment training and facilitated training presentations on the use of the Medicine Wheel, stress reduction techniques and lifestyles, and working across cultural barriers. He also previously worked as a Case Manager for Access of the Red River Valley and as a Case Coordinator with Friendship, Inc. He has represented the White Earth Nation as a member of the Minnesota American Indian Mental Health Advisory Council.
Mr. Hill was drawn to this work because he grew up in foster care and “aged out of the system.” He views his life experiences, past and present, along with his education have guided and shaped his role and responsibility as a helper to those affected by life circumstances. He strives to work preventatively with children and families, empowering them to actualize their strengths, achieve their identified goals, and maintain a healthy balance in life.
Ms. England began her career with Solutions by working as a Direct Service Professional. She next worked with CTSS and case management. She is currently in charge of Targeted Mental Health Case Management Services and serves as the Quality Control Manager for the entire organization. In this capacity she oversees state reviews for outpatient services, ARMHS, CTSS and Case Management, as well as the process for satisfaction surveys and program quality assurance plans. She has had evidence-based training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Circle of Security, Incredible Years and Parent Child Interaction Therapy. She utilizes motivational interviewing, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, and behavior management and parenting skills. Typical clients on her case load are children and families or adults with depression, anxiety disorders or borderline personality disorder.
Social work has always been a passion for Ms. England. She enjoys working with children, adolescents and their families. She finds helping families change their family system and create positive change very rewarding. She also is motivated to help adults manage their mental health symptoms and to teach them the skills for life-long symptom management. She values keeping up with current research-based therapeutic practices. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the lakes and spending time outdoors.
Melissa’s priorities are her faith and family. She spends most of her time with her husband and 3 children. They enjoy spending weekends on the lake, and family walks in the Summer. Melissa also enjoys taking care of her plants and doing yard work around her home. Melissa has a passion for teaching 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion classes in the Fargo/Moorhead community which include teaching mindfulness meditation. She speaks on ND Today and other speaking engagements in Minnesota of the many benefits of a mindfulness practice in daily life. She enjoys working with clients to help them find their own inner voice and to build their sense of self-worth through insight and compassion. The most meaningful part of her work includes the opportunity each day to see clients work towards their goals and treat themselves with respect in the process. Melissa works hard to bring a compassionate lens to her daily work, allowing space for each person to be who they are, while safely reflecting and growing in the process.
From 2010 to 2018 Dr. Kao was employed as a Counseling Psychologist through Counseling and Disability Services at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. She has extensive experience in providing both short and long-term psychotherapy to clients with a wide range of mental health concerns, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, PTSD, personality disorders, trauma, family-of-origin issues, and grief/loss problems. She provided clinical training and supervision for master- and doctoral-level counseling interns, as well as provided crisis response services, including after-hours on-call, walk-in/crisis counseling, responding to emergency situations on campus, and providing debriefing to the campus in response to crisis situations. She also conducted outreach programs in areas such as diversity issues, counseling skills, stress management, time management, and procrastination. Dr. Kao joined Solutions’ psychology department and the Internship Training Committee in 2018.
“I approach each individual I meet, not just in my clinical practice but also in life, as a unique and complex person, full of complementary and contending sides which make up a wonderful whole. I try to genuinely understand and show compassion for others and as a Psychologist, to partner with them to bring about the changes they truly desire in life.”
Mr. Hinman is currently accepting clients and is happy to consult with potential referral sources.
Fargo
Open All | Close AllMs. Madler specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, serious persistent mental illness, dual diagnosis, bereavement, anger management, infertility, and behaviors that have resulted in correctional problems. She has extensive experience working with adults with substance addictions and places an emphasis on individual and family education and support to achieve a meaningful recovery experience.
As a therapist, Ms. Madler is a down to earth and has an approachable style. She is dedicated to giving clients individualized, comprehensive care in a relaxed and trusting environment that inspires and fosters self-awareness and acceptance without judgment; which in turn promotes growth, healing wellness, and fulfillment in one’s life and relationships. Ms. Madler has a genuine compassion for the human condition and helping people to transform their symptoms.
Ms. Madler received her undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University and obtained her Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Dakota in 1998. She completed her addiction training through the North Dakota Addiction Consortium. Ms. Madler is married with one child and a dog that keep her quite busy. She loves to garden, enjoys the outdoors, can always come up with a crafting project, and likes spending time with friends and family.
Prior to working at Solutions, Ms. Meske was employed in clinical and administrative capacities for agencies in Moorhead, Fargo and Grand Forks. Ms. Meske joined Solutions in 2004 and is the Director of Outpatient Services. She oversees all outpatient programming at Solutions, as well as the intake and medical records processes. She has a part time clinical practice, and specializes in high conflict divorce and co-parenting; Early Neutral Evaluation; qualified neutral in MN, and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. She is committed to doing couple / marital therapy, treating anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, and working with military soldiers, veterans and their families. She is a member in the Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, and the North Dakota Family Based Services.
Being able to offer hope to those who have struggled with mental health symptoms, seeing relationships turn around, and helping conflicted parents change those behaviors which directly impact the children are things Ms. Meske finds meaningful in her work. She strives to remain neutral when working with highly conflicted parents so as to set the stage for a good working relationship with both parents.
In her spare time Ms. Meske enjoys going to the lakes, walking, baking and crafting. She is active with volunteer and committee work at her church.
Ms. Ballinger loves working with families, couples, adolescents, and children. She specializes in working with anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, conflict resolution, adolescent issues, and early intervention. She has expertise in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Parent Child Interactional Therapy (PCIT).
Those times when clients begin to feel hope that things can change bring meaning to Ms. Ballinger’s work, and she feels impacted when family relationships begin to heal and barriers between people come down. She brings to her work the strong belief that all people have a voice that needs to be heard, so that they can find the strength to bring about change. She believes she has learned and grown from each client she has worked with. During her off time, Ms. Ballinger’s hobbies are reading, singing, camping, cooking, and going for bike rides with her family.
Bio coming soon.
Dr. Jones has worked as a clinical psychologist at Hennepin County Medical Center, Sanford Health, Neuropsychology Associates, and Solutions Behavioral Health. She has worked with many individuals experiencing serious and persistent mental illnesses, as well as individuals experiencing mood and anxiety disorders and trauma. She joined Solutions’ psychology department and became a member of the internship Training Committee in 2018. Dr. Jones enjoys offering individuals evidence-based individual psychotherapy, as well providing supervision to clinical trainees.
St. Cloud
Open All | Close AllDetroit Lakes
Open All | Close AllDr. Blake graduated from Concordia College with a B.A. in Psychology in 2001. She earned her M.S. from Capella University in 2007 and then her Doctorate of Psychology degree in 2012. Dr. Blake began working in the mental health field with children and families as part of the Family Outreach Program in Ottertail County in 2004, and she has remained in the field since that time. Her work experiences include a variety of clinical settings and populations, with a primary focus on community mental health. In addition, she teaches as an adjunct faculty for University of Phoenix.
Dr. Blake integrates a blend of enthusiasm, humor, and optimism with a wide range of clinical expertise into her work with her clients. She is passionate about providing services to children and families that include consideration of the whole person, family, and social system as a conduit to health and wellness. Personal interests include music, travel, yoga, reading, and anything that counts as quality time with her family. She values adventure and fun in both her personal and professional life.
Ms. Starkey formerly worked as Clinical Coordinator with Fraser, Ltd. in Fargo, where she developed an outpatient program and provided therapy. From 2009 to 2011, she worked as a Mental Health Professional with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota in Detroit Lakes, providing both outpatient and school-based mental health services in Pelican Rapids. Prior to this she was with Drake Counseling Services for six years, providing outpatient mental health services and family counseling for the adolescent outpatient substance abuse program in Fargo, then served as the Director for their Detroit Lakes Services for two years. Before obtaining her LICSW, Ms. Starkey was a child protection specialist at Becker County Human Services and a family service worker at Mahube Head Start. Ms. Starkey is also an adjunct instructor for the School of Social Work at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
In 2015 Ms. Starkey joined the staff at Solutions’ Detroit Lakes office. She has expertise in treating depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, anger management, co-dependency and relationship concerns. She provides Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and marital and family therapy.
Ms. Starkey values the opportunity to assist people in the quest to improve their lives, inspire positive changes in life style and relationships, and providing to support to others in accessing their personal strengths. She strives to bring nonjudgmental expertise to her sessions and to provide a positive, supportive environment to encourage personal empowerment. In her off time she is involved with her church and values spending time with family. She enjoys the outdoors, walking, boating, cross country skiing, kayaking, and biking. She also likes cooking, decorating, crafting, painting and entertaining.
Ms. Peterson works with children, adolescents, adults and families, and treats a variety of mental health disorders. Her areas of specialty are multicultural / inter-faith issues, early (childhood) intervention, children, adolescent and family individual and group therapies, anxiety disorders, and relational violence issues.
The privilege of being able to provide a safe space for others to share their lives, concerns, hopes, and dreams is one of the most meaningful parts of Ms. Peterson’s practice. She serves on boards within her faith community and spends time volunteering for projects that seek to improve and conserve our local natural resources. She fills her spare time with water sports, traveling, and gardening.
Ms. Wagner is excited to work with people and enjoys walking along with them in their struggles, as well as watching them grow as a person throughout the journey. She enjoys assisting clients in finding their own personal strengths, building skills that lead to success, and integrating a holistic approach to counseling. In her free time, she enjoys music, reading, learning new skills, knitting, and participating in her faith community. She enjoys spending time in the beauty that is Minnesota by walking her dog, water sports, and cross-country skiing.
Fergus Falls
Open All | Close AllDr. Blake graduated from Concordia College with a B.A. in Psychology in 2001. She earned her M.S. from Capella University in 2007 and then her Doctorate of Psychology degree in 2012. Dr. Blake began working in the mental health field with children and families as part of the Family Outreach Program in Ottertail County in 2004, and she has remained in the field since that time. Her work experiences include a variety of clinical settings and populations, with a primary focus on community mental health. In addition, she teaches as an adjunct faculty for University of Phoenix.
Dr. Blake integrates a blend of enthusiasm, humor, and optimism with a wide range of clinical expertise into her work with her clients. She is passionate about providing services to children and families that include consideration of the whole person, family, and social system as a conduit to health and wellness. Personal interests include music, travel, yoga, reading, and anything that counts as quality time with her family. She values adventure and fun in both her personal and professional life.
Ms. Starkey formerly worked as Clinical Coordinator with Fraser, Ltd. in Fargo, where she developed an outpatient program and provided therapy. From 2009 to 2011, she worked as a Mental Health Professional with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota in Detroit Lakes, providing both outpatient and school-based mental health services in Pelican Rapids. Prior to this she was with Drake Counseling Services for six years, providing outpatient mental health services and family counseling for the adolescent outpatient substance abuse program in Fargo, then served as the Director for their Detroit Lakes Services for two years. Before obtaining her LICSW, Ms. Starkey was a child protection specialist at Becker County Human Services and a family service worker at Mahube Head Start. Ms. Starkey is also an adjunct instructor for the School of Social Work at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
In 2015 Ms. Starkey joined the staff at Solutions’ Detroit Lakes office. She has expertise in treating depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, anger management, co-dependency and relationship concerns. She provides Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and marital and family therapy.
Ms. Starkey values the opportunity to assist people in the quest to improve their lives, inspire positive changes in life style and relationships, and providing to support to others in accessing their personal strengths. She strives to bring nonjudgmental expertise to her sessions and to provide a positive, supportive environment to encourage personal empowerment. In her off time she is involved with her church and values spending time with family. She enjoys the outdoors, walking, boating, cross country skiing, kayaking, and biking. She also likes cooking, decorating, crafting, painting and entertaining.
Ms. Renner enjoys working with children of all ages and providing Parent Management Training to parents. She treats children with depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and other conditions. She is a member of the Ottertail County Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Team.
Watching clients have “aha” moments is rewarding for Ms. Renner. Since clients come for therapy at a very vulnerable time and place trust in the therapist, the stage is then set for working through the issues at hand. Ms. Renner enjoys celebrating progress with her clients while continuing to create new goals.
Ms. Renner works hard to make each client experience that she is fully present in the session. She strives to be positive and to help her clients identify their strengths, and then using these to reach their goals. In her spare time she enjoys running, being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Alexandria
Open All | Close AllHer areas of interest include early childhood mental health, parenting, trauma, abuse and neglect, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, parent-child relationships, and communication. Ms. Schoep initially worked as a Mental Health Practitioner at Solutions while completing her master’s degree. After becoming a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker she developed a clinical practice with adults, children and families. She provides clinical supervision for Children’s Therapeutic Services, overseeing the implement of services to assist children who have impairments in social and emotional functioning develop the skills needed to catch up with peers.
Ms. Schoep has enjoyed working for Solutions for the past seven years because of the opportunity for professional growth and a collaborative treatment approach.
Mr. Wenzel has been a Mental Health Practitioner with Solutions since 2007, providing mental health rehabilitation services and skills training to adults and children with mental health disorders. He is CPI trained. For the past year he has been working towards licensure as an outpatient therapist and provides services to couples and adults with depression, anxiety disorders and anger management issues. He is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, and is currently a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.
Mr. Wenzel works hard to bring an open mind and a thoughtful approach to his work, so that he can understand the events and emotions his clients are experiencing. He finds meaning in helping his clients start to make positive changes that then have a ripple effect into other relationships and areas of their lives. In his spare time Mr. Wenzel enjoys golfing, curling and traveling.
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Sauk Centre
Open All | Close AllHer areas of interest include early childhood mental health, parenting, trauma, abuse and neglect, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, parent-child relationships, and communication. Ms. Schoep initially worked as a Mental Health Practitioner at Solutions while completing her master’s degree. After becoming a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker she developed a clinical practice with adults, children and families. She provides clinical supervision for Children’s Therapeutic Services, overseeing the implement of services to assist children who have impairments in social and emotional functioning develop the skills needed to catch up with peers.
Ms. Schoep has enjoyed working for Solutions for the past seven years because of the opportunity for professional growth and a collaborative treatment approach.