Fred Toenniges, MA, LPCC, CAC
Location: Coon Rapids
Specialties: Trauma, Grief, Parenting, Shame (the feeling of not being good enough), EMDR and ART. In addition: Anxiety, Borderline Personality, Coping Skills, Depression, Self Esteem, Self-Harming, PTSD, and Suicide Grief Recovery.
Client Focus: Teens, Individual, Family, Couples
Treatment Approach: An integrative approach that employs a combination of methods. This approach enables him to cater to the unique needs of each client. Fred emphasizes the importance of adopting a curious rather than judgmental approach during sessions. Sessions will identify the individual, family, or couple involved, assess their current situation, and develop a customized approach that fosters a professional yet approachable relationship with each client and family.
Availability: Currently accepting new clients
Email: Fred@conscioushealingcounseling.com
Fred is also a group facilitator at The Justin Center.
Education: Bethel University - 2012 Graduate
Certification:
Child Adolescent Certificate
EMDR Certified Therapist
ART (Accelerated Reprocessing Therapy) Registered
ABFT (Attachment Based Family Therapy) Certified
TFCBT (Trauma Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
“Finding the courage to ask for help to change is one of the most difficult things humans can do for themselves. Being the person chosen to help make that change happen is a gift requiring quiet respect and ensuring safe passage.”
Fred Toenniges is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, holds a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Bethel University and has obtained his Child Adolescent Certificate (CAC). After seven years of volunteer work at Tree House for Youth in New Hope, Fred dedicated himself to pursuing his long-term career goal of becoming a therapist. With over two decades of experience in the field, Fred specializes in family psychology and provides counseling services to youth, couples, and individuals. His expertise encompasses anxiety, depression, trauma, blended families, and marital/premarital therapy.
Fred believes in creating a safe and supportive space where people can grow. He employs various evidence-based methods, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Poly-Vagal Theory, Attachment Based Family Systems Therapy (ABFT), Accelerated Reprocessing Therapy (ART), and other Trauma-Focused therapy models.
Fred is really dedicated to helping people live happy lives, free from self-imposed expectations. He believes that shame and guilt shouldn’t control us. Instead, he thinks we’re naturally lovable, capable, and valuable. Fred thinks figuring out Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) is a key step in changing how we see things and starting to heal from our past hurts. He likes Carl Jung’s statement, “I am not what has happened to me; I am what I choose to become,” because it’s a great way to grow and focus on what we can change, instead of getting stuck on the past.
Favorite Joke: “How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?...Just one...but the light bulb has to really want to change”.