I'm a licensed psychologist in Minnesota and Michigan, trained as a "scientist-practitioner" through the University of Minnesota. I am a UCSD Certified mPEAK Coach. mPEAK stands for Mindful Performance Enhancement, Awareness, and Knowledge. I am also a Trained Teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), trained through the University of California - San Diego Center for Mindfulness. In addition, I am Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator (CDWF), certified by the Brené Brown Education and Research Group (BBEARG). I earned a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2008 and a master's degree in counseling from the University of Minnesota in 2002. My doctoral training included an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited predoctoral internship at the University of Southern California and a postdoctoral fellowship at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. In 1999, I completed bachelor's degrees in Psychology, Women's Studies, and German at St. Olaf College.
When we know ourselves to be connected to all others, acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do.
- Rachel Naomi Remen
Carli's Professional Background
My professional background includes over 22 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience. I have served adults and adolescents, providing psychological services for personal, career, health, and athletic realms. I have worked in a variety of settings including the Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, university counseling centers, university student services and alumni relationships, community medical and mental health centers, The Emily Program, a world-renowned eating disorder treatment center, and private practices. I have also taught undergraduate and graduate psychology courses at universities and a local community college.
In January 2015, I opened the doors of my current private practice where I provide individual therapy, coaching, and consultation, teaches classes and workshops, and develops programs which I lead for organizations around the U.S. I specialize in resilience and performance skills for individuals, families, teams, and organizations with the overarching goal of empowering courageous and resilient lives.
We don't set out to save the world; we set out to wonder how other people are doing and to reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts.
- Pema Chodron
Values + Passions + Giving Back
Courage, connection, and compassion are the driving values of my life and work. I thrive on opportunities to help people create meaningful, long-term change through workshops, therapy, coaching and consultation. I bring decades of intimate service with people to my workshop offerings in professional, educational, and athletic realms.
I am an advocate for resilience skill development within the workplace, in the classroom, on the sports field, and at home. As Jon Kabat-Zinn says, "We are who we are wherever we go." Personal growth is professional growth. It's athletic growth. It's academic growth. It's parenting growth. When we dedicate our lives to learning and growing and supporting others in their growth, the ripple effects of goodness are awesome. We need to make resilience skill development accessible for all people, across community settings. Resilient people make a community stronger.
Giving back is important to me. Pay it forward, right? Dedicated educators and school administration have made a positive impact on my life from early childhood education through my Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. Living out gratitude through action, I offer an education discount in my provision of school-based programs. I have provided multiple pro-bono workshops for school district employees during the Covid-19 pandemic. I also enjoy volunteering at my children's school and value opportunities to connect with and support the hard working and dedicated staff. Additionally, I volunteer for the Suicide Prevention Collaborative (SPC), a community-based organization, which supports suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
I enjoy spending time with my family, love time in nature, and value opportunities to deepen my personal mindfulness and meditation practice. I love sports and am a former soccer player and swimmer. I identify as an athlete and am creative with how I pursue physical challenges and training following a series of serious sports injuries resulting in a partial knee replacement in 2014. My passions for resilience and "living alive" in our bodies were shaped by these injuries and challenges, along with my dedication to serving athletes and people living with chronic pain. A lover of water, I'm very excited to begin Free diving training in September 2022.
What are my favorite things to do on the weekend? A long yummy nap, a great workout, and cheering for swimmers at my children's swim meets. Quiet time, physical activity, and cheering for people fill my soul bucket! I'll add that my career fills my soul bucket too. It's a true joy to walk with people and support them in healing and flourishing. We're all in this together!
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?