I have a passion for helping people on their journey because of how I have personally experienced Jesus using my own brokenness to free and heal me. I love coming alongside of people stuck in shame and guilt and helping them to see what grace, forgiveness and healing can look like in their life. My primary goal is to point people to Jesus, the only source of healing, and to help them see what may get in the way of union with Him, such as attachment to performance and perfectionism, faulty thinking patterns, or unresolved pain from the past that contribute to unhealthy relationships with self, others and God. I have seen many people confront hard issues in their life when given grace and compassion, moving on to experience true inner freedom and healing. 

No matter why you are seeking therapy at this time, I believe that the concerns and struggles you are having make sense in the context of your lived experiences. Many people feel anxious, overwhelmed and unhappy and believe that they shouldn't have these responses to their lives. Often these feelings make complete sense. Being hard on yourself isn't helpful because you are undermining the very strength that is needed for change. But when you learn to challenge your behavior and motivations from a strong place inside of you, that is where change happens. In working with my clients I utilize Relational Therapy, Attachment Theory and Object Relations Theory. The core of these theories point to the belief that you are fundamentally wired for relationship and intimacy, that you have been profoundly influenced by your primary relationships and that you have competing drives to connect and become a distinct, solid individual.

Marna's areas of interest are codependency, grief, depression, anger, anxiety, communication skills, relationship issues, and sexual abuse recovery. She works with individuals, couples, and groups who are eighteen years old or older. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of North Dakota, Master of Education from the University of North Dakota, Bachelor degree in Education and Music from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. Marna has 21+ years of experience.