Kris Koestner, LICSW

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Kris's 21 years of experience as a therapist took root because she engaged in her own individual therapy process and realized that this thing called therapy really did work! At the time she was a secondary English teacher and a volunteer advocate for the Women's Resource Center in Watertown, South Dakota, a center she helped to create. Through her commitment to women's issues and a desire to integrate more of her passions into her work life, she entered the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota, graduating with her MSW in 1990.

Upon graduating she joined Lakewood Counseling and Career Center and started her own successful private practice, with an emphasis on women's issues. Over the years her practice has expanded to include working with both men and women, including couples's counseling. Her specialties include trauma and dissocciation, anxiety, depression, spirituality, self-esteem, and attachment issues. She is trained as a Level II EMDR therapist. EMDR is a therapeutic tool used to help clients metabolize trauma and resolve past abuse issues in a more effective and efficient way than traditional talk therapy alone. In addition, EMDR can be used for strengthening the internal resources of clients in such situations as passing medical boards and exams, performance anxiety, job interviews, etc. One of the reasons EMDR is so helpful is that it works with the whole body experience, not only thoughts and feelings, but also physical sensations and body memories.

Kris works out of a relational model of therapy that focuses on a client's strengths and creates a collaborative approach to helping people achieve greater life satisfaction. "Being a therapist is privileged work and I feel honored to walk with people on their life journey," Kris says.

From the beginning of her therapy practice she has wanted to somehow integrate talk therapy with body work. Being at Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center is an answer to that lifelong dream of continued integraton between body, mind, and spirit. Kris will be available for appointments at Green Lotus starting Thursdays in September 2011.

Kris has lived in Lakeville since 1992. She and her husband are the parents of two adult children: a daughter and son, both of whom are married and live in the area, and the grandparents of two precious and rambunctious grandsons.

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