Our school-based clinicians in Minneapolis Public Schools met with providers from other agencies also providing service in the district earlier this month.
The focus of the meeting was planning smooth transitions for students who are changing buildings and need ongoing mental health supports.
The clinicians identified ways to help navigate these transitions and were able to meet and talk with clinicians from schools where their students would be going.
Canvas Health‘s Beth Hopkins was on the planning committee and made maps for everyone to better understand the schools and neighborhoods!
Learn more about our school-based mental health program >>
Our school-based clinicians in Minneapolis Public Schools met with providers from other agencies also providing service in the district earlier this month. The focus of the meeting was planning smooth transitions for students who are changing buildings and need ongoing mental health supports. The clinicians identified ways to help navigate these transitions and were able to meet and talk […]
Canvas Health‘s mobile crisis teams (Anoka County, East Central Crisis Services, and Scott County) recently came together at our Oakdale clinic for a full-day role play training on the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS).
CAMS is a therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk. It is a flexible approach that can be used across theoretical orientations and disciplines for a wide range of suicidal patients across treatment settings and different treatment modalities.
This training was a part of the crisis staff’s pursuit of earning the designation of “CAMS-Trained.” Training over the next several months will include online learning, book learning, the on-site role play training, and consultation calls with CAMS trainer, Dr. Blaire Ehret, Ph.D.
Learn more about our mobile crisis response teams >>
Canvas Health‘s mobile crisis teams (Anoka County, East Central Crisis Services, and Scott County) recently came together at our Oakdale clinic for a full-day role play training on the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). CAMS is a therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk. It is a flexible approach […]
Sometimes all it takes to turn a life around is for one person to see your potential.
That’s the case for Jerry*, a former client at Washington County Jail.
Jerry overcame addiction through our Jail Program. With the help of our embedded staff, Jerry was able to look more deeply at the underlying reasons for his dependence and make positive changes to his lifestyle. Through evidence-based therapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Enhanced Illness Management and Recover (EIMR), Jerry learned coping strategies and changed his belief system for the better. As a result, his whole life looks totally different.
“Years ago, the clinicians in the Washington County Jail helped me start my recovery journey. I’ve now been sober for almost 12 years, and I have so much gratitude to the clinicians for meeting me where I was at back then. I’m now married, coach at my children’s school, am active in my church, and I have a successful career. Oftentimes I suppose the clinicians see people at their worst and struggling, but they don’t get to see the fruits of their labor when they are at their best. Thank you for helping me be my best.”
Jerry*, Former Client at Washington County Jail
Sometimes all it takes to turn a life around is for one person to see your potential. That’s the case for Jerry*, a former client at Washington County Jail. Jerry overcame addiction through our Jail Program. With the help of our embedded staff, Jerry was able to look more deeply at the underlying reasons for […]
Is someone in your life drinking too much? Are you concerned about drug use with someone you care about? Are you worried about your personal drug or alcohol use?
Substance abuse behaviors to look for include:
Canvas Health’s experienced staff are open for chemical health assessments via telehealth on your schedule. We handle all types of referrals, including court-ordered substance abuse assessments in Minnesota. If you don’t have insurance to cover your substance abuse assessment or substance abuse treatment, we can help with that as well.
Call us at (651) 777-5222 or request a substance abuse assessment.
Is someone in your life drinking too much? Are you concerned about drug use with someone you care about? Are you worried about your personal drug or alcohol use?
Canvas Health’s Psychological Services program provides comprehensive or targeted psychological evaluation and consultation. These evaluations may assist diagnostic decision making, treatment planning, risk assessment, placement, employment, or court dispositions.
Psychological Evaluations provide an in-depth understanding of an individual’s mental health status and provide diagnostic clarification and treatment recommendations, using psychological tests and extensive review of collateral information. Psychological Evaluations can focus on cognitive functioning, neurocognitive development, or risk assessment for problematic behaviors.
A psychological evaluation is usually completed when a specific diagnostic question needs to be answered and a routine mental health assessment is not able to address the concern. Psychological Evaluations are often based on a referral made by the examinee’s Primary Care Physician, Psychiatrist or Psychotherapist.
Depending on the testing that is to be completed, a Psychological Evaluation can take 2 to 8 hours.
Any past mental health assessments, current medication information, School-based IEP assessments and plans.
Clinical history, social and family history, review of mental health symptom presentation.
Yes, with the extent of the coverage varied depending on the insurance plan.
Referrals are accepted from contracting court and social services programs and from other community health care providers, as well as from Canvas Health clinical staff. Please download and fax a request for assessment to the Psychological Services Support Specialist, at (651) 251-5059 with referral or appointment questions.
Canvas Health’s Psychological Services program provides comprehensive or targeted psychological evaluation and consultation.
Mental health challenges can make it difficult for individuals to keep their jobs due to the cyclical nature of their illness or insufficient coping and work-related skills. Canvas Health provides vocational services to help these individuals seek and attain employment, and to develop skills to help them maintain employment.
For individuals living with mental health challenges, a job can be a powerful component in their recovery. Here’s an example from one of our clients:
After not working for over 20 years, John* felt uncertain about how to go about applying for jobs.
Janessa, an Employment Specialist with Partnering for Jobs, started working working with John in early 2023. Through coaching, John gained valuable volunteering experience that helped him build back his confidence. After a few volunteering opportunities, John felt ready to dive into the job search.
With his renewed confidence, he quickly gained interviews and was able to advocate for his needs.
John recently started a job as a night auditor at a hotel. He is feeling self-assured in his job and so happy with all the progress he’s made!
Learn more about our Vocational Services for Adults and Youth to see how our specialists can help with:
Partnering for Jobs services are funded by Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services and are provided at no cost to participants. This program is offered in collaboration with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Mental health challenges can make it difficult for individuals to keep their jobs due to the cyclical nature of their illness or insufficient coping and work-related skills. Canvas Health provides vocational services to help these individuals seek and attain employment, and to develop skills to help them maintain employment. For individuals living with mental health […]
“I am the Substance Use Counselor for the evening substance use program at the North Branch clinic. This was an extremely exciting opportunity as Canvas Health is engaging people in treatment in the community that I grew up in and call home to this day. There was no doubt in my mind that this was the right place for me and a way to engage and give back to my community.
The New Choices for Recovery Intensive Outpatient evening program that I facilitate is a three-day-a-week intensive outpatient treatment program that is open to all adults. I integrate and engage clients with innovative activities that allow them to increase their awareness and recovery growth. This program’s expectations are a nonjudgmental environment in which all are welcome. My requirements of the group are to be present and respectful of your fellow group members.
There is something so powerful to be in an environment where people can authentically be themselves. Vulnerability is a beautiful struggle in treatment and one that is encouraged. Treatment is not an easy journey, but a beautiful one.”
“It is my honor and privilege to be a part of the Canvas Health team and to provide care and an amazing range of services to this wonderful community. I am grateful to the entire North Branch staff that work extremely hard to make treatment possible.”
– Brooke Fricke, Substance Use Counselor
“I am the Substance Use Counselor for the evening substance use program at the North Branch clinic. This was an extremely exciting opportunity as Canvas Health is engaging people in treatment in the community that I grew up in and call home to this day. There was no doubt in my mind that this was […]
Canvas Health recently announced its 2024 Board of Directors leadership.
The Board will be chaired by Karen Dodson, who served more than 30 years in the healthcare industry prior to joining Canvas Health’s Board. “I am honored to work alongside Canvas Health staff and volunteers to serve our community through sustainable growth, quality clinical care, and a commitment to our mission of hope, healing, and recovery,” said Dodson.
Canvas Health recently announced its 2024 Board of Directors leadership. The Board will be chaired by Karen Dodson, who served more than 30 years in the healthcare industry prior to joining Canvas Health’s Board. “I am honored to work alongside Canvas Health staff and volunteers to serve our community through sustainable growth, quality clinical care, […]
Canvas Health was founded in 1969 by a group of concerned citizens who identified a need for increased availability and access to mental health services for their community’s most vulnerable residents. This mission continues today in a variety of different ways, including:
Broad insurance acceptance: Canvas Health accepts a wide range of insurance plans, including Medical Assistance, and other public and private options. This makes it easier for people with different types of coverage to access our services.
Financial assistance available: For those who may not have insurance or who need extra help with costs, a sliding fee scale and flexible payment plans are available. This ensures that everyone can get the care they need, regardless of their financial situation.
Commitment to access: Canvas Health’s focus on insurance acceptance and financial assistance options demonstrates our commitment to making sure that everyone in our community has access to quality mental health and substance use disorder care.
To verify your insurance, talk to our Intake Coordinators by calling (651) 777-5222.
Canvas Health was founded in 1969 by a group of concerned citizens who identified a need for increased availability and access to mental health services for their community’s most vulnerable residents. This mission continues today in a variety of different ways, including: Broad insurance acceptance: Canvas Health accepts a wide range of insurance plans, including […]
Overcoming alcohol or drug dependence can feel like climbing a mountain, alone, in the dark. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Canvas Health offers Substance Use Disorder Services to guide adults and adolescents to recovery using an approach that includes assessments, treatment plans, and group therapy.
While each individual’s journey is unique, group therapy sessions are a place to find common ground. Groups provide non-judgmental peer support from those who understand what climbing the mountain feels like.
The camaraderie and kinship that comes from other group members can make an enormous difference in the healing process. Through dialogue led by trained facilitators, group members can gain strategies and coping skills from others with similar experiences. Learning from each other while being vulnerable is a powerful way for those who may have felt misunderstood to feel seen and valued.
Groups also can influence the individual treatment plans that are designed to change thinking and behaviors. With the help of facilitators, group sessions challenge negative self-talk and inspire new ways of thinking and behaviors, both to prevent relapse and to form a more positive relationship with self, others, and community.
Adult groups and adolescent groups have the same goal: to provide peer learning. Not only do individuals grow to understand the connection between substance use disorders and mental health, they also gain the ability to talk more openly about it. Learning how to educate family and friends about substance use disorders is just another way to help people feel less alone.
Canvas Health is here to help individuals struggling with alcohol or drug dependence to feel supported when they are ready to climb their mountain to recovery. With expert guidance from our counselors and comforting peer support in group sessions, people can begin to feel hope that reaching the summit is not only possible, but that the way there won’t be quite so lonely.
If you believe that you or someone you care about could benefit from outpatient treatment for drug or alcohol use, call (651) 777-5222 to request an appointment for an assessment at one of our clinic locations.
Join a Group: To join a group, you must have a recent substance use assessment, which can be provided by Canvas Health or an outside agency. Group members also attend individual treatment sessions with a Canvas Health substance use counselor.
Click here to view the Adult Group Schedule >>
Click here to view the Adolescent Group Schedule >>
Overcoming alcohol or drug dependence can feel like climbing a mountain, alone, in the dark. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Canvas Health offers Substance Use Disorder Services to guide adults and adolescents to recovery using an approach that includes assessments, treatment plans, and group therapy. While each individual’s journey is unique, group […]
We are delighted to introduce Dr. Benjamin Eliason, our new psychiatrist who is offering virtual telepsychiatry appointments through our Oakdale and Coon Rapids offices. Clients (18 and older) will see a clinician in-clinic for paperwork, vitals, and tech support. Appointments with Dr. Eliason will be virtual, in either English or Spanish.
I have twenty years of experience as a psychiatrist. I am kind, patient, and caring. I am well versed in cognitive-behavioral and dynamic psychotherapeutic approaches and I use these principles to inform me in the guidance of patient-care, in understanding each person and in assisting them in understanding themselves.
Psychological healing can turn into a process of excavation. I do not claim to have all the answers but I have the tools and I am interested enough to be a helpful guide in turning over the stones that will connect you with the answers that will help.
My philosophy is that there are many difficulties and barriers to getting well in the area of mental health. I’m inclined toward a little prescribing and a little therapy.
Work should be a joy. Life should be a joy. Pain and suffering should be meaningful and all our struggles should be turned toward our personal growth and learning. A physician can be a helpful guide toward healing and should help clients learn and grow to continue the work of their own healing.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eliason or make a referral, please call our Psychiatry Administrative Coordinator at (651) 251-5044.
Fun Facts: I have lived in California, Wisconsin, El Salvador, Oregon, and Utah. Fluent in Spanish and also learning to speak Romanian. Being from a large family made me very curious about people and this interest drew me into the field of medicine and eventually psychiatry.
Hobbies: Palm collecting, plant identification, rock climbing, reading and writing.
Pets: A golden doodle dog named Flynn.
Family: My wife is from Romania so my two children are half-Romanian. She has a special love and appreciation for the United States. I come from a family of many physicians living in different states.
We are delighted to introduce Dr. Benjamin Eliason, our new psychiatrist who is offering virtual telepsychiatry appointments through our Oakdale and Coon Rapids offices. Clients (18 and older) will see a clinician in-clinic for paperwork, vitals, and tech support. Appointments with Dr. Eliason will be virtual, in either English or Spanish. In His Own Words […]
Canvas Health is proud to recognize Native American Heritage Month and honor the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S.
One of the ways in which Canvas Health works with federally recognized Tribal Nations is through our Suicide Prevention Program Tribal Liaison, Adam Preuss. Adam is a member of Upper Sioux Community, and acts as the Suicide Prevention Program’s Tribal Liaison for the four Dakota Communities: Upper Sioux, Lower Sioux, Shakopee Mdewakaton Sioux, and Prairie Island.
Adam has been with our suicide prevention program for over five years. In his role, Adam provides research- and evidence-based culturally responsive presentations as well as Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) suicide prevention trainings.
Adam has done extensive work to increase engagement in the suicide prevention program through teaching mental health skills and activities. Activities include leading foraging events where he will take a group into the woods to work on identifying plants and mushrooms. In the winter, he facilitates painting classes.
“It feels good to be self-sufficient. Taking care of yourself and being mindful of your mental health is really suicide prevention if you think about it,” Adam said.
One of the coalitions he founded, the Upper Minnesota Suicide River Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition, adopted a highway, which helps the group make personal contributions to a cleaner environment. He also is working on a crisis prevention procedure manual in conjunction with and for “Pact for Families” in
Willmar, Minn.
Recently, Adam worked with the Middle School Native Club at the Montevideo School to paint a mural. The mural depicts Traditional, Grass, Fancy, Fancy Shawl, and Jingle Dress dancers.
Contact Tribal Liaison Adam Preuss at apreuss@hsicrisis.org.
Learn more about Canvas Health’s Suicide Prevention Program here.
Canvas Health acknowledges that our clinics are on Indigenous lands, which are the historical, ancestral, and contemporary homelands of eleven federally recognized Dakota and Ojibwe tribal nations throughout Minnesota. Mni Sota (the water that reflects the sky) is centered as the birthplace for the Dakota, with Bdote (where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers meet) and Bde Wakan (Spirit Lake, now Lake Mille Lacs) highlighted in Dakota creation stories. The Ojibwe (Anishinabe), who are the most populous tribe in the United States, occupy land around the entire Great Lakes, including in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario (Read more: Minnesota Historical Society).
This article was researched and written by Emily Johnson, MSW, LICSW as a part of the Canvas Health Cultural Diversity Committee’s efforts to highlight culturally relevant work within our agency.
Canvas Health is proud to recognize Native American Heritage Month and honor the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. One of the ways in which Canvas Health works with federally recognized Tribal Nations is through our Suicide Prevention Program Tribal Liaison, Adam Preuss. Adam is a member of Upper […]
Make a big difference. Support the little things.
This year for Give to the Max Day we are fundraising for clinical supplies and training that are essential to Canvas Health therapy programs.
Here are just a few examples of small things are more than they appear to be when it comes to helping individuals of all ages and backgrounds heal from mental health and substance abuse:
Jayden* recently used fire trucks/police vehicle toys to describe when he witnessed her father being arrested.
Our adolescent day treatment program gives kids who have had a hard time in a traditional classroom environment the opportunity to work on their social skills, get their education, and help heal from their mental illness/substance use disorders.
To our therapists, being trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)” gives them a whole new set of tools to help clients with trauma. One of our therapists described how it will help her client who has spent significant time in and out of juvenile detention centers:
“He has been homeless, lacks guidance, is often approached with criminal opportunities and is very reactive. EMDR would help him process his trauma so he can react to his unpredictable life thoughtfully and not make mistakes that will put him behind bars.”
Tools to interact with nature give our clients an opportunity to see growth in themselves and in the plants and vegetables that they are tending. They are so excited for harvest time and they even learn how to cook with their freshly grown crops!
A new rug, special lighting, wall hangings, and blankets make spaces warm and comfortable for elementary-aged clients to open up to their therapists.
Make a big difference. Support the little things. This year for Give to the Max Day we are fundraising for clinical supplies and training that are essential to Canvas Health therapy programs. Here are just a few examples of small things are more than they appear to be when it comes to helping individuals of […]
Canvas Health’s Early Childhood Behavior Assistance Program’s therapists offer assessment by teaming with parents and care givers.
Together, the team gains clarity and increased understanding of a child’s struggles in order to provide individually tailored recommendations and interventions to support the child’s social and emotional development. Therapists provide specialized assessment as well as psychotherapy and/or skills training.
This program always begins with a comprehensive assessment using the DC:0-5 framework. From there, we work with caregivers and providers using developmentally appropriate and culturally informed methods to determine the child’s emotional and relational needs.
The Early Childhood Behavior Assistance Program has immediate openings in the following programs:
PCIT is an evidence-based treatment for young children (2-6 years) with behavioral problems. PCIT will help with:
CPP is an evidence-based treatment for young children who have been through stressful or scary events. CPP will help with:
COS is a parenting program based on attachment research for strengthening and supporting secure parent-child relationships. COS will help with:
To make an appointment or for questions regarding eligibility or the referral process please call our program support assistant at (651) 251-5024.
Canvas Health’s Early Childhood Behavior Assistance Program’s therapists offer assessment by teaming with parents and care givers. Together, the team gains clarity and increased understanding of a child’s struggles in order to provide individually tailored recommendations and interventions to support the child’s social and emotional development. Therapists provide specialized assessment as well as psychotherapy and/or […]
Canvas Health is thrilled to celebrate our 2023 doctoral intern graduates: Bria Haynes, Noreen Raja, and Natalia Witkowska.
On September 1, 2022, Bria, Noreen, and Natalia embarked on Canvas Health’s Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Health Service Psychology. Since then, they have actively engaged in diverse areas of psychology such as individual psychotherapy, clinical and forensic evaluations, and adherent DBT services, accumulating a total of 2,080 hours since their initiation.
This accredited internship by the American Psychological Association (APA) presents an exceptional and multifaceted experience. Throughout the year, interns participate in an array of training opportunities, spanning outreach, program development, outcomes measurement, trauma-informed care, cross-discipline collaboration, consultation, research, and more, allowing for a comprehensive skillset development.
Beyond its established framework, this internship maintains an ongoing evolution, continually adapting to address the needs of interns, the agency, as well as the clients and community we serve. Many of the present internship practices and procedures have sprung from the innovative ideas of our interns. They bring with them concepts and techniques from other agencies, knowledge of cutting-edge research and practices, and a spirit of innovation that mirrors the essence of the program itself.
“I am incredibly proud of Bria, Natalia, and Noreen for all they have done in the past year. All three of our interns this year stepped out of their comfort zone, tackled new learning experiences, and continued to hone their already impressive skills. I am excited to hear about all of their successes in their future endeavors!” – Morgan Krause, PsyD, LP, Lead Clinical Psychologist & Director of Psychology Training
Congratulations graduates!
Learn more about our Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Health Service Psychology >>
The application deadline for the next internship is November 20, 2023.
Canvas Health is thrilled to celebrate our 2023 doctoral intern graduates: Bria Haynes, Noreen Raja, and Natalia Witkowska. On September 1, 2022, Bria, Noreen, and Natalia embarked on Canvas Health’s Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Health Service Psychology. Since then, they have actively engaged in diverse areas of psychology such as individual psychotherapy, clinical and […]