Counseling Services

At Lakes Center for Youth & Families, we use a collaborative client-centered approach that’s designed to meet each client where they are at. Our offices provide an inviting comfortable environment and our therapists use creative strategies and evidence-based approaches to best serve our clients. We provide therapy to people of all ages, striving to equip people with the skills to heal traumas, manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve their overall quality of life.


Services We Offer

  • Individualized treatment for mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral concerns; addressing symptoms of depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, trauma/PTSD, grief and loss, addiction, attachment difficulties, family conflict and parenting.

  • We work with the whole family to provide skills, tools, and support as families learn to reduce conflict, enhance communication, understand generational family patterns, and build healthy boundaries.

  • Group therapy can be an ideal choice for addressing concerns and making positive changes. Groups are offered on site and in schools within the Forest Lake district. Group topics vary and include coping skills, connection building, and DBT.

  • Goals of couples therapy include strengthening connection, increasing intimacy, relationship discernment, co-parenting and uncoupling.

  • Lakes Center offers on-site counseling to students in Forest Lake Area Schools (District 831) to support social, emotional, behavioral and academic wellness.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an integrative therapeutic approach that has proven to be effective in reducing the long-lasting effects of PTSD, as well as in treating a wide range of other mental health symptoms.

Our Counselors

  • Rebecca Bowers, MA, LMFT

    Rebecca holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her clinical experience includes assessments and testing, inpatient, outpatient, and school-based settings. Rebecca utilizes relational evidence-based approaches, providing collaborative client-centered psychotherapy to adults, couples, adolescents, families, and groups. Therapeutic orientations adapt to the needs of each client, incorporating elements of Systems Theory, Psychodynamic Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness-based, and Somatic Experiencing. Specialized areas of interest and expertise include trauma and attachment, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, couples counseling, and relational concerns. Rebecca is certified in treating child and adolescent trauma and is EMDRIA trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Above all, Rebecca believes that a strong relationship and a sense of personal connection is the most important component to success in therapy.

  • Carrie Niles, MA, LPCC

    Carrie holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She has experience working with individuals of all ages, couples, and families in outpatient therapy settings, as well as in private practice, and chemical health treatment. Her work is grounded in strong, respectful, and collaborative relationships with clients and families that build on patient’s strengths and supports overall growth, personal, and relational development. Areas of clinical interest include trauma and attachment in children and adults, as well as symptoms related to depression, anxiety, grief and loss, addiction, relational conflict, school issues, and life transitions. Carrie is EMDRIA trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based modality for treating a variety of symptoms, including trauma.

  • Jenny Valkoz, MSW, LICSW, LADC

    Jenny holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She provides therapy for individuals, families, and groups, working with people aged 5 and up to address topics such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and life changes in both school-based and outpatient settings. Jenny also has experience in substance use counseling and chemical health assessments.

    She helps individuals reach their goals by building on their strengths, using approaches like mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and somatic techniques, tailored to each person's needs. When working with children, Jenny uses art and play therapy techniques to allow them express and process their emotions. She enjoys partnering with parents and caregivers to support the child’s therapy journey.

    Jenny is also trained in Brainspotting therapy for children and adults, a powerful brain-body based approach for treating trauma and other symptoms.

  • Christa Lachell, MA

    Christa holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is working toward her licensure in Professional Clinical Counseling.

    Christa has experience working with individuals, families, mothers in crisis, youth in foster/adoptive homes, emotional and behavioral issues, psychotherapy groups for adolescents, and individuals experiencing anxiety depression and trauma. She has previously worked in the inner city school system addressing emotional and behavioral disorders.

    With sensitivity and compassion, Christa draws from a variety of evidence-based research using integrative approaches such as narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, internal family systems, and trauma informed care. She adapts her approach appropriately for young children by using play and narrative interventions. A supportive and safe therapeutic relationship is of utmost importance to her work. She brings warmth and security to counseling even when attending to difficult parts of client stories.

    Additionally, Christa is looking forward to beginning the process for EMDR certification and training for brain spotting.

Insurance Options

Lakes Center for Youth & Families accepts most commercial and all state-based insurance plans, including:

  • HealthPartners

  • BlueCross BlueShield

  • UCARE

  • Cigna

  • Medical Assistance (MA/MHCP)

  • Aetna

  • Medica

  • United Health Care (UHC)

  • UMR

  • United Behavioral Health

  • Optum

  • Preferred One

  • EAP

If you have an insurance type that is not mentioned, we may still be able to provide services that are covered by your insurance. For more information, contact your member services number on the back of your insurance card to see if your benefits cover our services. We also offer private pay and sliding fee services. Please contact us to see how we can help at 651-464-3685 or fill out our contact form.