Ms. Tessa Gittleman LMFT

Having been a consumer of harmful therapy, I decided to become a therapist to help clients who have struggled to find the right provider, get support in the ways the client needs, and help clients find providers who are a fit for them (even if that's not me). Providing a corrective and healing experience is my primary goal.

My goal is to push clients 20% past where they are comfortable because learning how to manage discomfort is the best skillset a client can have. I also do not believe that anyone becomes dysfunctional alone, and therefore are limited to healing themselves on their own. That's why I encourage all of my clients--including individual clients--to have a relational session every 3-6mo. It doesn't have to be a person a client is in conflict with, just a person who can provide perspective so our work is more dimensional, experiential, and impactful.

• Minnesota, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 3573

I graduated from St. Mary's University, Twin Cities, with my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy, in 2017. Since then, I have worked across school-based and private practice settings, with folx ages 6-72, ranging from individuals to entire polycules. I currently work for myself as a solo practitioner in Golden Valley, MN, but I became an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and an MN Approved Supervisor for LMFTs and LPCCs, so I supervise throughout the metro. My style is transparent, funny, collaborative, and experiential. My orientation borrows from Motivational Interviewing, Somatic-Experiential, and IFS. These modalities help me to understand you, your unique situation, and what’s actually helpful. I am also starting Brainspotting training in the Spring of 2023.