The Bluestem Center Staff:
A Multi-Specialty Team…
Helping Individuals Discover Potential…
Helping Families Discover Strengths.

Professional Staff
*Susan C. Jenkins, M.D.*	Medical Director of Bluestem Center Board Certified in Psychiatry Board Certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association Dr. Jenkins graduated from St. Olaf College and then the University of Chicago-Pritaker School of Medicine. Dr. Jenkins completed seven years of residency training at the University of Chicago and the Mayo Clinic in pediatrics, psychiatry, child psychiatry, and psychopharmacology. She co-authored *The Biology of Star Trek* (Harper Collins, 1998) and *A Pocket Reference for Psychiatrists* (American Psychiatric Press, 1990, 1994). She has a specialty interest in ADHD and other Neurodevelopmental disorders.

*A.W. Atkinson, M.D., F.A.A.P.*	Board Certified in Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics Fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics Dr. Atkinson completed fellowship training in Developmental Pediatrics. His practice includes developmental-behavioral evaluations, treatment, and management for a broad range of concerns for all ages. Areas of specialty include: attention and learning disorders, early childhood behavior and temperament problems, autism spectrum disorders, as well as coaching his patients in the use of mind-body techniques for problems such as migraine headaches, anxiety, stress reduction, tics and habit disorders.

*Solay Unal, M.D.*	Dr. Unal is a board certified psychiatrist who specializes in treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. She also has interests in the developmental psychopathology of childhood mental illnesses and, treatment mechanisms in pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions. Dr. Unal received her medical degree from Hacettepe University. She completed her general psychiatry residency at SUNY and her child psychiatry fellowship at Mayo Clinic. She founded and directed the Pediatric Mood Disorder Clinic at Mayo Clinic. She served as a faculty member at Mayo Clinic and Yale University. She has conducted several research projects examining the biologic basis of mood and anxiety disorders. She has received several honors and awards for her research and teaching services. She is an enthusiastic patient advocate and has served on the medical boards of several foundations. Interest areas: Childhood mood disorders, particularly pediatric bipolar disorder and their comorbid conditions, treatment refractory depression and anxiety in all age groups, intervention research and treatment mechanisms, suicide, developmental psychopathology of childhood psychiatric illnesses, temperament, and evidence based medicine.

*Cassidy Peterson, MS, RN, CNP, PMHNP-BC*	Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Member of the National Honor Society of Nurses Cassidy Peterson obtained her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Minnesota State University, Mankato; and then her Master’s degree from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. She is a member of the National Honor Society of Nurses for her outstanding academic achievement during her education career. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She is now completing medication management for adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, attention difficulties, and other mental health concerns.

*Jeanne M. Allen, PsyD., L.P., R.N., C.N.S.*	Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychologist Clinical Nurse Specialist – Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Dr. Allen is a licensed psychologist, with emphasis in child and family psychology. She is also a Clinical Nurse in Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. Competencies listed with the Board of Psychology include individual and group psychotherapy of adults and children, psychological assessment (personality, objective, intellectual, academic achievement, projective, neuropsychological screening) of adults and children, crisis intervention, psychopharmacology, and therapy with young children, youth and adults. Her practice emphasis is on sexual abuse, anxiety disorders, learning, and behavioral problems.

Bobbi Nichols, M.S., L.P., S.L.P., C.C.C.	Licensed Psychologist Speech Language Pathologist Ms. Nichols is a licensed psychologist and speech language pathologist. She has worked in both elementary and secondary schools. Her interests include: communication disorders, parenting, family conflict, adoption, women’s issues, and anxiety and depression in children, adolescents, and adults.

*Jean O’Malley-Laursen, M.S.E., L.P.*	Licensed Psychologist Ms. O’Malley-Laursen has over 25 years of experience in working with children and families in school, community and residential settings. Her practice includes psychological assessment and therapy with young children, youth and adults. She has worked extensively with families dealing with attention and learning, autism spectrum syndromes, adoption, divorce, trauma and grief. She is trained in behavioral, psychodynamic and experiential approaches and offers EMDR and Theraplay. Her practice is in Rochester and Owatonna.

Karen Ortloff, M.S., L.P.	Licensed Psychologist Ms. Ortloff has 17 years of counseling experience as a licensed psychologist. Her practice includes work with all ages and group therapy. Areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, developmental transitions, marital/parenting issues, and special problems of women and adolescents. She works with emergency service providers and ministerial families. She supports Christian values, and employs cognitive behavioral strategies and educative skills acquisition.

*Katherine A. Porter, M.S., L.P.*	Licensed Psychologist Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ms. Porter has worked extensively with Reactive Attachment Disordered children and their parents. Her practice includes work with parents, children, adolescents, individuals, couples and families. She is trained to provide play therapy, EMDR and Theraplay. Other areas of expertise include trauma, parenting, adoption, divorce, women’s issues, also, grief and loss work. She is fluent in sign language and has extensive experience working with people who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Kristin Nelson, PsyD. LP	Licensed Psychologist Dr. Nelson is a licensed psychologist who has experience with children, adolescents, and adults. Competencies listed with the Board of Psychology include individual therapy to address mood, adjustment, learning, attention, and behavior concerns. Her practice also includes diagnostic assessment and psychological evaluation for cognitive functioning, academic achievement, adaptive functioning, mood and behavior problems, personality traits, and neuropsychological screenings.

Brandy D. Brown, PsyD. LP	Licensed Psychologist Dr. Brown is a licensed psychologist, with emphasis in adolescent and adult psychology. Competencies listed with the Board of Psychology include individual and group psychotherapy of adults, adolescents and children, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), grief and loss counseling, and chemical dependency counseling. Areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, mood disorders, borderline personality disorder, developmental transitions, marital/parenting issues, faith based counseling, educative skills acquisition, and stress management.

Nandita Chawla, PhD, LP	Licensed Psychologist Dr. Chawla received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. She was practicing as a licensed psychologist in San Diego where she provided individual, group and family therapy to children, adolescents and adults in multiple setting such as residential treatment centers, day treatment centers, schools and private practice. Dr. Nandita Chawla is a licensed psychologist who has experience with children, adolescents, and adults. She provides individual, group and family therapy to children, adolescents and families with various internalizing and externalizing disorders. Dr. Chawla’s competencies listed with the Board of Psychology include individual and family therapy to address mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, adjustment difficulties, learning disabilities, attention, and behavior concerns such as acting out behaviors. Dr. Chawla has also worked with children and adult victims of various forms of abuse such as sexual, physical emotional abuse and domestic violence. Dr Chawla has also worked with perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse.

*John Anderson, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W.*	Individual and Family Therapy As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Mr. Anderson’s practice includes individual, couple, and family therapy. He has special expertise in working with adolescents, family therapy, and marital counseling. He has worked at assisting families and individuals with emotional and personal growth for over twenty five years.

*Louise Blissenbach, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W., L.A.D.C.*	Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Individual and Family Therapy Ms. Blissenbach’s practice includes individual, couple, group and family therapy with 25 plus years experience. Her focus includes: chemical dependency and co-dependency, adult children of alcoholics, parenting, spirituality, divorce and separation, grief and loss, adoption, women’s issues, and affective disorders.

*Mark Sherman, M.S.W, L.I.C.S.W., B.C.D.*	Master Level Licensed Social Worker Individual and Family Therapy Clinical Member of Association for Treatment of Sexual Abusers Mr. Sherman brings thirty years experience in individual and family therapy working with children, adolescents, and adults. Areas of interest include individual therapy, play therapy, family therapy, groups, the impacts of neglect, Autism spectrum disorders, physical and sexual abuse, sex offender treatment, and advocacy for school programming.

*Sylvia DeMott, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W.*	Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker Sylvia DeMott is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Her practice includes adults and adolescents, and she is trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and psychodynamic therapy. Her interests include anxiety and mood disorders, work-life balance, women’s issues, parenting and stress management. Ms. DeMott moved to Rochester from the Boston area in 2009, where she worked as a Clinician at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School.

*Dwight H. DoBell, M.Div., L.M.F.T.*	Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Mr. DoBell has over twenty years of Pastoral Counseling experience, having served in three parishes and as a Chaplain for the Army Reserve and Federal Bureau of Prisons. He has also been an elementary school counselor in two Roman Catholic schools. His interests include: parenting, divorce adjustment, marital, blended families, anxiety, anger, depression, emancipation, neurodevelopmental disorders and their impact on the family, grief work, and the relationship between spiritual/theological and psychological health.

*Nelle Moriarty, L.M.F.T.*	Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Specialist Certificate in Human Sexuality and Family Intimacy Specialist in Chemical Dependency Ms. Moriarty’s thirty years of experience includes individual, couple, family, and group therapy. Areas of interest include: ADHD, school refusal, adolescent oppositional behaviors, parenting, grief, loss, trauma, divorce and separation, and chemical dependency and co-dependency. She supervises candidates seeking MFT licensure in Minnesota.

*Patti Miller, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W.*	Ms. Miller has 20 years experience providing direct service to children and families in a variety of settings. Her practice focus includes: child-directed and prescriptive play therapy, physical/sexual abuse, parent education, anxiety/depression, PTSD/trauma, attachment issues, grief and loss, and crisis intervention.

*Dewina Kraus, L.M.F.T*	Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Music Therapist Ms. Kraus has over twelve years of experience working with adults and adolescents who experience mental health and substance abuse problems. Areas of interest include: grief and loss processing, couples therapy, family therapy, parent coaching, school based mental health interventions, domestic violence recovery, medical family therapy, mindfulness/relaxation training, addiction and co-dependency, and spiritual health. Ms. Kraus is a trained music therapist and values the use of experiential methods in her practice with individuals, families, couples and groups.

*Melissa Kaderabek, L.M.F.T*	Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Ms. Kaderabek has been a clinical therapist/case manager in residential care and out patient practice. She provides individual, family, couple and group therapy. Melissa graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her background and training is specific to working with families to respond to the needs of their children within the culture of the family. Melissa is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to better assist children/adolescents to cope with traumatic life events. She has also provided training to parents on specific interventions for children with complex developmental traumas. Melissa has also developed training for parents/foster care providers to meet the needs of children with developmental trauma within their homes. Melissa’s work experience included working with adolescents ages 10-18 and their family systems.

*Christine Hollman, OTR-L*	Pediatric Occupational Therapist Ms. Hollman has over 20 years experience working as a pediatric occupational therapist in a variety of settings including: child and adolescent mental health; Birth - 3; public schools; pediatric outpatient clinic and hospital setting. She has completed extensive training in sensory processing disorders; oral motor skills; handwriting and visual vestibular assessment and treatment. Ms. Hollman has specialty certification in Therapeutic Listening; Integrated Listening Systems and Interactive Metronome.

*Jonathan Kruse, L.M.F.T*	Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Mr. Kruse received his degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. He has served as a chaplain and bereavement coordinator at two local hospices. Previous employment includes outpatient care of adolescents, couples, and families. He has provided care in a group home setting for troubled adolescents. Areas of interest include the following: grief and loss, men’s issues, couples therapy, family therapy, individual therapy, adolescents, anxiety, depression, and spiritual issues. Degrees: M.A.T. & M.S.M.F.T

*Andrea M. Thomas, MS, LPC, NCC*	Counseling Therapist Ms. Thomas has eight years of experience working in the mental health field as an educator, a peer trainer, and as a counselor. She has extensive training and knowledge of working in suicide crisis response and prevention with the adolescent population. Areas of competence include working with individuals living with depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, self-image or self-esteem concerns, adolescent issues/concerns, women's issues/concerns, family disturbances, and parenting concerns. She works with individuals, couples, and families with a cognitive behavioral component based on patient-centered needs and the patient's ability to acquire new skills. Ms. Thomas can work with patients using a faith-based component as requested by the patient. Ms. Thomas works with patients on a Fee for Service basis only. (Please contact the Bluestem Business Office for details.)
Other Staff
*Judy Groth & Rachel Beukema, R.N.*	Psychiatric Nurses

*Tim Heightland*	Business Manager