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 Mark W Smith is a
Clinical
Social
Worker who has over 20 years experience working with people to improve
their lives in a variety of settings. He has a BA in Social
Work from Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa,
a Masters in Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque
Iowa, and a Masters in Social Work from The University of St. Thomas
and College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has
served as a parish pastor in Lutheran churches in South Dakota and
Iowa. He has also worked in a youth shelter and a residential
treatment program for Severe and Persistent Mentally Ill
Adults. After working 10 years for two more agencies, he
formed a private practice clinic serving people of the South Metro
Area.
He has specialized
training in
working with children, those with severe mental illness issues, and
victims of trauma. He is a member of the National Association
of Social Workers, The Minnesota Society of Clinical Social Workers,
The Collaborative Law Institute, and the Minnesota Association for Play
Therapy.
Mark believes in the dignity of
every individual. His approach is to help the client feel at
ease and meet them where they are at. He then challenges them
to move to new areas of learning and exploring themselves and the world
around them. He works with them to not let the issues of
depression, anxiety or other mental health issues keep them from
enjoying life. As a former pastor, he is able to talk about
the spiritual issues individuals may face and utilize their own beliefs
in order to facilitate healing and wholeness.
Lisa Kiesel
is a clinical social worker with over 13 years of social work
experience. She received her Bachelors Degree in Social Work from
Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and her Masters Degree in Social work
from the University of Washington, Seattle, with a specialty in
services to Children, Youth, and Families. She has provided services in
a variety of urban settings, including rape crisis and domestic
violence programs, residential and day treatment programs, school-based
mental health, outpatient therapy in a community mental health setting,
and private practice.
Lisa
specializes in
serving children, adolescents, families, young adults, and women. She
addresses a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety,
adjustment issues, divorce adjustment, school problems, self esteem,
family and parenting concerns, relational issues, abuse/trauma, and
behavioral challenges. She utilizes play therapy, individual therapy,
and family therapy techniques. Lisa focuses on assisting clients to
identify their goals and needs, learn to take good care of themselves
and their families, and remove their barriers to success. This includes
resolution or best management of their mental health concerns or life
circumstances. She is available for day and evening weekday
appointments.
 Owen Konecnik is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker who has been
working with people in a variety of capacities to help them reach
their goals and improve their quality of life for about 15 years. He
has a BA in Spanish, a Masters Degree in Theology from St. Meinrad
School of Theology in Indaiana, and a Masters in Social Work from
Augsburg College in Minneapolis. He has experience as a crisis
counselor and completed training as a sexual assault counselor as
well. In the past, Owen has worked as a lay chaplain at Hennepin
County Medical Center and LaRua Carter Psychiatric Hospital in
Indianapolis, Indiana. Various internships and practica that Owen has
completed include hospice work with terminally ill persons and their
families, in-home counseling to at-risk families, and psychotherapy
internship at Hamm Clinic in St.Paul, MN. He is a member of the
National Association of Social Workers and the Minnesota Society for
Clinical Social Work. Owen has particular experience and interest in
working with clients on attachment issues, parenting, trauma, and
areas of sexual identity.
Owen sees therapy as a collaborative relationship between the client
and himself. Whatever a client's individual goals may be, he sees his
role as empowering, supporting and, at times, offering possible
alternative perspectives to the client. In this way he helps the
client make progress toward their goals and move closer to the place
at which he or she would like to be in life. Owen also believes that
whatever spiritual or religious tradition that may be a part of a
person's experience, each of us has questions about life's deeper
meanings. He sees therapy as a unique opportunity for clients to find
the answers that are authentic to themselves and their own sense of
spirituality.
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