5939 Portland Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55417

612-866-6100
 
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About Us

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.

 
       
© 2006 Crosstown Counseling, PLC