Education:
University of Minnesota - Masters in Social Work
University of Minnesota - Masters in Elementary Education
University of Minnesota - Bachelors in Elementary Education
Areas of Experience
More About Megan Nelson
Clinical Interests:
My clinical work has primarily focused on outpatient mental health therapy for children ages 5-11. I have worked within both outpatient and school-based mental health settings supporting needs of clients. My clinical interests focus on supporting children and families through a range of challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma and social challenges. I enjoy partnering with children and their families to hear their individual stories and work together to develop a plan for care that best suits them.
Clinical Approach:
My therapeutic style is warm, collaborative and person-centered. I believe that therapy works best when children and families feel seen and understood. I take the time to truly get to know your child and build the therapeutic relationship with intention, genuine connection and unconditional positive regard. I often use play therapy as one of my main tools, because play is a child’s natural language- it helps them express feelings, build skills and persevere through obstacles in ways that words sometimes can’t. I view therapy as an opportunity to join alongside the family and child to support them navigate life stressors and guide them on their individual journey towards resilience and healing. I will often also incorporate additional modalities such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and internal family systems in addition to utilizing tools in the play room such as the sand tray to support children expressing themselves within the space.
Hobbies:
I enjoy cooking, spending time outside with my family and our dog, camping on the North Shore and reading. I love to travel to new places when I have the time and collect magnets from each new place I visit!