Meet the team
We believe the foundation of effective therapy lies in the strength of the therapeutic relationship.
Our team of dedicated professionals is not just highly qualified in their fields; they're passionate about making a difference in the lives of those they work with. Get to know the people behind our practice.
Therapy
Our therapists
Our team offers specialized care for OCD, anxiety, and related concerns, including ERP, somatic therapy, and other approaches. The tags show just a few areas of focus—not everything each clinician treats. Use the filters above to explore the team’s broader experience.
Ciara James Baumann
PhD, LP · she/her
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Children (8+), adolescents, and adults
- Meets
- In office, telehealth, out of office, in home
Also treatsAnxiety and panic, Specific phobias, Hair pulling and skin picking, Relationship OCD, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Panic disorder, Agoraphobia, Emetophobia, Hoarding disorder, Body dysmorphic disorder, Perfectionism, Identity and life transitions, Parent coaching and SPACE.
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Dr. Ciara Baumann provides therapy for children, teens, and adults experiencing anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Her goal is to apply the extensive training she has received in evidence-based treatments to each individual client, tailoring treatment to fit that person's specific needs.
Over the last ten years, Ciara has worked with children and teens experiencing anxiety and OCD at every level of care: outpatient therapy, group therapies, camp programs, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs, and inpatient programs. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Rhode Island in 2022, completed her predoctoral internship at Nationwide Hospital in Columbus, and her postdoctoral fellowship at Children's Hospital Colorado, where she co-led the Child Anxiety Intensive Outpatient Program.
Ciara is passionate about this work, having seen real change for young people who learn evidence-based skills. In her personal time she enjoys reading, drinking tea, and spending time with her family.
Licensed in MN and CO. Member of PSYPACT.
Halen Bower
MA · she/her
Works with children with OCD using ERP, offers parent coaching, and supports adults through somatic and yoga-informed therapy and nervous system regulation skills.
Selected areas of focus
- Supports
- Children (OCD); parents and caregivers (coaching); adults (somatic therapy, yoga-informed care, and nervous system regulation)
- Meets
- In office, telehealth
ApproachesExposure and response prevention (ERP) for children with OCD; parent coaching for caregivers navigating OCD and anxiety; somatic therapy, yoga-informed practices, nervous system regulation skills, mindfulness, and body awareness for adults. Adults can also schedule focused sessions with Halen to learn and practice these skills alongside their ongoing therapy.
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Halen works with children who are navigating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). She uses exposure and response prevention (ERP) and a collaborative approach to help young people practice facing fears and responding differently to OCD. She also offers parent coaching to help caregivers support their children through OCD and anxiety.
With adults, Halen focuses on somatic therapy, yoga-informed approaches, and nervous system regulation. She incorporates mindfulness, movement, and body awareness to help clients notice how stress shows up in their bodies and build practical tools for responding to it. Adults can schedule sessions specifically to learn and practice these regulation skills in conjunction with their ongoing therapy. She brings warmth, curiosity, and room for humor to the process.
Halen earned her master's degree in Counseling and Psychology at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and is working under supervision toward licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She has taught yoga for 17 years, experience that informs her work with nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and body awareness.
In her free time, Halen enjoys cooking, traveling, yoga, and being out in nature, along with time with friends, family, and her little dog, Peaches.
Kaitlyn Conner
MS · she/her
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Children (8+), adolescents, and adults
- Meets
- In office, telehealth, out of office
Also treatsAnxiety and panic, Specific phobias, Hair pulling and skin picking, Autism, ADHD and neurodivergence, Relationship OCD, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Agoraphobia, Emetophobia, Perfectionism, Identity and life transitions.
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Kaitlyn completed her master's degree in 2022 and is working under supervision to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She is also pursuing her doctorate in psychology at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Her focus is on helping clients not only manage symptoms but reconnect with hope and meaning.
She draws from acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exposure and response prevention. Her style is warm, collaborative, and down to earth. She believes therapy works best when you feel truly seen, supported, and less alone in what you're going through.
Kaitlyn practices from an affirming and inclusive lens, welcoming clients of all racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Outside the therapy room she tends to her many houseplants, listens to podcasts, and cuddles her cat.
Ariel DeBardelaben
MA · they/them
Works with OCD and anxiety, including harm, “just right,” and contamination OCD.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Teens (16+) and adults
- Meets
- In office and telehealth; eating disorder sessions in office only
Also supportsContinued support following eating disorder treatment; difficult relationships and relational patterns.
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Ariel is a current PsyD student and pre-licensed master's-level therapist. They provide therapy for teens ages 16 and older and adults experiencing anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or difficulties in relationships. They also support people who have completed eating disorder treatment and would benefit from continued care. Their preferred OCD themes include harm, “just right,” and contamination.
Ariel is trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy for people who would like to explore their inner world, early attachment relationships, and relational patterns.
Throughout their training, Ariel has focused on working within the queer community. They integrate Queer Liberation Theory into their practice and are passionate about honoring our collective and individual experiences of becoming who we are within our current context, while also looking ahead to what we could be. Ariel values the freedom this work can bring.
In their personal time, Ariel enjoys spending time with friends, borrowing books from Quatrefoil Library, and going to the movies.
Shannon Halen
MA · she/her
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP, with a focus on perfectionism. She is also currently training in RO-DBT.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Children (8+), adolescents, and adults
- Meets
- In office, telehealth, out of office, in home
Also treatsAnxiety and panic, Specific phobias, Hair pulling and skin picking, Relationship OCD, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Panic disorder, Agoraphobia, Emetophobia, Perfectionism.
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Shannon works with children, teens, and adults experiencing OCD, anxiety, panic, and related concerns. She enjoys helping people who feel stuck in cycles of intrusive thoughts, overthinking, avoidance, and perfectionism. She also supports clients navigating relationship OCD, health anxiety, and social anxiety.
Her approach is warm, collaborative, and practical, with plenty of room for humor. Shannon draws from exposure and response prevention (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and person-centered approaches. Her goal is to help clients feel more confident facing uncertainty, spend less time caught up in anxiety, and make more room for the things that matter to them.
Shannon is currently completing training in Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), an approach focused on patterns of excessive self-control, including rigidity, perfectionism, and difficulty connecting with others.
Shannon earned her BA in psychology with a minor in Spanish in 2023 and her MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in 2025. She practices under clinical supervision.
Outside of session, Shannon enjoys running and walking, exploring new coffee shops, crocheting, and spending time with her dogs.
Heidi Lohman
MEd, LPC · she/her
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Adolescents (13+) and adults
- Meets
- In office or virtual Mon–Wed; virtual only Thu–Fri
Also treatsAnxiety and panic, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Hair pulling and skin picking, Identity and life transitions.
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Heidi is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 15 years of experience supporting adolescents and young adults, including extensive work in school mental health settings. She works from a trauma-informed and relational lens, emphasizing the mind-body connection and collaborative care.
She earned her BS from the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin and her master's in education with a concentration in school counseling from Lewis & Clark College. She is working under supervision toward licensure as an LPCC. Heidi integrates CBT, ERP, I-CBT, solution-focused therapy, and narrative therapy on a humanistic foundation, and offers parent coaching through the SPACE model.
She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Washburn Center for Children, focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in mental health services. Outside the office she is usually outdoors with her wife and daughter, hiking, camping, creating, and gardening.
Marie Monson
MA, LPCC · she/her
RO DBT program leader
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Ages 16+ and adults
- Meets
- In office, telehealth, out of office
Also treatsAnxiety and panic, Social anxiety, Hair pulling and skin picking, Depression, Body dysmorphic disorder, Radically Open DBT.
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Marie completed her master's degree in Counseling and Psychology at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. She emphasizes self-compassion and non-judgmental awareness, and has training in both standard DBT and Radically Open DBT, which is her passion. At OCDMN she helped implement an RO DBT class, which became just the third of its kind in the state.
Before pursuing her master's, Marie worked as a freelance journalist and as a paralegal in plaintiff law, advocating for people who were hurting physically and mentally. She has also volunteered with Crisis Text Line supporting those in high distress.
Marie loves to travel and explore the outdoors. On weekends you can find her hiking or sitting in the grass reading while her cat Mango explores the backyard. In the winter, she is re-watching Gilmore Girls.
Hannah Ose
LGSW, MSW, CTRS · she/her
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Adults
- Meets
- In office, telehealth, out of office
Also treatsOCD, Anxiety and panic, Specific phobias, Autism, ADHD and neurodivergence, Relationship OCD, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Agoraphobia, Emetophobia, Hoarding disorder, Perfectionism, Depression.
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Hannah earned her MSW with a focus in clinical trauma-informed care from Winona State University.
As a Recreation Therapist, Hannah has used her love of leisure to help clients of all ages reach their goals. She strives to connect authentically with the people she serves and support them in building acceptance and confidence.
Hannah has lived experience with OCD and anxiety, and is driven to provide evidence-based, trauma-informed care that supports clients in their healing. In her free time she loves being in nature, singing, traveling, dancing, and anything creative.
Javier Osuna Siles
MA · he/him
Habla español
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Adults
- Meets
- In office and telehealth
Also treatsAnxiety and panic, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Panic disorder, Agoraphobia, Specific phobias, Body dysmorphic disorder, Depression, Perfectionism.
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Javier obtained his master's degree in General Health Psychology from the International University of Valencia, Spain, in 2020, and has attended numerous conventions and specialization courses since.
He has extensive experience treating OCD and related disorders using cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and exposure with response prevention. In his work he prioritizes building a connection, understanding and supporting the client.
He is passionate about everything related to psychology, especially improving people's quality of life. In his free time, Javier plays sports of all kinds, hikes and camps, and loves traveling to experience new cultures.
Haley Petersen
MA · she/her
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Adolescents and adults
- Meets
- In office, telehealth, out of office, in home
Also treatsAnxiety and panic, Specific phobias, Trauma and PTSD, Relationship OCD, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Emetophobia, Hoarding disorder, Body dysmorphic disorder, Perfectionism, Depression, Identity and life transitions.
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Haley completed her MA in Counseling and Psychological Services at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in 2024 and her BA in English Literature at Macalester College in 2019. She is working under supervision to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.
She has dedicated several years to specialized training and clinical experience in exposure and response prevention for OCD and related disorders, and is trained in CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based interventions. Haley values bringing humor, creativity, and authenticity into sessions, and works to create a space where clients feel safe, supported, and understood.
In her personal time, Haley enjoys reading, writing, baking, and being outdoors.
Natalie Mlsna
Clinical Intern · she/her
- Treats
- Adults
Focuses on OCD and anxiety.
Selected areas of focus
Also treatsAnxiety, health anxiety, contamination OCD, just-right and symmetry OCD, taboo intrusive thoughts, and OCD with co-occurring ADHD or neurodivergence.
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Natalie is a clinical intern pursuing her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adler Graduate School and working under the supervision of Erin Venker, MA, LPCC.
She is especially passionate about working with OCD and anxiety and helping clients build practical skills for navigating intrusive thoughts, uncertainty, and difficult emotions. Her particular interests include contamination OCD, harm OCD, health and somatic OCD, just-right and symmetry concerns, and mental compulsions. She is also interested in working with taboo intrusive thoughts, including pedophilia-themed OCD (POCD), and welcomes clients across the OCD spectrum.
Natalie takes a warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental approach to therapy. She wants clients to feel comfortable showing up as themselves while building confidence in facing difficult thoughts and feelings and making choices that align with their values and goals.
She also has a growing interest in the intersection of OCD and ADHD and is passionate about helping neurodivergent clients better understand their experiences and get support that fits how their brains work.
Before entering the mental health field, Natalie earned undergraduate degrees in accounting and human resources from the University of Minnesota and worked in corporate accounting. While she valued the skills and experience she gained, she realized she wanted a career that allowed her to connect more directly with and support people, which led her to counseling.
Outside the clinic, Natalie enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, staying active, and a good board game.
Email Natalie to ask about services and availability.
natalie.mlsna@ocdmn.comErin Venker
MA, LPCC · she/her
Founder and clinical director
Treats OCD, anxiety and panic with ERP.
Selected areas of focus
- Treats
- Children, adolescents, and adults
- Meets
- In office, out of office, in home, telehealth
Also treatsSpecific phobias, Social anxiety, Panic disorder.
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Erin earned her master's degree in Professional Clinical Counseling from St. Thomas University in 2017 and her BA in Studio Art from Saint Olaf College in 2010.
She has received extensive training in exposure and response prevention therapy from multiple well-known experts in the field, and has several years of experience treating OCD and related disorders. Having OCD herself, Erin has a unique ability to connect with her clients. She uses creativity and an open sense of humor while providing highly collaborative, evidence-based treatment focused on each client's own goals.
Outside the clinic, Erin loves unleashing her creativity through art, cozying up with her lovable dogs and mischievous cat, and indulging in British TV marathons.
No one matches every filter
That usually means the combination is narrow, not that we can't help. Loosen a filter, or tell us what's going on and we'll match you ourselves.
Tell us what you need
Assessment
Psychological assessment
Testing for autism, ADHD, and OCD. Assessment is booked separately from therapy — reach out by email to get started.
Dr. Melissa Treff
Licensed psychologist · she/her
Assessment team
Assessment areas include
- Provides
- Autism, ADHD, and OCD assessments for ages 6 and up
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Through personalized psychological assessments, Melissa aims to provide clear insights that are both practical and meaningful. With years of experience, she takes a compassionate, client-centered approach.
Together you'll explore emotional health, cognitive strengths, and overall mental state, whether you're looking for guidance on personal growth, workplace dynamics, or recommendations for better performance at school.
Melissa schedules assessments by email. Reach out to get started:
melissa.treff@ocdmn.com
Operations and outreach
Support staff
Our values in practice
What our clinicians hold in common, whichever one of them you end up working with.
Compassion + understanding
Every interaction is grounded in empathy and a deep understanding of the challenges you face.
Commitment to excellence
Continuous learning and adherence to evidence-based practices ensure you receive the best care.
Diversity + inclusion
We celebrate and respect the diverse backgrounds and identities of both our clients and our team.
Collaboration
Healing is a partnership, and we're here to support you every step of the way.
Not sure who would be the best fit?
Tell us a little about what you’re looking for and we’ll help connect you with the right clinician. Recognizing OCD in yourself or someone you love is the first step toward healing.
Find the right therapist