Nik Lovaas
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I've dedicated my life to helping others heal and unlock their inner strengths and resources. I am committed to helping others understand and embrace their cultural and/or spiritual identity. I earned my Master of Science degree from St. Cloud State University in 2012, majoring in Marriage and Family Therapy. I enjoy working with diverse populations: children, adolescents, adults, elders, couples, and families. I specialize and have years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. I am also specialized in Family Moving Forward, a behavioral consultation for families with a child diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or Prenatal Alcohol Exposure aimed towards providing psychoeducation for managing problem behaviors, developing protective factors, and accommodating brain-based challenges. I have extensive knowledge in Children’s Friendship Training, which teaches children social etiquette for developing and maintaining healthy friendships. I provided psychoeducational groups to families on this topic, which was funded by a grant through the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS). I am nationally certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidenced-based treatment for improving children’s trauma symptoms and responses. I am a certified Brainspotting Practitioner. Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing, and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation, and a variety of other challenging symptoms.
My work is guided by a relational and systemic approach to healing. I am experienced and proficient working with couples who are on the brink of divorce, struggling with trust, looking to improve their intimacy, or dealing with conflict related to infidelity. I'm passionate about providing multicultural therapy and understanding existential dilemmas. I meet clients where they are at in their lives and work hard to gain perspective into their inner world. I believe in fostering a therapeutic relationship that is authentic and welcomes difficult conversations, and have a firm understanding that trust is essential in the development of healthy relationships. I employ techniques from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Attachment Based Therapy, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Narrative Therapy, and Play Therapy. I have experience working with individuals suffering from mental health diagnoses such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I am experienced working with individuals to address relationship conflict, infidelity, infertility, and grief.
I have experience addressing school problems, juvenile court matters, and oppositional behaviors. I consider myself an LGBTQ+ ally. I am genuine, passionate, understanding, supportive, and altruistic about therapy and the impact it has to positively impact individuals and the world.
" [The best part of my experience with The Village is] the wealth of knowledge Nik has shared and explained with us regarding how the brain responds to anxiety and trauma." -Client Testimonial
Nik Lovaas
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I've dedicated my life to helping others heal and unlock their inner strengths and resources. I am committed to helping others understand and embrace their cultural and/or spiritual identity. I earned my Master of Science degree from St. Cloud State University in 2012, majoring in Marriage and Family Therapy. I enjoy working with diverse populations: children, adolescents, adults, elders, couples, and families. I specialize and have years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. I am also specialized in Family Moving Forward, a behavioral consultation for families with a child diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or Prenatal Alcohol Exposure aimed towards providing psychoeducation for managing problem behaviors, developing protective factors, and accommodating brain-based challenges. I have extensive knowledge in Children’s Friendship Training, which teaches children social etiquette for developing and maintaining healthy friendships. I provided psychoeducational groups to families on this topic, which was funded by a grant through the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS). I am nationally certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidenced-based treatment for improving children’s trauma symptoms and responses. I am a certified Brainspotting Practitioner. Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing, and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation, and a variety of other challenging symptoms.
My work is guided by a relational and systemic approach to healing. I am experienced and proficient working with couples who are on the brink of divorce, struggling with trust, looking to improve their intimacy, or dealing with conflict related to infidelity. I'm passionate about providing multicultural therapy and understanding existential dilemmas. I meet clients where they are at in their lives and work hard to gain perspective into their inner world. I believe in fostering a therapeutic relationship that is authentic and welcomes difficult conversations, and have a firm understanding that trust is essential in the development of healthy relationships. I employ techniques from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Attachment Based Therapy, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Narrative Therapy, and Play Therapy. I have experience working with individuals suffering from mental health diagnoses such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I am experienced working with individuals to address relationship conflict, infidelity, infertility, and grief.
I have experience addressing school problems, juvenile court matters, and oppositional behaviors. I consider myself an LGBTQ+ ally. I am genuine, passionate, understanding, supportive, and altruistic about therapy and the impact it has to positively impact individuals and the world.
" [The best part of my experience with The Village is] the wealth of knowledge Nik has shared and explained with us regarding how the brain responds to anxiety and trauma." -Client Testimonial