Onward Counseling

Onward Counseling A modern mental health collaborative & private practice in SE Minnesota. Come sit with us!

Meet Cait šŸ¤ your new therapist who makes therapy feel a lot less like therapy… and a lot more like sitting down with you...
04/23/2026

Meet Cait šŸ¤ your new therapist who makes therapy feel a lot less like therapy… and a lot more like sitting down with your favorite human.

90s pop, Disney karaoke, and a little main-character energy (she did want to be an actress, on SNL or solve crimes, after all). Fluent in laughter, deep convos, and making you feel actually seen.

Fun facts: plays the flute, speaks a little French, can’t whistle to save her life, and will laugh if you trip (lovingly).

Big believer that therapy should be real, warm, validating—and yes, even fun. Expect depth, honesty, and probably a few laughs you didn’t see coming.

Hot yoga energy. šŸ˜
Friends/The Office/reality dating shows on repeat.
Thrives in thunderstorms and good ambiance.

Pull up a chair—she saved you a spot. šŸ¤ The Onward squad welcomes you with arms wide open!

Thera-PISSED and not even pretending to be chill about it.Because when our clients are dismissed, minimized, gaslit, or ...
04/22/2026

Thera-PISSED and not even pretending to be chill about it.

Because when our clients are dismissed, minimized, gaslit, or straight up mistreated? Yeah… we take that personally.

Not in a messy way—
in a you’ve got someone in your corner who will rally, advocate, and remind you who the hell you are- kind of way.

Therapists aren’t just here to nod and validate.
We champion. We challenge. We hold the line when the world tries to shrink you.

Unconditional support doesn’t mean quiet.
Sometimes it looks like fire. šŸ”„

*Ways To Make The Most Out of Therapy* 1// Find a ā€œbest fitā€ therapist.  Get on as many wait lists as you can and ā€œshop ...
04/07/2026

*Ways To Make The Most Out of Therapy*

1// Find a ā€œbest fitā€ therapist. Get on as many wait lists as you can and ā€œshop aroundā€ for a therapist. The strength of your relationship with your therapist and the connection is indicative of how much progress you will make in therapy. Google providers in your area, check Psychology Today, ask around, read bios, and find your person.

2// Make a daily practice out of your therapy goals. Just showing up to your sessions is already gonna provide a great outlet and a good start, however one hour a week might not cut it. Summarize your goals with your therapist and explore ways in which you can make daily intention and practice. You don’t achieve a 200 pound deadlift by going to the gym once a week- your cognitive and emotional ā€œmusclesā€ need exposure, repetition, and consistency to gain insight, heal, and grow.

3// Take notes or take time to reflect after session. When little insight nuggets reveal themselves or your therapist is spitting fire, write it down- make it more concrete! It is more likely to stick that way. Schedule 30 min. before and after session if you can. Before session, ask yourself ā€œWhat do I hope to get most out of this session?ā€ After session, reflect on what was notable during the session and how you want to bring those insights into your daily life. Too often, people get swept up into the busyness of life right after session and the quality time you just spent with yourself gets lost.

4// Be brave & lean into discomfort and vulnerability. Coming to therapy is already one of the most courageous things you can do for yourself. Therapy is difficult, can be scary, and full of ugly truths. Half of the battle is being honest with yourself/your therapist. ā€œThe more uncomfortable it is to face it, the more power it has to transform you.ā€

5// Most importantly, be gentle with yourself. We are all flawed and constantly learning. Therapy is a humbling process and you can learn from a mistake without beating yourself up about it. Self compassion>self hatred- always & forever.

Everyone’s out here trying to find the secret sauce… meanwhile you’ve been sitting on yours like it’s just ā€œhow you are....
04/06/2026

Everyone’s out here trying to find the secret sauce… meanwhile you’ve been sitting on yours like it’s just ā€œhow you are.ā€

The way you show up, read a room, create, hold space, connect—that’s not basic. That’s your recipe. And what feels effortless to you? That’s the part no one else can replicate.

Stop diluting it to make other people comfortable. Stop acting like it’s no big deal.

Turn up the heat. Own your flavor.
That’s the sauce—and the world needs a taste šŸ’…šŸ”„

We’re trained to focus on the negative…to be deficit-focused. To pay close attention to what we don’t like, what we wish...
03/28/2026

We’re trained to focus on the negative…to be deficit-focused. To pay close attention to what we don’t like, what we wish were different, how difficult the day was, what we long to have…

But all that does is teach our brains that cherry picking the negative is more important than finding the good. Spotting the glimmers, enjoying what’s in front of us, pausing in the small moments, finding the peace at the end of a long day? Those things become harder to do, and harder to find. The good becomes muted…even transparent maybe. Life starts to feel so different when we intentionally start training ourselves to do the dang thing (life) differently. šŸ–¤

Wish you were here… like, actually here šŸ‘€āœØBecause our community needs your magic šŸŖ„(and honestly, we saved you a spot)We’...
03/24/2026

Wish you were here… like, actually here šŸ‘€āœØ

Because our community needs your magic šŸŖ„
(and honestly, we saved you a spot)

We’re growing — like big time. Our biggest expansion yet, and we’re on the hunt for a licensed clinician who’s ready to do meaningful work without the burnout vibes.

Think:
🌾Fully furnished, turn key office that is suited to your vibe.
āœŒšŸ»Brand new spa-like space (yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds)
šŸ“… Make-your-own schedule (your life, your rules, our support*)
šŸ¤ A collaborative, fun team that feels like home
āš–ļø Work as much or as little as you want

Come build your practice your way, with a team that gets it.

We wish you were here… but like… you could be šŸ˜‰

DM us or email us:
Brogan@onwardcounselingrochester.com // megan@onwardcounselingrochester.com //

COME SIT WITH US ALREADYšŸ¤

We’re not avoiding our problems… just moving them to a more relaxing & inspired location šŸ§˜ā€ā™€ļøāœØSame healing energy, just ...
03/16/2026

We’re not avoiding our problems… just moving them to a more relaxing & inspired location šŸ§˜ā€ā™€ļøāœØ

Same healing energy, just a little more Onward-y & better parking šŸ’†ā€ā™€ļø Just kidding šŸ‘‰šŸ¼the whole space is gonna make you want to pull ā€œtwo-a-weekā€ sessions.

Your nervous system called — it prefers the new address šŸ“

Coming June 2026šŸ¤

03/06/2026

NEW SPACE LOADING…
Watching our dream turn into walls, windows, and soon: a place to hold stories, healing, courage & growth. 🌱✨

We can’t wait to sit with you here šŸ¤

Sometimes (and more often than not), therapy doesn’t look ā€˜textbook’ - sometimes it looks like:🫧 sharing a personal stor...
03/05/2026

Sometimes (and more often than not), therapy doesn’t look ā€˜textbook’ - sometimes it looks like:

🫧 sharing a personal story so a client feels less alone

🫧 sitting on the floor, playing games, maybe even sharing a snack with our child age clients

🫧 showing up in comfy clothes so the space feels more cozy than clinical

🫧 matching a client’s language to help them feel understood

🫧 hugging a client who needs it

🫧 tearing up during a hard (or happy) moment

Because sometimes the most healing thing in the room is simply being human šŸ¤šŸŒ±

Dropping in to introduce MELANIE!And now we’re wondering if every Monday should be   šŸ¤”āœØTherapist by training - human fir...
03/02/2026

Dropping in to introduce MELANIE!

And now we’re wondering if every Monday should be šŸ¤”āœØ

Therapist by training - human first, always. She believes in creating a safe space by truly meeting people where they’re at - no judgment, no pressure, just real connection and growth šŸ¤

ā•Go to karaoke song: Don’t Stop Believin’ (because we’re all holding onto that feelin’ 🄹)

ā•Forever fan of Criminal Minds & Supernatural

ā•Hidden talent: video games. Not so secret struggle: time management.

ā•Fuel of choice: iced matcha šŸµ

Melanie told us she’s excited to grow alongside the supportive Onward community, while continuing to walk alongside & hold space for people on their healing journeys — and to that we say: DITTO!

Welcome, Melanie! We’re so lucky to have you on the Onward team šŸ«¶šŸ¼šŸŒ±

Spoiler alert! You’re exactly where you need to be — even if that place is on the couch, in your sweats, sweet treat in ...
02/20/2026

Spoiler alert! You’re exactly where you need to be — even if that place is on the couch, in your sweats, sweet treat in hand. ✨

Do things that feel like YOU (at your own pace) this weekend. We’ll be doing the same šŸ¤

INTRODUCING ABBY ELSENPETER šŸ‘‹šŸ¼šŸ¤One of our newest providers — Abby works primarily with kids and loves bringing therapy t...
01/30/2026

INTRODUCING ABBY ELSENPETER šŸ‘‹šŸ¼šŸ¤

One of our newest providers — Abby works primarily with kids and loves bringing therapy to life through games, crafts, and even outdoor walks whenever possible. She’s always had a big heart for teaching (s/o to her mom šŸ«¶šŸ½) and is obsessed with —

ā•snowy, winter wonderland kind of days
ā•but prefers an easy going summer wardrobe
ā•the šŸ˜‚ emoji (basically her signature)

Therapist by day, Swiftie by night — quotes Brooklyn 99 more than she should, is secretly very good at math (even if she still occasionally needs to count on her fingers), + finds peace in color coded calendars and a well organized space.

Equal parts energy, empathy, and emotional support ā˜ļøšŸ«–

Most of all — Abby loves being a part of a supportive team. Sharing the hard stuff, celebrating the wins, and growing alongside amazing clinicians who inspire her to be better everyday.

We’re lucky to have you, Abby!

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Rochester, MN

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