Therapists
Jim Otremba, M.Div, MS, LICSW
Jim brings to the practice of counseling a background in ministry, including adult faith formation and working with youth. He is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who holds a Master of Divinity degree from St. John’s University and a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from St. Cloud State University. He works with families, couples, adolescents, and individual adults on a wide range of issues, always seeking to place their challenges in the larger context of Christ’s redeeming power and grace.
Jim enjoys presenting workshops on a variety of topics, including marriage, parenting, and stress and anger management.
Jim’s work finds inspiration in the prayer of St. Paul: May He give you the power through His Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong. (Ephesians 3:17)
Sandra C. Reese, Ph.D, LP
Sandy, a licensed psychologist, has worked with children, adolescents and adults. Her primary focus is in cognitive-behavioral therapy as a means of problem solutions for dealing with life stresses. She has completed postdoctoral training in pediatric psychology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In individual therapy she offers a variety of techniques including light therapy.
Additionally, Sandy can assess individuals with a variety of means, including educational, personality and neuro-psychological. She has also completed a postdoctoral program at the University of Minnesota hospitals in neuro-psychological assessment of individuals who have suffered accidents or injuries. She received her doctoral degree at Ohio State University and has held professorships at several universities across the country.
Cindy Koubsky, MS, LMFT
Cindy holds a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from St. Cloud State University and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Cindy and her husband are the parents of four children.
Cindy helps individuals, couples, and families deal with issues from a family systems perspective, which understands people in the context of their significant emotional relationships. Some issues addressed include depression, anxiety, and grief related to divorce and other life transitions. As a Christian counselor, she integrates psychology with the spiritual application of the love of Christ, the gift of grace, and the hope of eternal life.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. (Isaiah 43:2)
Gwen Pedersen, MS, LMFT
Gwen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who holds a Master of Science in Community Counseling from St. Cloud State University. She has education in child development and works with parents of children from birth through adolescence. Gwen has varied therapeutic experiences. She has worked with clients regarding issues such as marital and family discord, child development, adolescent behavior problems, mood disorders, anger, self-esteem, chemical dependency, grief/loss, relaxation, and more. She conducts individual, couples, family, and play therapy. Gwen works with a therapeutic approach in family systems, which looks at the way people function in their environment. She also utilizes behavioral techniques. Gwen values collaboration and consultation with other professionals to benefit the clients she serves.
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Randy Johnson, M.Div, LMFT
Randy Johnson has worked as a professional counselor since 1999. Randy became a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist after serving as a pastor for 15 years. Randy holds a Master of Divinity Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. He has experience counseling individuals, couples, and families using a family system approach and a cognitive behavioral model of therapy. Randy specializes in marriage and family enrichment, parenting and co-parenting, grief counseling and anger management with adolescents and adults.
Randy also offers prayer and other Christian resources to clients who are interested in integrating faith and therapy.
Shelly Christy, MA, LPC, LAMFT
Shelly holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Bethel College in St. Paul. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Shelly is the mother of three children. She works with adult individuals, children, adolescents, and their parents. Shelly uses a family systems approach, which seeks to understand behavior in light of significant relationships and environment. She works to strengthen family bonds and to encourage parents in development of their parenting skills. She also provides counseling services for missionaries and their families. Combining her study of missions, overseas missionary work, and Christian counseling, she offers God’s hope and encouragement to missionaries struggling with issues of faith, burnout, depression, adjustment, and trauma. As a Christian counselor, Shelly’s desire is to facilitate healing and wholeness through the integration of sound psychological principles and the eternal truths of the Bible.
David Olmscheid, MS
David holds a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from St. Cloud State University. He is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. David helps individuals, couples, and families dealing with a wide range of issues.
He has experience working with at-risk adolescent males regarding issues such as marital and family discord, anger management, self-esteem, post treatment of chemical dependency, and more. He has also worked with foster children as well. David utilizes the family system theory, which seeks to understand behavior in light of significant relationships and environments. He works to strengthen marital and family bonds. When working as a Christian counselor, David brings his client's life experiences in closer union with Christ’s redemption to facilitate healing and peace. David and his wife are the parents of twins.
Debra E. Stumvoll, MA, LPP
Debbie earned her Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology and Education from the University of St. Thomas. Her primary therapeutic approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy. She works with individuals, from childhood to adults. Her experience with young children has focused primarily on young children, pre-adolescents, and adolescent females. She has worked with childhood anxiety and depression, ADHD/ADD, and child/adolescent behavioral and emotional issues. She also works with school related issues, an area of interest from her thirteen years as a teacher at the elementary level.
Her work with adults includes individual, couples, and family counseling. She has worked with a variety of issues, with special interest in depression and anxiety, self-esteem and empowerment, adult ADHD/ADD, and parenting issues. She has also counseled families in crisis, including such issues as separation, divorce, chronic health issues, and abuse.
Individuals seekind Christian counseling are supported in drawing strength and healing from their faith as they strive to make life choices which are consistent with their values.
Barb Jochum, MSW, LICSW
Barb is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker trained to work with individuals, couples and families. Barb has years of experience working with mental health issues in a variety of settings including: in-home therapy, foster care and a partial hospitalization program. Barb is a trained sexual assault and a domestic assault advocate and is a certified Family Group Decision Making Facilitator. Barb uses a solutions focused approach including Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills. Barb specializes in mood disorders (depression and bipolar), anxiety disorders, relational conflict, food and sex addictions, grief and loss, self-esteem and childhood trauma. For those interested, Barb offers the integration of a Christian perspective into the healing process.