Our specially trained early childhood 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. We provide specialized assessment as well as psychotherapy and/or skills training.
Circle of SecurityThe Circle of Security Parenting™ program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened.
In this program, parents and/or caregivers will learn how to better:
To make a referral to the Circle of Security program, please download this form.
Email
Barb Tester, Early Childhood Program Support
btester@canvashealth.org
Phone
(651) 251-5024
Early Childhood Mental Health Supervisor
I believe that when working with young children, it is so important to partner with parents and caregivers in developing strategies that promote positive behaviors and healthy interactions.
I have over 15 years experience working in mental health with children and their families.
Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist
I believe that supporting the mental health needs of young children, means partnering with caregivers to explore their child’s difficulties, seeking new ways of understanding them, promoting positive behaviors, and building a closer connection in their relationship.
I have worked with children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of therapeutic settings for over 15 years.
Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). I provide therapy to families seeking change or needing support in their lives. Most of my training and experience in this field has consisted of delivering mental health support to children struggling with emotional and behavioral difficulties and their family members. I also have a significant amount of experience working with children and families in the foster care or adoption system and have a thorough understanding of the difficulties experienced with attachment disruptions and how to provide effective therapeutic intervention to these individuals and their caregivers.
Parenting is the most difficult work there is. I find it especially rewarding when I’m able to partner with caregivers in exploring their child’s difficulties to find new ways of both understanding and interacting with their child that brings about a stronger and closer connection in their relationship.
My professional experience includes delivering in-home and outpatient therapeutic services to children, adolescents, and adults in Hennepin County as an intern. As a Family Treatment Program Therapist at Canvas Health for four years, I delivered intensive in-home therapeutic services to individuals and families of children/adolescents who were at risk for requiring hospitalization and/or residential treatment for mental health difficulties in Washington County.
During this time, I also provided training to foster parents in Washington County on caring for children who have experienced trauma and attachment disruption as well as training to law enforcement in Washington County on adolescent mental health. In 2019, I began providing primarily outpatient early childhood mental health services to children ages 0-5 and their caregivers through the Early Childhood Mental Health Program at Canvas Health.
Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist
My belief is change happens when we feel safe and supported. I believe partnering with caregivers is vital to understanding and improving children’s mental health. Every child and family is unique, and it is my honor to walk with you on your wellness journey.
My experience includes providing therapy to children, families, individuals, couples and groups in home, office and school settings. I provide Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Narrative and Cognitive Behavioral therapies and therapeutic strategies in my current role.
Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist
I believe that healthy families develop when they feel safe, supported, and connected to one another and others. “If kids could do well, they would” (Dr. Ross Greene, Ph.D.) As a mental health practitioner, I believe that young children need the guidance from their parents to develop into the person they are meant to be. I believe in working right alongside parents and caregivers in helping them learn strategies that promote healthy relationships between them and their child. Everyone’s therapeutic process to improve their mental health is unique to them and their experiences and I am here to support parents, caregivers, and children however that may look.
My experience includes providing mental health services across various settings (schools, homes, and community) to children (mainly ages 4-12), families and caregivers. For the last 3 years, I have worked in schools as a School Social Worker providing mental health services to students with a variety needs from trauma to behavioral disorders. Before that, I worked with a non-profit organization where I provided mental health services and mentoring to children and adolescents who have been involved in outsides systems ( juvenile justice and child welfare) and were at risk for further system involvement and/or harm.
