Former Interns Present at International Conference

Three of Canvas Health’s former Doctoral Interns, Noreen Raja, Psy.D., Natalia Witkowska, Psy.D., and Bria Haynes, Psy.D., collaborated on a poster session for the International Neuropsychological Society (INS) 2025 Conference.

Their poster and presentation, titled “Cultural Perspectives on Treatment Approach and Outcomes in a South Asian Patient with Significant Cognitive Decline: A Case Study,” offered valuable insights into this important topic. Noreen and Bria, pictured here, presented their work at the INS 2025 event in New Orleans.

The INS is dedicated to promoting the international and interdisciplinary study of brain-behavior relationships throughout the lifespan.

We are incredibly proud of our Doctoral Internship Program for fostering remarkable knowledge and relationships!

Learn more about Canvas Health‘s internship programs here.

Former Interns Present at International Conference

We are proud to announce a group designed specifically for individuals ages 18-25 who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community. This 16-week program will take place every Friday from 1:30-3:00 p.m. in our Bloomington clinic as well as in a hybrid format.

The group offers a safe and supportive environment for young adults to come together and learn valuable skills for navigating their transition into adulthood.

Sessions will focus on a variety of important areas, including: DBT skill education, substance use disorder education, communication, social skills, time management, relationships, self-care, and career exploration.

This group strives to create a supportive community where everyone can thrive and grow.

For more information or to sign up, please contact us at (651) 251-5020 or adt@canvashealth.org.

Transitions LGBTQIA+ Group Offered at our Bloomington Clinic

We are excited to reveal the new mural in our Oakdale clinic PCIT room. The mural was funded by our generous donors, including the Janice Gardner Foundation.

PCIT, or Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, is an evidence-based treatment for young children (ages 0-6) with behavioral and emotional difficulties. It focuses on enhancing the parent-child relationship and modifying interaction patterns.

Learn more about our Early Childhood Clinical Services here.

New PCIT Mural Delights Our Youngest Clients

Canvas Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Karr to its Board of Directors. Steve brings over 30 years of experience in field sales and marketing to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the upper Midwest, along with a strong commitment to community service and support.

Steve is currently the President and co-owner of ArKco Sales, a second-generation electro-mechanical manufacturer representatives firm founded in 1977 and headquartered in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. Since 2016, he has been leading the company, overseeing all critical functions, managing key accounts, and guiding a team of 8 employees. Under his leadership, ArKco Sales represents over 20 global and domestic manufacturer lines.

Steve holds a BA in Management from St. John’s University and earned his MBA and MIM (Master’s in International Management) from the University of St. Thomas. His professional journey is marked by a dedication to lifelong learning, networking, and fostering growth through resiliency, change management, innovation, empathy, hard work, and faith.

A longtime supporter of Canvas Health, Steve has actively participated in annual fundraising events and is now excited to contribute at the board level. He looks forward to leveraging his experience and resources to help Canvas Health continue providing best-in-class critical services and resources to those in need.

Steve resides in Stillwater with his wife Dana. Together, they have raised three children, now thriving young adults. In his leisure time, Steve enjoys reading, hunting, fishing, ice hockey, golf, skiing, and traveling with family and friends.

“Having witnessed Steve’s dedication and impact through his involvement with Canvas Health in recent years, we are thrilled to welcome him to the Canvas Health Board of Directors. We look forward to the valuable insights and leadership he will bring to our mission,” said Dr. Khu Thao, Canvas Health CEO.

Steve Karr Joins Canvas Health Board of Directors

Canvas Health is delighted to announce the appointment of Jeff Uecker to its Board of Directors. Jeff brings over 25 years of non-profit experience, along with a deep commitment to community service and support.

Jeff is currently the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Goodwill Easter Seals Minnesota, a local non-profit organization that has been connecting people to jobs since 1919. The organization uses store proceeds to support nearly 20 free programs that help job seekers achieve higher levels of employment and reach their life goals. Jeff’s extensive experience includes previous roles at the Center for Victims of Torture and the National Marrow Donor Program.

Jeff holds a BS in Accounting from Minnesota State University at Mankato and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. His professional journey exemplifies a dedication to financial stewardship, strategic planning, and fostering growth within non-profit organizations.

Jeff and his wife Laura reside in Ramsey, MN, and have two adult children.

“We are excited to welcome Jeff to the Canvas Health Board of Directors. His extensive experience and dedication to community service will be invaluable as we continue to expand our mission of providing critical mental health, substance use, and crisis services,” said Dr. Khu Thao, Canvas Health CEO.

Jeff Uecker Joins Canvas Health Board of Directors

Canvas Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Ty Baker to its Board of Directors. Baker brings a wealth of experience and a passion for developing leaders and coaching them to maximize their potential.

Ty currently serves as a Senior Learning and Development Consultant with Hennepin County and is the Principal of the Ty Baker Series Consulting organization.

Ty holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Glassboro State/Rowan University and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul. His commitment to lifelong learning is evident through his numerous certifications, including the “Leading Teams” certificate from the University of Michigan, a certification from the University of Minnesota Train the Trainer Program, and a certificate in Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence from Case Western Reserve University.

In addition to his academic achievements, Ty is a graduate and Top Five Award Winner in Dale Carnegie’s Sales Advantage Course and was one of the few African Americans to graduate from the Prudential Management Intern Program.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ty Baker to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. Khu Thao, Canvas Health CEO. “His dedication to leadership development and impressive background will be invaluable as we continue to grow and serve our community.”

Canvas Health Welcomes Ty Baker to its Board of Directors

In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Anna Marie Montague, Dr. Rori Johnson, and Sandra Woolsey who have dedicated 10 years of their careers to making a difference in our community.

Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission!

Celebrating 10 Years with Canvas Health

Dr. Rori Johnson

Dr. Rori Johnson’s decade with Canvas Health started as she was going through a closure of Riverwood Behavioral Health Center, previously 5 County Mental Health. She cares so much about 5 county rural community that she brought her knowledge and expertise in outpatient, adult day treatment and mobile crisis services to Canvas Health. With Canvas Health, Dr. Rori Johnson has been continuing to work with 5 counties to coordinate 24/7/365 Mobile Crisis services. She has shared her knowledge with other mobile crisis supervisors and helped to establish Canvas Health as one of the few non-profits in the metro area running mobile crisis services. Ten years of being on-call 24/7/365, for someone who struggles to get back to sleep after being woken up, is quite a feat. Rori has worked with diligently with law enforcement and educational systems in rural communities who are slower to embrace mental health resources.

Her professionalism and knowledge of the region and commitment to clinical care and the community makes her stand out from others. Not only does Dr. Johnson provide quality clinical work with multiple approaches including EMDR, she also is always the first to take people off the waitlist just so they can be seen more quickly. Dr. Johnson has provided supervision to countless interns and trainees in psych services and through the programs she supervised. She has lead day treatment services in the North Branch area and is always excited to bring additional services like Substance Use to her community. We hear all the time that people just love to hear Dr. Johnson speak because she is so thoughtful and knowledgeable. When we talk about Excellence at Canvas Health, Rori is one of the key contributors to that value.

Anna Marie Montague

Anna Marie has been both a volunteer and an employee for Housing Services. Her knowledge of all the technical aspects of data reporting in Housing Services and HMIS is amazing. She is a valuable memberof the housing team and even though she works only a little her impact is huge.

Sandra Woolsey

Therapy is often described as an art, of course we know it’s a science too. The magic of therapy is in the middle, understanding the art and science and blending them together with clinical understanding in a way that helps clients get better. Sandy Woolsey has that “magic.” She is wise and understands science and theory and can explain it to others. She is able to support complex children and families and provide hope in a way that others cannot. She is magical. Sandy Woolsey began in the TAP school-based program working at the Bellaire Education Center in District 916 ten years ago. At the time it was a level 4 special education program for middle and high school students.

Over the 6 years Sandy worked at Bellaire it changed and morphed. Through it all she worked with a complex population of youth. Many whom had many therapy services in the past that were unsuccessful. When the population at the school became younger, Sandy learned new techniques and brought in her sand tray work to use with students. When presented with a complex client with dissociative identity disorder, Sandy joined a consultation group focused on the diagnosis. She partnered with school staff, psychiatry, and community providers to provide high quality wrap around care. Sandy worked with grace and caring and helped educators and families understand and support students.

Sandy became a supervisor in the school-based program before the Covid lockdown. The role of supervisor in the school-based program is complex. Not only is it important to understand clinical supervision (of which she is a pro) but also you must understand how to navigate relationships with school partners. Taking on this challenge during a global pandemic was a feat. Yet with Sandy’s determination and focus on providing the best clinical care to our clients, we have continued to grow our programs. She is the person on our team that challenges all of us to continue to learn and grow as clinicians, to understand the work and then to take it to the next level, to go deeper in an effort to help others. She is skilled at attachment work, parts work and EMDR. She is making all of us better and thus helping more clients, families, and schools then you can imagine. Thank you, Sandy, for your dedication to Canvas Health for these past 10 years and for sharing your magic with us all.

Congratulations, Anna Marie Montague, Dr. Rori Johnson, and Sandra Woolsey!

Staff Showcase: Celebrating 10 Years

“Creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for clients is my topmost priority. Allowing clients to freely express themselves regardless of their background is important in every healing process. My approach is a partnership that seeks to ensure that clients are seen and heard. I have a great commitment to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are given the necessary tools needed for their healing journeys.”

-Tessa Colestock, MSW, LGSW

Tessa Colestock, MSW, LGSW, serves adults through our Adult Day Treatment and Adult Group Therapy Programs

Mission Moment: Tessa Colestock

Safe at Home is a statewide address confidentiality program administered by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. It is designed to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or others who fear for their safety maintain a confidential address. It was established by Minnesota state law.

If you someone you know needs this type of assistance, the Abuse Response and Prevention Services (ARPS) crisis line is available 24/7 at (651) 777-1117. By calling, clients can speak with an advocate to determine if they meet the eligibility criteria and are a suitable candidate for the program. In cases where the client might qualify or has a unique situation, our staff members will reach out directly.

Important Note on Eligibility
Due to grant standards and funding, ARPS can only assist with applications if there is a sexual violence (SV) aspect involved. If there is no SV aspect, clients should be referred to Tubman, the domestic violence agency in the Washington County. Tubman’s 24/7 Crisis Line is (612) 825-0000.

Key points about the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Services administered by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State:

• Purpose: Designed to help individuals who fear for their safety maintain a confidential address
• Enrollment: Participants are assigned a PO Box address to use as their legal address
• Mail Forwarding: First Class Mail is forwarded to the participant’s Safe at Home address
• Duration: Enrollment lasts for four years, with the option to re-enroll

To be eligible for the Address Confidentiality Services, the following criteria must be met:

• The person must reside in Minnesota
• The person must fear for their personal safety, the safety of their child, or the safety of another person with whom they reside
• Individuals who are registered predatory offenders or required to register in any state are not eligible

For more information, visit: www.sos.state.mn.us/safe-at-home

Understanding Safe At Home Address Confidentiality Services

In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Amanda Cammack, Katherine Carlson, Beth Hopkins, Dr. Rori Johnson, Anna Marie Montague, Ben Rastegari, Jessica Torrey, Ben Widbin, Sandra Woolsey, and Der Yang who have dedicated 10 years of their careers to making a difference in our community.

Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission!

Celebrating 10 Years with Canvas Health

Amanda Cammack

Amanda Cammack is celebrating 10 years of children’s mental health case management work at Canvas Health. Join me in a heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Amanda for her dedication to the children and families in Washington County.

When Amanda came to our agency, she was wide-eyed and had an excitement and passion for working with kids that was common for new staff beginning work in the field. A decade later, Amanda continues her passionate work with clients. She has worked with nearly 100 children during her tenure with Canvas Health. Amanda has the natural ability to develop meaningful and connected relationships, promoting change and improved functioning through that connection and trust. She frequently goes beyond the requirements of her role, and we can always count on her to think outside the box to meet client needs and achieve goals. Amanda has been a dedicated advocate for her clients over the years, always focused on strengths and giving kids a voice when they need it.

Amanda has been committed to inclusivity and equity and has continually strived for integration of these values into everyday work and life. Her clinical skills and influence on the case management team are invaluable. We are so proud that she continues to approach her work with the same passion she had those first few weeks of work, ten years ago.

Katherine Carlson

In life there are few things you can depend on; Katherine Carlson has been one of those things for the school based program. Katherine has worked in District 916’s elementary school level 4 program for the past 10 years. This program has gone through several changes and tons of growth over the years. Through it all Katherine has been a consistent. Katherine is a skilled therapist working with some of the youngest and most complex students we work with in our program. Katherine has a steady, quiet calming presence that puts clients, their families, and schools at ease. She is non-judgmental and open to understanding each individual person’s story.

Katherine’s work with families has grown and developed over the past 10 years as well. Her acceptance of families where they are at has allowed her to develop wonderful relationships with caregivers even when others are not able to do so.  Many families allow Katherine to come and see them all summer in their home and through this work they develop a deep sense of trust with her. She is an expert at working with students on the autism spectrum and holds hope for them when many other skilled professionals struggle. She is patient and willing to put in the time that it takes to help these complex students build trust with her and process difficulties they are experiencing.

Katherine is creative and has found tons of tools to engage even the most skeptical young person. Her creativity showed itself during the Covid lockdown when she was able to engage these students and their families on telehealth successfully. Katherine is collaborative and works well with social workers and teachers. She partners with other Canvas Health staff and providers in the community. Her work has spread the good name of Canvas Health far and wide!

Katherine is constantly seeking to grow professionally, she has adoption competency, she is TFCBT trained and trained in EMDR. Through all this amazing work Katherine has also been one of the highest billers in our program. She consistently exceeds her billing expectation and seems to do so effortlessly.  Katherine is a leader on our team, completing her training to be a board approved supervisor, she has taken on supervising interns for the past several years. She also takes the lead on organizing our baskets and gifts. She participates on the QM committee at Canvas Health as well.  Katherine is a brilliant clinician who has helped countless children, families, and school staff over the past 10 years. Her consistent high quality therapeutic work has helped to build the strong program we have today. We depend on her, and she delivers. Congratulations to Katherine on 10 years at Canvas Health! Looking forward to what you do with the next 10!

Beth Hopkins

Congratulations to Beth Hopkins on her 10 year anniversary with Canvas Health! Beth is an outstanding clinician and important leader on our team.  Several years ago, she helped to start one of our first Minneapolis school mental health programs, which has now grown to 9 different buildings in Minneapolis.

Beth does great clinical work and is a leader on our team. She is who people turn to when they need help answering questions or a seasoned clinician to consult with. She is also very helpful by stepping up to lead meetings and help keep up morale when the job gets hard.

Last year, Beth worked hard to finish an intensive clinical supervision training and she is now a board approved supervisor. She is now one of our clinicians who supervises interns, who are very lucky to have Beth coaching and mentoring them.

Beth continues to pay attention to the details and cares about doing right by her clients and school. She continues her committee work which is above and beyond her job. She is a member of the Mpls Clinicians Planning Committee and the Excellence Committee. She attends Canvas events and helps with outreach such as the Pride Festival and Stomp Out Suicide.  Beth is also a working mom who has two beautiful sons at home. She has struck a balance, which is not easy, while caring for them while prioritizing the wellness of her clients and relationship with her school. Beth gives so much to her clients, parents, school partners, interns, and colleagues. She is a woman of integrity and reliability, and our team is better because of her!

Dr. Rori Johnson

Dr. Rori Johnson’s decade with Canvas Health started as she was going through a closure of Riverwood Behavioral Health Center, previously 5 County Mental Health. She cares so much about 5 county rural community that she brought her knowledge and expertise in outpatient, adult day treatment and mobile crisis services to Canvas Health. With Canvas Health, Dr. Rori Johnson has been continuing to work with 5 counties to coordinate 24/7/365 Mobile Crisis services. She has shared her knowledge with other mobile crisis supervisors and helped to establish Canvas Health as one of the few non-profits in the metro area running mobile crisis services. Ten years of being on-call 24/7/365, for someone who struggles to get back to sleep after being woken up, is quite a feat. Rori has worked with diligently with law enforcement and educational systems in rural communities who are slower to embrace mental health resources.

Her professionalism and knowledge of the region and commitment to clinical care and the community makes her stand out from others. Not only does Dr. Johnson provide quality clinical work with multiple approaches including EMDR, she also is always the first to take people off the waitlist just so they can be seen more quickly. Dr. Johnson has provided supervision to countless interns and trainees in psych services and through the programs she supervised. She has lead day treatment services in the North Branch area and is always excited to bring additional services like Substance Use to her community. We hear all the time that people just love to hear Dr. Johnson speak because she is so thoughtful and knowledgeable. When we talk about Excellence at Canvas Health, Rori is one of the key contributors to that value.

Anna Marie Montague

Anna Marie has been both a volunteer and an employee for Housing Services. Her knowledge of all the technical aspects of data reporting in Housing Services and HMIS is amazing. She is a valuable memberof the housing team and even though she works only a little her impact is huge.

Ben Rastegari

Ben Rastegari started his journey with Canvas Health as an ARMHS worker as he completed his clinical hours. He then applied for an outpatient therapist position and has been a consistent provider in Cottage Grove since then.

He has helped out with Credible, ran an anger management group and been a consistent provider for adults at the Cottage Grove office. Ben is passionate about providing a non-judgmental, supportive space for his clients and focuses on rapport development and client focused treatment approaches.

Ben has shown a lot of growth in his time at Canvas Health, in particular in the past year and we appreciate his willingness and hard work!

Jessica Torrey

Jessica Torrey is getting recognized for 10 years of service, however if you ask Jessica this well beyond 10 years.  Jessica started her work with Canvas Health in the 2000s.  She took a break from work to spend time with her children and then returned to work at Canvas Health as her children aged.

Jessica was our first Rapid Access Assessor in 2014, before we were required to have one as part of being a CCBHC.  In 2018 she made the leap into supervision at Canvas Health with the Cottage Grove Outpatient team. She followed Dan Johnson who moved into his role in psych services. While Jessica enjoyed supervision and the Cottage Grove team the drive from Anoka County to Cottage Grove was not sustainable.

When a position on the Anoka Mobile Crisis team opened up in 2020 she transitioned to her current position as the supervisor of the Anoka Mobile Crisis team. Through Jessica leadership Canvas Health has been able to secure contracts with 2 city police departments (Columbia Heights and Fridley). Her Embedded Social Workers have received accommodations from the department and have been recognized as an effective model of collaboration and community transformation.

Jessica has led her team through the addition of Certified Peers and Family Peers and has built a solid foundation with Anoka County. As part of being a mobile crisis supervisor she is on-call 24/7/365 for her team to support.  She has been working on increasing her relationships with the Allina-Unity staff as her team is moving toward colocation.  Jessica is taking on the next part of the development, moving Mobile Crisis service to be both within a hospital and be focused on the community.  For each challenge that is placed before her, Jessica has embraced and proved that she can do successfully.  Her dedication and efforts wherever she has worked is appreciated and is part of what makes Canvas Health a great place to work.

Ben Widbin

The children’s mental health case management team is celebrating Ben Widbin’s 10-year anniversary with Canvas Health. We’re relieved by this momentous anniversary, not only because Ben is such an incredible asset to our team, but especially because he has attempted to leave us in the past, but quickly returned, realizing that his work home was with us at Canvas Health!

Over the last decade, Ben has had roles as an ongoing case manager and in most recent years, as an assessment worker on the case management team. He has worked with almost 275 children! Ben holds the record for the number of parents that reach out to him for additional support after he’s ended service with a family. This speaks to his ability to develop and maintain easy connections with others. Ben’s clinical skillset and knowledge of both the social service and mental health systems of care have benefited the client’s he has served. In his CMH Assessment work, Ben is known for getting families and kids the support they need very quickly in hopes to ensure improved functioning to often overwhelmed family systems.

Ben has a great sense of humor, and you can often hear his chuckle around the office. His calm demeanor is contagious, and it often benefits his families and his co-workers. He is well loved on the case management team and in the child and family division. Thank you to Ben for his years of service and his commitment and dedication. Congratulations!

Sandra Woolsey

Therapy is often described as an art, of course we know it’s a science too. The magic of therapy is in the middle, understanding the art and science and blending them together with clinical understanding in a way that helps clients get better. Sandy Woolsey has that “magic.” She is wise and understands science and theory and can explain it to others. She is able to support complex children and families and provide hope in a way that others cannot. She is magical. Sandy Woolsey began in the TAP school-based program working at the Bellaire Education Center in District 916 ten years ago. At the time it was a level 4 special education program for middle and high school students.

Over the 6 years Sandy worked at Bellaire it changed and morphed. Through it all she worked with a complex population of youth. Many whom had many therapy services in the past that were unsuccessful. When the population at the school became younger, Sandy learned new techniques and brought in her sand tray work to use with students. When presented with a complex client with dissociative identity disorder, Sandy joined a consultation group focused on the diagnosis. She partnered with school staff, psychiatry, and community providers to provide high quality wrap around care. Sandy worked with grace and caring and helped educators and families understand and support students.

Sandy became a supervisor in the school-based program before the Covid lockdown. The role of supervisor in the school-based program is complex. Not only is it important to understand clinical supervision (of which she is a pro) but also you must understand how to navigate relationships with school partners. Taking on this challenge during a global pandemic was a feat. Yet with Sandy’s determination and focus on providing the best clinical care to our clients, we have continued to grow our programs. She is the person on our team that challenges all of us to continue to learn and grow as clinicians, to understand the work and then to take it to the next level, to go deeper in an effort to help others. She is skilled at attachment work, parts work and EMDR. She is making all of us better and thus helping more clients, families, and schools then you can imagine. Thank you, Sandy, for your dedication to Canvas Health for these past 10 years and for sharing your magic with us all.

Der Yang

Starting as a 10 hour per week, part-time front desk admin has turned into 10 years with Canvas Health!

In her journey through Canvas Der moved on to be our Cottage Grove front desk admin, Program Support for Adult Day Treatment and is currently our Supervisor of Intake and Quality Management.

Der brings a commitment of excellence, attention to detail, and understands that her Intake team is often the first point of contact for people seeking services at Canvas, while Medical Records supports efficient communications with our community partners. Her dedication, contributions and expertise have been fundamental to the agency’s mission of helping people and changing lives.  Congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone of 10 years with us.

Congratulations, Amanda Cammack, Katherine Carlson, Beth Hopkins, , Dr. Rori Johnson, Anna Marie Montague, Ben Rastegari, Jessica Torrey, Ben Widbin, Sandra Woolsey, and Der Yang!

Staff Showcase: Celebrating 10 Years

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, it can also be a challenging period for those who are committed to staying sober. With social gatherings often centered around alcohol, it’s important to have strategies in place to maintain your sobriety while still enjoying the festivities. Here are some tips to help you stay sober during the holidays:

1. Plan Ahead

Preparation is key to staying sober. Before attending any holiday events, plan how you will handle situations where alcohol or other substances are present. Consider bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages and have a few responses ready if someone offers you a drink (or drug). Phrases like “I’m driving tonight” or “I’m taking a break from alcohol” can be helpful. The phrase “No, thank you” is an appropriate and effective response. If you’re feeling pressured, you can politely walk away; you don’t owe anyone any explanation!

2. Seek Professional Help If Needed

If you’re struggling to stay sober during the holidays, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Canvas Health’s substance use groups are great ways to seek camaraderie and kinship to help during recovery. Through dialogue led by trained facilitators, group members can gain strategies and coping skills from others with similar experiences. Canvas Health also offers compassionate substance use assessments and treatments. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

3. Create New Traditions

The holidays are a great time to begin new, substance-free traditions. Host a sober holiday party with activities like card or board games, movie marathons, or a potluck dinner. Engaging in activities that don’t rely on substances as the source of fun can help you enjoy the season without feeling left out.

4. Stay Connected

Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who respect your decision to stay sober. If you’re feeling tempted, reach out to a trusted friend or sponsor. Staying connected with your sober support network can provide the encouragement you need to stay on track.

5. Practice Self-Care

The holidays can be stressful, so it’s important to take care of yourself. Make time for activities that help you relax and recharge, such as exercise, meditation, or reading. Prioritizing your well-being can help you manage stress and avoid the urge to drink.

6. Set Boundaries

It’s okay to say no to attending events or gatherings that you feel might jeopardize your sobriety. Setting boundaries is an important part of healthy self-care. Politely decline invitations if you think the environment will be too challenging, and don’t feel guilty about putting your sobriety first.

7. Have An Exit Plan

Plan for contingencies! Have an exit strategy in mind in case you find yourself feeling pressured, uncomfortable or tempted. Drive yourself to events so you can leave if needed or arrange for a trusted sober friend to accompany you. Knowing you have a way out can aid to reduce anxiety and help you stay in control.

8. Focus On The Positives

Remind yourself of the benefits of staying sober. Reflect on how far you’ve come and the positive changes in your life since choosing sobriety. Celebrate your achievements and focus on the joy and clarity that comes with living substance-free.

Staying sober during the holidays can be challenging, but with the right strategies and support, it’s entirely possible. Through planning ahead, creating new traditions and prioritizing self-care, you can enjoy a joyful and substance-free holiday season. Remember, your sobriety is a gift to yourself and those who care about you. Celebrate the season with clarity and confidence, knowing that you’re making a positive, healthy choice for your own well-being.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Canvas Health! 🎄✨

Staying Sober During the Holidays: 8 Tips for a Joyful and Substance-Free Season

Nature can be a powerful teacher.

Earlier this month, students from the “Intro to Medical Careers” class at 916 Career and Tech participated in a mindful nature walk. The excursion was led by their instructor and Canvas Health’s Mental Health Specialist, Matthew Darnold. During the walk, they practiced mindfulness by silently focusing on their senses and connecting with nature.

Without disturbing living plants or animals, students were encouraged to gather a small collection of natural items for a group project. While enjoying the crisp air and autumnal colors, students collected natural materials like pinecones, acorns, leaves, and stones to create nature mandalas with their group at the end of the walk.

Mandalas are geometric designs that symbolize harmony and balance in Hindu and Buddhist culture. While mandalas can be made of anything, using natural materials made this experience particularly meaningful.

Arranging natural materials into designs fostered a sense of calm and collaboration among the group. After the project was completed, students returned their eco-friendly designs back outside. This full-circle experience taught students the benefits of slowing down to connect with nature and find their own inner balance and harmony.

This type of learning experience is made possible through Canvas Health’s School-Based Mental Health Services. Our Therapeutic Assistance Program (TAP) provides on-site services to students who many not otherwise be able to access to them due to financial, transportation, or scheduling challenges. This collaborative effort between school psychologists, school social workers, teachers, and mental health providers includes diagnostic assessments and therapy.

To learn more our school-based services, click here.

Students Find Full-Circle Mindfulness in Nature

In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Gena Dickens, Dan Johnson, and Jean Mortenson who have dedicated 15 years of their careers to making a difference in our community.

Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission!

Celebrating 15 Years with Canvas Health

Gena Dickens

Gena Dickens in the Supervisor of the Children’s Mental Health Case Management Team.  Gena joined Canvas Health in September, 2008.  She became the Senior CMHCM in November, 2013 and in March, 2017 she stepped into the supervisor role. Gena earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Minnesota State University – Mankato and her Master of Social Work from the joint program College of St. Catherine and University of St. Thomas.

Both during her time providing direct case management services as well as now providing clinical and program supervision, Gena continues to work from a client focused, strength based and clinical perspective. Her position places the responsibly of the care of Washington County children and families who are struggling with mental health into her horizon. In her role as Supervisor of the Children’s Mental Health Case Management team, she is the face for Canvas Health to many of our partners, including Washington County Community Services, Community Corrections, and the County Attorney’s office, as well as the Department of Human Services and the Metro CMHCM supervisors’ team.

Sarah Amundson, Community Services Division Manager from Washington County, has this to say about Gena and her work:

Gena is a fantastic partner to the Children’s Division at Wash. Co!  Her straightforward style and her ability to connect make her well-respected. Gena has excellent clinical skills and somehow manages to keep up with all the numerous requirements that come with Children’s Mental Health Case Management. She knows when things are working well and voices her concerns when we are lacking resources for the most vulnerable kids in our community.  Her passion and dedication come through on a daily basis!  We could not ask for a better partner in this work!

Gena – you are a wonderful ambassador of the Canvas Health Mission of bringing Hope Healing and Recovery to your everyday work life.  THANK YOU for the 15 years of service children and families and for all of the support, direction , coaching and mentoring you have provided to your staff.  Thank you for your dedication, living social work values and your sense of humor. Here’s to 15 more!

Dan Johnson

Congratulations to Dan on 15 years at Canvas Health! Dan provides outstanding leadership for Psychological Services and Canvas Health. Dan started 15+ years ago as a supervisor in Psychological Services and has progressed to his current position as Chief Psychologist.

Dan is a pleasure to work with, and his open-mindedness and low-key sense of humor make him an excellent leader and clinician. Staff describe him as the glue that holds Psychological Services together.  He has been instrumental in many projects and changes at Canvas Health, to name a few, he started the vicarious trauma group, assisted in implementing Credible and CCBHC standards, and has enhanced the psych internship learning opportunities.

Thank you, Dan, for all that you do and for making Canvas Health a better place.

Jean Mortenson

Jean has worn many hats during her time at Canvas Health, largely in the Substance Use Disorder Admin Program and currently at the front desk in our Forest Lake office. She is a go-to for insight on past processes and better understanding of how things have evolved at Canvas Health.

Jean has such a big heart for the clients we serve and goes above and beyond to help in any way that she can. She takes the time to find answers to questions she doesn’t know and never shies away from sharing her knowledge with others. Jean has also been a great leader at the Forest Lake front desk for providers and fellow front desk staff. She is always willing to help train new staff and be an ongoing resource, and for that we are very appreciative.

Jean is kind-hearted, honest and up front, a solid team player and has the best dry sense of humor. Our front desk team has learned a lot from Jean and her experience here at Canvas and we are grateful to have her as part of our team. Congratulations, Jean, on 15 years!

Congratulations, Gena, Dan, and Jean!

Staff Showcase: Celebrating 15 Years

I’ve been watching “Nutrition by Kylie” a lot on YouTube lately. Surprisingly, this series has posed a unique opportunity to talk about the depth of consent conversations.

Kylie is a registered dietician with a recurring series on cooking “unexpected” foods. She often showcases things we’ve been taught absolutely aren’t included on a healthy plate: things like salty spam wedges or a bowl of instant ramen. Kylie’s goal isn’t for viewers to cut out flavors that they love—in fact, her mantra is always “focus on what you can add to, not what you can subtract from, your meals.”

This simple concept of being additive instead of restrictive is directly applicable in consent conversations.

While I could spend hours lecturing about things that you absolutely cannot do (like not having sex with someone who is drunk or who hasn’t clearly and verbally consented), it would be a disservice, especially to young people, to stop the conversation there.

Young people are hungry for information about how to find someone they are compatible with and how to treat their partner right. If we focus solely on listing all the limitations in a relationship, we miss the opportunity to go deeper to ensure consent in other aspects of relationships.

I had a student recently who perfectly captured this idea. We had watched the Cycling Through Consent video, which uses the metaphor of a bike ride to explain the complexities of consent. Afterward, he raised his hand and asked: “Okay, so you told us what not to do. But…say if I hypothetically wanted to find a bike riding partner…how can I do that?”

The answer is to ask! An additive approach to consent is to lean into the conversation and be curious. Going from one bike ride to a more long-term bike riding schedule/partnership simply requires some more dialogue. Go the extra step to tell them what YOU think would be fun, then ask if that’s okay with them.

One of my favorite examples of informed consent comes from a surprising source: Drew Barrymore and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In this short video, Drew asks if Dwayne could do five squats while she was on his back. Dwayne laughs and says “Yes, do you want to do it now?” to which Drew heartily agreed.

Dwayne already had Drew’s consent (she was hyped, she was smiling, she verbally said yes, “let’s do it”), but he went the extra mile to say “here’s what I’m going to do…” This is what an additive approach to consent looks like. It gave them both a chance to head into the bit fully engaged and prepared. Everyone had fun and it’s because everyone (including the audience) was on the same page.

This type of thoughtful, thorough consent is overtimes overlooked. In our day to day life, consent typically only comes up when something “bad” has happened, typically regarding sexual misconduct. But as these examples show, it’s about respect and choice. It’s about being aligned with the people around you and never making assumptions. And most importantly, it’s seeing consent as a more holistic and essential component to happy, healthy relationships.

Written by: Jasmine Lee, Prevention and Education Specialist, Abuse Response & Prevention Services

To learn more about our Abuse Response & Prevention Services, click here. 

Expanding consent conversations with the help of cooking, bike metaphors, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Sarah Melby who has dedicated 20 years of her career to making a difference in our community.

Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission!

Celebrating 20 Years with Canvas Health

Sarah Melby

We are thrilled to recognize Sarah for her 20 years of service at Canvas Health. She joined the agency in March 2004 as an AR/Billing Specialist and advanced her career in the AR team as an AR Billing/Collection Specialist, Senior Billing/Collection Specialist, Senior Billing Specialist and currently Billing Revenue & Credentialing Supervisor.

Sarah is truly an expert in understanding our complex billing requirements to make sure staff get paid for the services they deliver to our clients. She helped us implement our previous EHR Profiler more than 15 years ago, and she was a valued project team member on the Credible implementation project which went live in February 2021.

Since then, Sarah has managed and updated our billing matrix in Credible which is significantly more complex than Profiler was. And our CCBHC designation since February 2022 has only added to the billing fun as well as our cost reporting requirements! In addition Sarah is also providing information and guidance for our credentialing process which is a critical prerequisite to getting paid for services.

All along Sarah has always been eager to grow her skills and take on challenging assignments, and she also shares her skills with others to solve workflow problems or billing issues. She is great at data analytics and identifying the root cause of problems that we come across on a regular basis. We are very fortunate to have Sarah on our team. Thank you to Sarah for 20 years of dedicated service to Canvas Health!

Congratulations, Sarah!

Staff Showcase: Celebrating 20 Years