Mark Hansen, PhD, LP

10/14/2025

Meet the Team Monday!

Meet AJ Macbeth, MS. AJ is a doctoral intern working out of our St. Paul location and offers both tele-health and in person appointments.

AJ believes therapy should provide an open space where you can explore your identity and experiences, free of judgement. Sometimes, the struggles we face are due to systemic oppression, colonization, or discrimination, and they strive to incorporate this knowledge into your work together. They believe your relationship is the most important part of your healing, so they are intentional about connecting with you on a personal level. Therapy can be a vulnerable process, and while it won’t always feel easy, AJ loves to use humor and laughter to find balance. Their therapeutic style is collaborative and individual – you have known yourself for much longer than they have, and they consider your self-knowledge to be incredibly valuable data in finding what works best for you.
AJ considers it an honor to do the work of therapy, and they value every client they have the privilege of working with. They have a professional emphasis in working with trans and gender-diverse communities, as well as neurodiversity. AJ especially enjoys working with people who are looking for help with self/identity-exploration and self-acceptance.

Their primary therapy modalities involve a mix of interpersonal process, emotion-focused, and person-centered methods, operating from a foundation in liberation psychology. They currently hold a Master’s degree in Psychology from Iowa State University and are a doctoral intern practicing under the supervision of Dr. Rita Sandidge, PhD, LP. In their free time, they love to create art, make music, read, and play video games.

AJ has immediate openings available! If you are interested in scheduling with them please give us a call at 651-379-5157 or email us at info@natalispsychology.com.

10/09/2025

Teachers and school staff — you pour your heart into helping students every day. But who’s supporting you? With school in full swing, you have been on our minds!

At Natalis Counseling – we offer therapy and mental health support designed for educators. Whether you’re feeling stressed, burned out, or just need someone to talk to, our local therapists are here to help.

🧠 Flexible scheduling (including evenings & tele-health)
📍 Three convenient locations in Woodbury, St. Paul, & St. Louis Park
💙 Therapists who understand the challenges of education

You support your students — let us support you. Learn more or schedule a session by calling us at 651-379-5157 or emailing us at info@natalispsychology.com.

10/01/2025

Check out our upcoming sessions for our Dungeons & Dragons groups for adolescents in Woodbury and St. Paul. These groups work on skills such as conversation, social connection, flexibility, reciprocity, and self-regulation. Give us a call today at 651-379-5157 to get more information or schedule your child!

09/22/2025

Meet the Team Monday!

Meet Allison Cunningham, MA. Allison works out of our St. Paul location and offers both tele-health and in person sessions. Allison's therapeutic approach consists of building strong, trusting with clients in which challenges can be taken on with comfort and support. Therapy is never easy, and they look forward to having the opportunity to walk with clients through whatever they are experiencing. Whether you are hoping to learn coping skills for current struggles, process past difficult events, or carve a new path forward, they are honored to learn with and from you.

Allison believes that the most important aspect of healing is that clients feel safe, respected, and understood in the therapy room. Therapy should always be a collaboration between you and your therapist, and they strive to put the client’s wishes and boundaries at the forefront. They primarily use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), emotion-focused, internal family systems (IFS), and somatic techniques in therapy, although any technique can be modified according to the client’s comfort level. They offer therapy for individuals ages 13+, and welcome clients of all backgrounds and concerns. They are especially interested in working with the LGBTQ+ community, those experiencing life transitions or interest in exploring identity, or are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress.

Allison received their Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and their Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Saint Thomas. They are currently enrolled in the Counseling Psychology PsyD program at the University of Saint Thomas. They are under the supervision of Dr. Rita Sandidge, PhD, LP. They have worked in community mental health, medical, and private practice settings for a total of five years.

Allison has immediate availability, if you are interested in scheduling with them please email us at info@natalispsychology.com or give us a call at 651-379-5157.

09/19/2025

09/16/2025

Meet the Team Monday!

Meet Jay Lee, Mental Health Practitioner! Jay believes therapy is more than just conversation. It is a space for growth, self-discovery, and healing. A place where you can feel heard, supported, and gently challenged as you move toward your goals. In your work together, Jay aims to create an environment that feels safe, welcoming, and affirming, while also encouraging the steps needed to meaningful change. She will honor your unique story and believes that you already carry strength within you, even in moments it feels harder to find.

Jay works from a person-centered approach, which means she believes you are an expert on your own life, and her role is to walk alongside you. She strives to create a space where you feel safe to be yourself while also being gently encouraged to stretch beyond your comfort zone. Her work is also strength-based and values driven while integrating aspects from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness techniques. Jay wants to help you connect with what matters most to you and use those values as a guide for making meaningful choices. She has experience supporting children, adolescents, and young adults in inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings. She has worked with individuals navigating trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, and life transitions. Jay is deeply committed to serving BIPOC communities and individuals from marginalized backgrounds and to creating spaces where people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities can be seen, valued, and understood

In her free time, Jay enjoys working out, spending time with her cat, and watching a comfort show or movie.

Jay received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Child Advocacy Studies from Winona State University. She is currently enrolled in the Clinical Psychology PsyD program at Hawaiʻi Pacific University. Jay is under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Johnson, PsyD, LP, LMFT.

If you are interested in scheduling a session with Jay, she has immediate availability! Please give us a call at 651-379-5157 or email us at info@natalispsychology.com.

08/31/2025

Our clinic will be closed Monday, September 1st for Labor Day. If you are having a mental health emergency, please dial 911 or call your local county mental health crisis line. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend!

08/25/2025

Meet the Team Monday!

Meet Jess Arend, MA. Jess is a mental health practitioner working out of our
University Avenue office, and offers both tele-health and in-person sessions.
Many people come to therapy seeking greater stability, clarity, and a deeper connection to their authentic selves. Jess is committed to supporting you as the expert of your own lived experience and their approach to therapy focuses on uncovering your strengths and cultivating resilience. Together, you will reflect on how past experiences have shaped your present circumstances while identifying a path forward to meet your goals.

Jess teaches evidence-based skills to help cope with stress and mental health symptoms, borrowing from therapy modalities like CBT, DBT, and ACT. They also aim to create space for processing the impacts of systemic injustice or discrimination on daily life and well-being. Their theoretical approach incorporates humanist, developmental, and liberation psychology perspectives.

Jess works with a wide range of individuals aged 16 years and older and is especially passionate about working with people who are LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, or belong to other marginalized communities. They also specialize in supporting people living with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, psychosis, and bipolar disorder.

Jess is a fourth-year PhD trainee in Clinical Psychology at the University of Minnesota and practice under the supervision of Dr. Rita Sandidge, PhD, LP. Their clinical work is informed by my research, so you might catch them sharing facts about the science of the brain and body during your sessions!

To schedule a session with Jess, please give us a call at 651-379-5157 or email us at info@natalispsychology.com!

08/20/2025

With back to school approaching, Natalis would like to remind everyone that we offer School-Based Mental Health Services! This essential program places mental health therapists in the schools to provide therapeutic services during school hours, removing many barriers for students and families. Our school-based clinicians treat a variety of mental health concerns with students and offer family and group therapy in their schools as well. We have clinicians at Matoska Elementary, Central Park Elementary, Roseville Area Middle School, Roseville Area High School, Chippewa Middle School, Irondale High School, and the Mounds View Alternative Learning Center. If your child attends one of these schools and you are interested in learning more about our School-Based program, please email us at info@natalispsychology.com or connect with social workers or deans at your child's school to get set up for services!

07/21/2025

Meet the Team Monday!

Meet Alexa Savard, MA. Alexa is a Pediatric Outpatient Therapist working at both our St.Paul and St. Louis Park locations. She offers tele-health and/or in-person sessions.

Alexa believes that everyone deserves to feel supported throughout challenges in life and should have a collaborative say in how that support through communication and rapport. She looks forward to working with individuals to learn how to best support them and explore new ways to serve them and the community.

Alexa is currently interested in working with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD and other mental illnesses as well as life adjustments and transitions. She has experience working with a variety of mental health issues including eating disorders, body image concerns, anxiety, depression, relational concerns, and life adjustments. Her approach to therapy is non-judgmental, person-centered, and collaborative. She believes that families and one’s support network are an integral part in shaping someone’s experience. She utilizes a collaborative approach to respect all ideas, voices, and values throughout the therapeutic process.

Alexa graduated with her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Integrated Behavioral Health from Boston College. Alexa is currently working under the supervision of Jennifer Joseph, PsyD, LP. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, being outside, and traveling.

Alexa has immediate openings! If you would like to schedule with her, please give us a call at 651-379-5157 or email us at info@natalispsychology.com.

07/17/2025

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as BIPOC Mental Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minority groups. This observance aims to highlight the disparities in access to and quality of mental health care experienced by these communities and to promote resources and support. This month we encourage individuals, organizations, and communities to work together to improve mental health outcomes for minority populations and address health disparities. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, we can help. Please reach out today at 651-379-5157, or email us at info@natalispsychology.com.

07/03/2025

Our clinic will be closed tomorrow, July 4th. If you are having a mental health emergency, please dial 911 or call your local county mental health crisis line. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend!