Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy.
Hi Mandy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Mindful Wellbeing began long before the practice opened its doors. My work in mental health has always been shaped by the belief that meaningful healing is possible after difficult experiences. I learned this deeply during my own experience supporting new parents navigating the NICU. I remember thinking, “We cannot simply send parents home with ‘good luck processing your trauma.’” That realization has shaped the way I show up for clients every day.
I found a natural alignment with the perinatal population because I was walking that path myself. That connection still informs my work and fuels my passion for integrating spiritual and holistic elements like yoga, reflective practices, shadow work, and honoring the internal shifts that come with life transitions.
Mindful Wellbeing started with just me seeing clients in a small sublet space in Anoka. It was right on the river and I miss the magic and charm of the ‘Old Milk Factory’! Over time, I realized how much I missed collaborating with colleagues and offering clients the richness of multiple perspectives. I also wanted more control over shaping my work, which meant stepping into a completely new world: billing, credentialing, contracts, finding a larger space (and then furnishing and decorating offices and shared spaces within it). It was intimidating, but also incredibly rewarding. Building the practice has allowed me to diversify my work, including speaking engagements, developing curriculum, and leaning into my bright spots that marry my professional and personal interests including yoga, spirituality, and incorporating more creativity and art into my days.
We moved into our Coon Rapids space in 2021 and expanded into the suite next door in 2022. Our yoga room has become the heart of the practice – hosting yoga, groups, workshops, and gatherings that help clients connect with themselves and each other. We also prioritize supporting our broader community through food drives, donations, and wellness events that reflect our belief in holistic wellbeing.
At the center of everything is my desire to move through the world with integrity and authenticity. I lead with my heart and encourage both clients and team members to prioritize their own wellbeing alongside the people they love. Healing is not about achieving perfect balance. It is about finding your rhythm, honoring your needs, and letting your story unfold in its own way. I’m certainly not perfect at it, but I get up each day trying my best to show up in alignment with my values.
Mindful Wellbeing continues to grow in ways that reflect my vision for a group practice. Each day, I am reminded that being part of someone’s journey toward wholeness is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
That’s not to say all of this has been sunshine and rainbows. I’ve been on an embodied grief journey since I lost my best friend to alcoholism in 2022. His death rocked me and the community connected to him in demonstrative ways. It set me on my own path to recommit to my health and mental wellbeing and set the stage for me to forge ahead with my new diagnosis of ADHD a few months prior as well as renewing my desire to continue to heal my trauma through a holistic lens. I began to incorporate more spiritual endeavors into my personal healing work, finding time to connect with Spirit at the Mississippi River, connecting to ancestral energy and wisdom through song and meditation, adding in massage and other somatic practices to truly let my body release stored trauma and grief, and using tarot and oracle cards to promote additional insights and reflections. As I gained confidence into these modalities, I began to integrate some of these aspects into my work with clients as well.
Along the way, I’ve continued to grow and expand my professional work. One accomplishment over the last year has been pursuing EMDRIA trainer status. This allows me to train other clinicians in trauma-informed care through teaching how to provide EMDR therapy to our clients, sharing the tools that have been so meaningful in my own work with clients. This newest endeavor is a parallel process to Mindful Wellbeing’s growth, demonstrating how we can multiply impact when we give ourselves time to heal, time to rest, time to innovate and time to honor our highest selves and those whom we wish to remain in connection with. The intersectionality of this latest endeavor demonstrates the larger imprint I wish to leave on this earth: one of supporting healing, resilience, and growth on a larger scale.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has been rewarding, but it has not been smooth. Starting and growing a group practice meant stepping into a lot I had never done before. Billing, credentialing, securing contracts, and furnishing multiple offices were all STEEP learning curves. Figuring out the nuances of insurance credentialing, contracting, and billing were not covered in my coursework pursuing my therapy degree, but somehow I got through it.
Beyond the logistics, letting go of the security of working solo and trusting others to share the work while maintaining quality care was intimidating. There were moments of doubt, uncertainty, and yes, even impatience with myself as I worked to strengthen skills that were new or foreign to me. Moreover, I have not been immune to big and little instances of trauma triggers from my past creating roadblocks that interfere with my capacity and ability to show up for my clients and my team. Those moments reminded me that growth is rarely linear and that learning to hold space for my own challenges allows me to do the same for others. While humbling, it is important for each of us no matter our role in society to ensure we treat ourselves as humans first, any other roles secondary to that. This often means dolloping on more and more grace for ourselves to combat layers of shame and social programming that tell us we aren’t worthy of rest, of love, of connection.
The challenges also opened space for creativity and expansion. I have been able to lean into speaking engagements, curriculum development, and integrating yoga and holistic practices into therapy. Each obstacle reinforced why I built this practice: to create a space where clients, colleagues, and the community can heal, connect, and thrive. Even the hard moments have been and continue to be deeply meaningful. Building Mindful Wellbeing from the ground up has been a mix of learning, growth, and joy. There are days I still feel like I’m winging it, but those moments are part of the process and shape the practice into a place that truly reflects our values and vision.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Mindful Wellbeing, we believe healing happens when the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) is supported. Our practice was born from a desire to provide meaningful care after complex experiences, especially for parents navigating the perinatal period or other deeply transformative (and disruptive!) life transitions. Every aspect of our work is rooted in the understanding that trauma, life transitions, and identity shifts affect people on multiple levels, and that true healing happens when those layers are honored.
We specialize in perinatal mental health, trauma-conscious care, and holistic approaches that integrate mindfulness, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), yoga, and reflective practices. Beyond one-on-one therapy, we offer workshops, group experiences, and yoga classes, all designed to help clients connect with themselves and their community in ways that feel authentic and supportive.
What sets us apart is the combination of clinical expertise with lived experience and personal connection. We are a team of therapists who lead with our hearts, encourage each other, and show up fully for our clients. I am particularly proud of our Coon Rapids space, which includes a light-filled yoga room where clients and clinicians alike can practice, reflect, and grow. We consistently get feedback that our space is “chill”, “warm”, and “welcoming”.
Mindful Wellbeing is more than a practice; it is a space to slow down, explore, and find your rhythm. We want readers to know that anyone seeking support, whether for trauma, life transitions, or self-discovery, will be met with compassion, integrity, and guidance every step of the way.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned is the value of being fully human and authentically present in both life and work. Growth and healing are not linear, and the moments that challenge us the most often teach us the most. I have learned to move forward with gentle integrity, honoring my own needs while supporting others, without feeling the pressure to prioritize service over self.
The most vivid example of this came when I experienced the death of my best friend. I had the privilege of support from my team, which allowed me to take time away to fully process grief. This included additional therapy, space for reflection, and permission to turn my attention completely to my own healing journey. That experience reinforced the importance of creating environments (both for myself and for clients) where vulnerability is respected, self-care is honored, and personal growth is supported.
This lesson shapes how I run Mindful Wellbeing and how I show up for clients. It is a reminder that compassion begins with ourselves, that authenticity is the foundation for meaningful work, and that honoring our own journeys allows us to be fully present for the journeys of others.
Pricing:
- Information about our pricing including using insurance can be found on our website: https://www.mindfulwellbeingmn.com/therapy-insurance
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindfulwellbeingmn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulwellbeingmn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulwellbeingmn
- Other: https://www.emdrtherapytraining.com/
