Gretchen Fernelius, MA, LADC

A cancer diagnosis in her early 30s helped Gretchen embrace her resilience and encouraged her to make changes that gave her greater sense of purpose and meaning in life. She partners with individuals and families navigating life transitions or experiencing grief and loss, health issues, anxiety, depression, career concerns, or relational issues. She believes the mind, body, spirit connection can be a catalyst for healing, enhancing personal strengths, and identifying areas of post-traumatic growth. Gretchen is also a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) who has experience working in intensive outpatient settings and specializes in co-occurring disorders as she recognizes that mental health concerns are often intertwined with substance use and that achieving lasting change requires addressing both issues simultaneously. 

Gretchen received her Masters of Professional Studies in Integrated Behavioral Health from the University of Minnesota. Prior to transitioning her career to clinical counseling, Gretchen was a communications and change management professional who helped organizations navigate periods of change, crisis, and growth.

Gretchen is committed to creating an accepting, safe, nonjudgmental therapeutic environment where clients feel comfortable being their unique selves. She also believes in being attuned to sociocultural influences that shape a client’s lived experience. She uses person-centered and trauma-informed therapeutic approaches to help clients address their challenges, emphasize their strengths, and find new solutions for solving problems. Through warmth, curiosity, humor, and authenticity, Gretchen helps clients make meaningful changes in their lives. 

In her free time, Gretchen enjoys traveling, taking her dog Caesar on nature adventures, writing, and spending time with family and friends.

Gretchen is currently working under the licensed supervision of Megan O’Brien, LICSW while she pursues her LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) in the state of Minnesota.