School Based Mental Health
Why Have Mental Health Services in Schools?
How Do I Know if My Child Needs Services?
How Can I Get Services for My Child?
Students are referred by parent, school guidance counselor or student. Families complete an intake packet and return it to the school or directly to Family Therapy Associates. Individual student records are kept confidential and not shared with school staff. Sessions are tailored around each child’s school schedule and operate during school hours. Most insurances are accepted, including Medicaid. A discounted cash rate is available if paid on the same day of service.
To learn more about this service, contact your child’s school counselor or you may contact the School Based Services Coordinator at Family Therapy Associates 715-246-4840 ext 121.
School Partnerships
In 2015 Family Therapy Associates began our first school partnership. Since then, the program has grown to include the following school districts: Altoona, Barron, Cameron, Chippewa Falls, Colfax, Frederic, Hudson, Mondovi, New Richmond, Osceola, Rice Lake, Somerset, St. Croix Central, St. Croix Falls, and Unity.
Family Therapy Associates strives to collaborate with the districts we serve to provide onsite mental health therapy. Additionally, Family Therapy Associates offers student mental health screenings, professional development for school staff, mental health awareness and acute grief response services for the districts we partner with.
- Removes the barrier of transportation for families to and from an office
- Services can be offered during summer school sessions
- The student misses less academic time to attend therapy sessions in the building
- Parents will miss less work while still getting their child services
- Early intervention can prevent long-term problems
- Offers a collaboration of support between therapist and school for the child
- Improves academic performance and personal relationships with family and friends
How Do I Know if My Child Needs Services?
- Life changing event occurred: death, divorce, change in housing, new family members, relocation
- Seems unusually anxious about common routine or other events
- Loss of interests in hobbies or activities
- Sad or irritable for a long period of time
- Struggling with peers and/or family relationships
- Drop in academic performance
- Engages in self-harming behaviors
- Displays physical aggression towards self, others, animals or objects
- Displays verbal aggression (yelling, screaming, makes hurtful comments)
- Has low self-esteem, talks negatively about self
How Can I Get Services for My Child?
Students are referred by parent, school guidance counselor or student. Families complete an intake packet and return it to the school or directly to Family Therapy Associates. Individual student records are kept confidential and not shared with school staff. Sessions are tailored around each child’s school schedule and operate during school hours. Most insurances are accepted, including Medicaid. A discounted cash rate is available if paid on the same day of service.
To learn more about this service, contact your child’s school counselor or you may contact the School Based Services Coordinator at Family Therapy Associates 715-246-4840 ext 121.
School Partnerships
In 2015 Family Therapy Associates began our first school partnership. Since then, the program has grown to include the following school districts: Altoona, Barron, Cameron, Chippewa Falls, Colfax, Frederic, Hudson, Mondovi, New Richmond, Osceola, Rice Lake, Somerset, St. Croix Central, St. Croix Falls, and Unity.
Family Therapy Associates strives to collaborate with the districts we serve to provide onsite mental health therapy. Additionally, Family Therapy Associates offers student mental health screenings, professional development for school staff, mental health awareness and acute grief response services for the districts we partner with.
|
Stephanie Jensen, MSW, LCSW
Provides School Based Services at Hudson-River Crest Elementary, Hudson-E.P. Rock Elementary and Somerset School District. I have experience helping individuals who are living with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship concerns, challenges with family and parent communication, divorce, child behavioral concerns, as well as trauma. I am trained in play therapy, and I utilize play techniques in my work with children and families. Additionally, I also have an interest in utilizing yoga calm techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, narratives as well as solution-focused approaches to address presenting issues with my clients. |
|
Stephanie Wilson, MS, LPC
Provides School Based Services in the St. Croix Falls and Unity School Districts. I have experience working with individuals throughout the life span with a wide variety of struggles and life changes. I am passionate about providing a safe and healing space for individuals to work through challenges related to past trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, family changes, low self-esteem, and behavioral issues. I am trained in both Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Additionally, I enjoy providing school based and Telehealth psychotherapy services as well as providing clinical supervision. |
|
Laurel Tinsley, MSW LCSW
Provides School Based Services in the Chippewa Falls School District. As a therapist, my goal is to provide a comfortable and safe environment for processing thoughts and feelings. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and families who are struggling to cope with a wide variety of mental health related concerns including trauma, depression, and anxiety. In some cases, I find it important to include the entire family unit in sessions as this can be a powerful tool to affect lasting change. I am a kind and compassionate therapist. I enjoy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to help my clients find ways to cope with strong emotions, overcome challenges, and reach their established goals. I have experience working with children and adolescents who are impacted by the effects of trauma, depression, anxiety, behavior challenges, grief/loss, attention difficulties, and PTSD. I also have experience incorporating therapeutic principles amongst the family unit as a whole. |
|
Danelle (Dani) Mortenson, MSEd, LPC
Provides School Based Services in the Frederic and Osceola School Districts. I want you to leave our sessions feeling heard and understood in a way you haven't been and feeling more courageous. Life can be difficult for us at times, and yet, resiliency exists and can be developed. While working with youth, I utilize play, creative arts and other intentional activities to assist in communicating emotions and working through difficulties. It's important to me to hear your story, to be solution-focused, holistic person-centered, to gain awareness, build coping skills, and facilitate a team approach as much as possible in your healing journey. Some areas of specialization I'm developing: trauma, grief, and burnout. |
|
Molly Newman, MS, LPC
Provides School Based Services at Hudson-Houlton Elementary School, Hudson Prairie Elementary School, Hudson Middle School and Hudson High School. I believe everyone has the ability to create a life worth living. As a therapist, I am just another tool in their toolbox of skills they use in life to be successful and build confidence to move forward creating a life they feel good about. I find it important to have a safe, non-judgmental and compassionate approach with clients to help them to feel they can share their experiences and better understand their thoughts and behaviors while meeting their goals. While I have experience working with individuals of all ages, my primary work has been with adolescents and families. I have experience helping individuals and families work through symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, anger management, autism, personality disorders and other mental health concerns. I have additional training and experience in the area of trauma. |
|
Jamie Mason, MA, LMFT
Provides School Based Services in the Somerset School District. I am experienced in helping children and teens cope with the impacts of trauma and build healthy attachments with their caregivers. I support children, teens, and their families in learning to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, reactive attachment disorder, anger outbursts, and behavioral difficulties. Other specialties include couples therapy, co-parenting support, families coping with separation/divorce, and families with children with autism. |
|
Craig Randerson, MSW, LCSW
Provides School Based Services in the Hudson School District. I am skilled in working with young adults who may be experiencing challenges with anxiety, depression, stress, relationships, and family issues. I also have experience in a variety of treatments in wellness, including mindfulness, anxiety reduction, healthy relationships, and emotional well-being. I hold strong values in empathy, empowerment, and meeting clients where they are at. I believe that building therapeutic rapport is an important first step in the healing process, and I am very passionate in helping clients achieve their goals. |
|
Hannah Schmidt, MA, LMFT
Provides School Based Services in the St. Croix Central School District. I have experience helping children, teens, and adults work through challenges associated with anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and autism. I also enjoy working with couples and families that wish to make their relationships more meaningful and communicate more effectively with one another. My other interests include adoption and foster care, family of origin issues, parenting concerns, and self-esteem. I create an environment that is respectful and empathic, and I approach conversations with curiosity to help clients learn about themselves and experience growth. My Christian faith is at the heart of my work, and I am able to incorporate this perspective in therapy upon request. |
|
Carly Tebo, MSW, LCSW
Provides School Based Services at Frederic and Unity School Districts I aim to build safe connections that allow for open exploration of challenges and patterns across the lifespan. My main interests include providing children, teenagers, and families the tools to navigate relationship conflict, heal from trauma, and find their true and genuine selves. I lean on creative expression and authenticity to foster unique therapy experiences for all. I am passionate about maintaining awareness of the external barriers individuals and families may face in society and utilize validation, collaboration, and advocacy skills to support them through these obstacles. |
|
Douglas (Doug) Ramich, MS, LPC
Provides School Based Services at Unity School Districts I enjoy providing opportunities that encourage growth through meeting the needs and concerns of clients in a safe and caring environment. I have a passion for working with students in all grade levels (PreK to Senior) and specialize in assisting students navigate school related challenges. I have experience with helping individuals who are living with ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Family Trauma, and everyday school stressors. I strive to provide a safe therapeutic environment in a school-based setting to assist students in growing and succeeding. My professional career spans over 30 years working in schools providing guidance for students navigating everyday challenges. |
|
Michaela Gilles, MS, LPC-IT
Provides School Based Services in the Osceola, St. Croix Falls and Unity School Districts I strive to meet clients where they are at while building a safe, collaborative, and authentic environment that allows the client to share, explore, and process their experiences without judgement. I enjoy using creative interventions to meet and address their needs and goals while helping them build awareness and understanding of their emotions, thoughts, and the world around them. I am trained to work with individuals of all ages; however, my past experiences have focused on working with children, adolescents, and their families. I have experience working with individuals who are experiencing depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, anger, family challenges, and trauma. I am under the supervision of Stephanie Wilson, MS, LPC. |
|
Lani Osicka, MS, LPC-IT
Provides School Based Services in the Altoona School District. I work with teens and adults facing a wide array of mental health issues, primarily: body image, eating disorders, trauma, addiction, relationships, grief/loss, mood and anxiety disorders. Whatever someone is going through, I encourage authentic expression and self-compassion. I am here to help clients gain insight, build strength, and find hope to endure the inevitably painful trials of life. My theoretical approach is eclectic based on client needs, however, is foundational in Interpersonal, Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral, and Existential therapies. I am under the supervision of Alison Lester, MS, LPC. |
|
Jamilla Goins, MS,LPC-IT,SAC
Provides School Based Services at Hudson High School. I have experience working with substance abuse, personality disorders, depression, anxiety, criminal behaviors, and trauma. I believe meeting the client where they are at and helping clients build on the strengths they currently possess are two of the pieces that make therapy effective. My therapeutic approach is a holistic approach; however, I most often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Humanistic Therapy. These approaches help empower clients to make the choices necessary to reach their full potential. I am under the supervision of Alison Lester, MS, LPC. |
|
Marie Hanby, MS, LPC-IT
Provides School Based Services in the Rice Lake School District. Establishing a collaborative working relationship with clients to help them achieve their therapeutic goals in a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere is my number one priority. I find assisting my clients to find their own path and achieve post traumatic growth is not only possible but also rewarding. My Christian faith informs who I am and how I relate to the world, and I seek to honor my clients' right to decide whether to integrate a faith informed approach in our work. I have trained to work with individuals of all ages and have experience working with adolescents, college age, and older adults with anxiety, depression, trauma, interpersonal relationship skills, life transitions and substance use. I have experience integrating expressive arts and play therapy in sessions. My special interests include domestic violence, betrayal trauma, grief and loss, and life transitions due to aging, divorce, empty nests, reentry to college or the workforce. I am under the supervision of Jessica Stiteley, MS, LMFT. |
|
McKenzie Racine, MS, LPC-IT, SAC-IT
Provides School Based Services in the Mondovi School District. I have a passion for working with people to help them better understand themselves and live a well-rounded lifestyle. My approach in therapy is molded to meet each person’s needs where they are at, with a strong emphasis on building a therapeutic relationship. I work with people to develop and work on goals that they identify, to help discover how the past influences the present, and increase self-awareness. I believe in using a balance between cognitive and emotional processing through a variety of theoretical approaches. My theoretical approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Humanistic Therapy. I provide a warm, inviting and accepting environment for all clients. I have a background in working with adults on a variety of mental health concerns, including trauma, substance use concerns, personality disorders, depression, and anxiety. I also have additional training in eating disorders. I am under the supervision of Gia Hepfler, PhD, LPC. |
|
Terri Wegener, MS, LPC-IT
Provides School Based Services at Chippewa Falls School District. I am experienced in working with youth who have a variety of mental health issues, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, behavioral concerns, anger management, LGBTQIA+ related concerns, and trauma-based struggles. I use a variety of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, strength-based interventions, and activity-based therapies. I strive to and have been successful in creating a positive, safe, and non-judgmental therapeutic environment that allows clients to share their problematic experiences, increase confidence and feel empowered to make changes. I enjoy inspiring clients to recognize their individual strengths, build emotional awareness, and develop effective life skills. Although I work with a wide variety of youth, as an identical twin, I am especially passionate about working with twins and their families to understand healthy attachment, individuality, and potential twin-related difficulties throughout development. I am currently under the supervision of Stephanie Wilson, MS, LPC. |
|
Johnna Klein, MSW, APSW
Provides School Based Services in the Cameron, Barron and Rice Lake School Districts I believe my role is to develop a strong relationship with the student. My goal is to become a consistent adult in their life, outside of their home environment, who listens, supports, encourages and assists in developing and achieving their goals. Working together, the student and I will define their therapy goals. My focus is to help students identify and recognize their strengths. As our work together progresses students begin to understand that they have what is needed to work towards overcoming life’s daily challenges. We continue to practice those skills as well as develop other interpersonal tools. I work with students from a strengths-based perspective. I want to aid students to identify and fine tune their skills, which, when practiced, allows them to be problem solvers. I use Choice Theory to help students understand the consequences or benefits of their choices and to own the choices they make. This assists students in realizing they have a level of self-control within their own lives. They can change some of life’s difficulties by shaping their choices differently. The sessions I lead with students have covered an array of topics, concerns, questions, struggles and challenges. Some examples would be relating to their mental health, behavior struggles, family issues, friend issues, academic struggles, self-esteem, bullying and more. I am under the supervision of Stephanie Jensen, MSW, LCSW |
|
Brianna Grahovac, MS, LPC-IT
Provides School Based Services in the Somerset School District My goal is to foster a trusting, non-judgmental, safe space for clients. I believe it's essential to build a therapeutic relationship through empathy and compassion with clients in order to help them work towards their goals, wellness, and healing. I tailor my interventions based on my client’s needs to identify and address their mental, emotional, and behavioral concerns. My areas of special interest include working with adolescents and adults, the LGBTQIA+ community, trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns or life stressors. I am under the supervision of Nick Flier, MA, LPC. |
|
Jessilyn Balsiger
Master of Social Work Intern Provides School Based Services at Chippewa Falls and Mondovi School District My goal when working with children and youth is to make them feel seen, heard, and understood. I believe it is important to be aware of the impact of trauma and meet people where they are at. When working with children, I help them develop the skills to cope when they are experiencing “big” and/or difficult thoughts, feelings, and struggles. I take a systems and solution-focused approach as people do not live in a “bubble" and goals cannot be met unless you set them first. I have worked with children and youth of all ages who have varying degrees of impact from various life experiences. Additionally, I have experience working with children and youth (as well as their families) with physical and developmental disabilities, such as autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and down syndrome. I am under the supervision of Stephanie Jensen, MSW, LCSW |
Additional therapists may offer this service along with in person office-based counseling. Please contact our office at 715-246-4840 for more information.
