Counseling & Mental Health

Counseling & Mental Health Services

JFS has, since its inception more than a century ago, been renowned for its excellent and affordable counseling services.

JFS therapists specialize in the assessment and treatment of a wide range of mental health issues for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. Concerns addressed include, but aren’t limited to, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, family problems, parenting, abuse, aging, grief and loss, life adjustment problems and childhood emotional and behavioral difficulties. JFS counseling staff also offer premarital counseling for couples preparing for marriage.

While JFS therapists have extensive experience working with Jewish family life issues, they serve individuals and families regardless of religion, income, heritage or circumstance; one does not need to be Jewish to be seen at JFS. All services are confidential, and JFS adheres to the strictest privacy standards. Counseling is offered on a fee-for-service basis and therapeutic services at JFS are covered by a wide variety of health insurance plans. Please verify your eligibility and benefits before coming in as some coverage benefits vary. A subsidized sliding fee based on family income is also available for those without insurance.

Meet JFS Therapists

Mitchell Wittenberg, Ph.D., LP, the JFS Counseling Director, is a licensed psychologist with over 35 years of clinical experience. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Rochester, NY and has practiced in a diverse array of psychotherapeutic settings including community mental health centers, family service agencies, college counseling centers, hospitals, and schools. Dr. Wittenberg has been with JFS since 1993. His clinical practice includes work with adults, couples, families, children, and adolescents. Dr. Wittenberg is a school consultant, and he facilitates a school-based creative problem-solving program he has developed over time.

Clinical Approach/Personal Statement

“For me, the key foundation to personal change in counseling is the development of a positive working relationship with one’s therapist—if you don’t feel sensitively and empathically heard, understood and appreciated, all my various techniques and approaches are of little value. I strive to connect at deep emotional and personal levels with each client—child, adolescent, adult, couple, or family—as we work together towards a thorough understanding of the issues, concerns, and treatment goals that bring you to therapy. Rather than adhere to a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, I develop therapeutic strategies tailored specifically for each situation at hand. My focus is often less about fixing problems than nurturing the unique personal strengths and coping resources that everyone possesses and that can be used in the process of therapeutic growth.”

Education
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (BA; 1982); University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (PhD; 1986)

Licenses
Licensed Psychologist (Minnesota Board of Psychology; #LP3061; original license date: 2/11/94)

Insurance Accepted

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, First Health, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, Medical Assistance, Preferred One, UCare, United Healthcare. This list is not exhaustive. Please verify your eligibility and benefits before coming in as some coverage benefits vary.

Contact Information
(651) 698-0767 (office)
Email Dr. Wittenberg here


Stephanie Larson, LICSW, JFS therapist, assesses and treats a wide range of mental health issues for adolescents and adults.

Stephanie is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who has served as psychotherapist for a diverse array of clients since 2019. She works with people of all identities and backgrounds across the life span. She is passionate about working with older adults and their families. Stephanie works collaboratively with clients to develop their own goals, while using a variety of treatment approaches tailored uniquely for each individual. Stephanie has a very holistic counseling style, often focused on the strengths each of her clients possess for seeing their way through life challenges. Her areas of clinical interest include, but are not limited to, trauma, caregiver fatigue, relationship difficulties, LGBTQ+ concerns, life adjustments, end-of-life, grief and women’s issues. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and Brainspotting (BSP); both are evidence-based, neurological, body-based approaches for reducing the negative and often enduring effects of stress and/or trauma.

Clinical Approach/Personal Statement

“It is an honor to walk alongside my clients on their unique journeys,” said Stephanie. “I believe the therapeutic relationship and self-accountability are equally important to personal growth. It is important that my clients feel comfortable, safe, and able to be vulnerable during our work. Many clients have shared with me that they appreciate my empathetic, supportive, straightforward and genuine character. I use a variety of therapeutic modalities combined with an integrative approach to provide customized care to each person as they work through difficulties and gain a deeper sense of self and their challenges. I believe collaboration in the therapeutic relationship allows the client to trust themselves to do the work of therapy.”

Education
University of St. Thomas: Master of Social Work – Clinical Program; Area of Emphasis in Aging Scholar (May 2020)
University of Wisconsin – River Falls: B.S. Business Administration , Minor – Dance Education (May 1999)

Licenses
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (Minnesota, #29282, original license date: August 3, 2022 )
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (Wisconsin, #11038-123, issued November, 2022)

Insurance Accepted
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, First Health, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, Medical Assistance, Preferred One, UCare, United Healthcare. This list is not exhaustive. Please verify your eligibility and benefits before coming in as some coverage benefits vary.

Contact Information
(651) 698-0767 (office)
Email Stephanie here


Tara Burns is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) who, since 2018, has treated a wide range of mental health concerns for adults across the lifespan, including helping couples.

Before transitioning to the JFS counseling department, Tara was a PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active and Rewarding Lives) Counselor providing mental health services to adults age 55+ and caregivers experiencing mild to moderate depression. She co-facilitates caregiver support groups, provides community presentations on resilience and mental health issues, and teaches classes on caregiver support and mindfulness and meditation. She also has experience working in hospice and has been a hospice volunteer since 2017.

Tara’s experience includes providing community mental health services to couples and individuals across the lifespan at Lutheran Social Service of MN, Walk-In Counseling Center and Pillsbury House Integrated Health Clinic. Her areas of clinical interest include grief/loss, bereavement, life transition and stressors, end-of-life, depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, sleep issues, men’s issues and relationship issues. Tara is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), which works directly to reprogram the way in which distressing memories and images are stored in the brain so that they no longer trigger strong physical and emotional reactions. She gravitates towards mindfulness-based interventions such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (M-CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in addition to client-centered, psychodynamic, narrative and creative therapy as appropriate.

Clinical Approach/Personal Statement

“My goal in therapy is to help people recognize their strengths, teach skills to help cope with symptoms, change unhelpful behaviors, explore and grow insight, and find greater balance and well-being. I’m not here to lead, but rather, explore the counseling journey together. The analogy I like to use is envisioning we are in a rowboat and it’s your boat. You’re in charge of the oars, the destination, the navigation, and how much effort you’d like to put into rowing the boat. I’m in the boat as your companion pointing out things you might not see (other boats, a rock, a tree branch, waves, etc.), helping you ride the waves if we hit stormy weather, teaching you other ways to row, navigate and care for the boat, exploring the history of the boat, while also providing support and encouragement. But you’re always in charge of the boat.”

Education

Adler Graduate School, Minnetonka, MN – M.A. Adlerian Counseling & Psychotherapy

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities – B.S. Environmental Science

Licenses

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health, #cc03682, issued February 2023)

Insurance Accepted

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, First Health, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, Medical Assistance, Preferred One, UCare, United Healthcare. This list is not exhaustive. Please verify your eligibility and benefits before coming in as some coverage benefits vary.

Contact Information
(651) 698-0767 (office)
Email Tara here


Additional Counseling Services

Support Groups
JFS also offers dementia caregivers and grief support groups. Click here for more information. Click here to learn more about all our services for caregivers.