Wade Bergquist

More About Wade

Psychological Toll of ICE Enforcement in the Twin Cities

Recent events in Minneapolis involving immigration enforcement and community response have understandably created fear, uncertainty, and emotional strain for many individuals and families. Stress related to political, social, or cultural events can have real and lasting effects on mental health—impacting sleep, mood, sense of safety, and overall well-being.

If you are experiencing distress, confusion, or emotional burden related to these or other political or societal issues, you are welcome to bring those experiences into therapy. This is a space where your thoughts, emotions, and concerns can be explored openly and respectfully. I am here to support your emotional well-being—not to persuade or judge, but to help you process, stabilize, and reconnect with your sense of agency and inner clarity.

Your lived experience matters, and you deserve support in making sense of it.

Who I Am and How I Work

Greatness is already in you; I’m here to uncover it. I specialize in behavioral and substance addictions, couples therapy, trauma, anxiety, and stress for adults aged 21 and older. With three decades of experience in the recovery community and a Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychology from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (Magna Cum Laude), my work is grounded in both lived experience and clinical training. I believe deeply in people’s capacity for change—and in their right to move at their own pace.

My approach is rooted in Motivational Interviewing, a collaborative, evidence-based method that honors your autonomy and strengthens your own internal motivation for change. Rather than telling you what you “should” do, I work alongside you to explore your values, your ambivalence, and your goals. Lasting change rarely comes from pressure—it emerges when people feel seen, understood, empowered, and safe to make choices aligned with who they truly are.

Addiction

Addiction is not a failure of character or willpower. It reflects learned patterns shaped by the brain’s dopaminergic reward system, the nervous system, and life experiences—often developing as a way to cope with emotional distress or restore a sense of stability. These behaviors provide temporary relief or pleasure, reinforcing their repetition through neurobiological reward processes.

Over time, individuals may continue engaging in the behavior despite adverse outcomes or functional impairment, as the brain becomes conditioned to prioritize short-term relief. Our work together will focus on understanding these patterns with compassion, increasing awareness, and identifying healthier alternatives that support your long-term well-being, autonomy, and quality of life.

Couples Therapy

In couples therapy, I utilize Pragmatic-Experiential Therapy for Couples (PET-C), informed by attachment science, neurobiology, and emotional safety. Relationships do not struggle because one person is broken—they struggle because both partners are human, shaped by their own histories, fears, and protective patterns. Our work will focus on increasing emotional understanding, reducing defensiveness, and helping both partners move toward greater clarity, responsibility, and connection. I will challenge you when needed—but always with compassion and respect.

My broader therapeutic framework integrates Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic insight, and recovery-informed care. Together, we will explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors with curiosity—not judgment. We will gently examine beliefs that may no longer serve you, while strengthening the parts of you that are already capable of healing.

I am also trained in discernment counseling, helping couples navigate crossroads with clarity—whether the path leads toward repair (thoughtful uncertainty), separation, or divorce.

What to Expect in Therapy

Therapy with me is a collaborative process built on trust, safety, and mutual respect. You will not be forced, judged, or rushed. Instead, we will work together to better understand your experiences, your strengths, and your hopes. Your potential is already in you; I’m here to help uncover it.

Motivational Interviewing teaches us that people change not when they are told what to do—but when they reconnect with their own reasons for change. My role is to listen deeply, reflect honestly, and help you access the part of yourself that already knows the direction you want to go.

This work is not about “fixing” you. You are not broken. It is about helping you develop clarity, reduce suffering, and move toward a life that feels more authentic and sustainable.

Research proves that humans heal best in connection—not isolation. Therapy provides a space where you can be fully human: uncertain, hopeful, conflicted, and capable of growth.

Mental Health Is Preventative Care

Caring for your mental health is not a sign of weakness—it is a form of maintenance, much like caring for your physical health. Just as routine dental visits help prevent larger dental problems, therapy can help identify mental health concerns and support long-term emotional well-being.

Personal practices like exercise, reflection, and meditation are valuable. Clinical therapy is very different and  complements these efforts by providing trained perspective, emotional attunement, and tools that support deeper, lasting change.

Outside the Office: Life in Motion

Movement is an important part of my own well-being. Whether riding my motorcycle, mountain biking, walking my dogs or a weekend getaway to NYC, I’m reminded that growth often involves uncertainty, balance, and courage.

The arts—music, theater, and visual storytelling—keep me connected to the emotional depth that makes us human. My ongoing involvement in recovery communities (30 years and counting) continues to ground me in humility, accountability, and connection.

At home, my two dogs offer daily reminders of presence and simplicity. These moments of stillness and reflection are part of what allows me to show up fully and authentically for the people I work with.

Final Thought

If you are considering therapy, you may already have a sense that something in your life deserves attention or care. You do not need to have everything figured out. Ambivalence, uncertainty, and hesitation are all welcome here.

Change begins with courageous conversations. I don’t create your power; I help reveal it.