River Pines Counseling

River Pines Counseling Clients: adults & couples. Specialties: healthcare providers, pet owners, leaders, first responders, EMDR, art therapy, Gottman couples. In-person Stillwater MN.

Insurance: UHC, UMR, UBH, BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medica, Health Partners. MN & WI Telehealth.

Many of us learned that rest comes after productivity.Finish the work.Cross off the list.Take care of everyone else.Then...
06/10/2026

Many of us learned that rest comes after productivity.
Finish the work.
Cross off the list.
Take care of everyone else.
Then maybe rest.
But the nervous system doesn’t work that way.
Rest isn’t something you earn.
It’s something your mind and body require to function well.
Research has found that chronic stress without adequate recovery contributes to burnout, emotional exhaustion, impaired concentration, and health concerns.
You don’t have to prove you’ve worked hard enough before taking care of yourself.
Source:
Maslach & Leiter, 2016
River Pines Counseling | Stillwater, MN
In-Person Therapy in Stillwater | Telehealth Across Minnesota & Wisconsin
Burnout recovery • Nervous system regulation • Stress management • Self-care

We often celebrate beginnings, but we don’t talk enough about endings.Some friendships serve an important purpose for a ...
06/08/2026

We often celebrate beginnings, but we don’t talk enough about endings.
Some friendships serve an important purpose for a season of life.
Some teach us lessons.
Some help us grow.
Some simply run their course.
The end of a relationship doesn’t automatically mean it failed.
Sometimes growth means recognizing when something no longer fits who you’re becoming.
That realization can be both painful and healthy.
What relationship lesson has adulthood taught you?
River Pines Counseling | Stillwater, MN
In-Person Therapy in Stillwater | Telehealth Across Minnesota & Wisconsin
Relationship growth • Friendship grief • Twin Cities counseling

Many people think perfectionism looks like achievement.Often it looks like anxiety.Overthinking.Second-guessing.Procrast...
06/05/2026

Many people think perfectionism looks like achievement.
Often it looks like anxiety.
Overthinking.
Second-guessing.
Procrastinating.
Avoiding opportunities.
Feeling like nothing is ever good enough.
Research suggests perfectionism is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and self-criticism.
What looks like “high standards” from the outside can feel exhausting on the inside.
The goal isn’t lowering your standards.
The goal is learning that your worth isn’t dependent on flawless performance.
What’s one area of life where perfectionism shows up for you?
Source:
Curran & Hill, 2019, Psychological Bulletin
River Pines Counseling | Stillwater, MN
In-Person Therapy in Stillwater | Telehealth Across Minnesota & Wisconsin
Perfectionism recovery • Self-compassion • Anxiety counseling • Emotional health • Twin Cities therapist

Change has a way of making us believe we need to become someone entirely new.But often, growth isn’t about reinventing y...
06/03/2026

Change has a way of making us believe we need to become someone entirely new.
But often, growth isn’t about reinventing yourself.
It’s about reconnecting with the parts of you that got buried beneath expectations, responsibilities, survival mode, people-pleasing, or simply the demands of everyday life.
The hobbies you once loved.
The confidence you used to trust.
The values that felt most true to you.
The dreams that got put on hold.
Sometimes healing looks less like becoming someone different and more like remembering who you’ve been all along.
What part of yourself are you reconnecting with lately?
River Pines Counseling | Stillwater, MN
In-Person Therapy in Stillwater | Telehealth Across Minnesota & Wisconsin
Loneliness • Feeling disconnected • Mental wellness • Anxiety support • Counseling services

Friendships often become more complicated as we move through adulthood — not because we’re doing something wrong, but be...
06/02/2026

Friendships often become more complicated as we move through adulthood — not because we’re doing something wrong, but because life changes.

Careers become demanding.
Families grow.
Responsibilities increase.
People move.
Values evolve.

Research has found that social connection is one of the strongest predictors of both physical and mental wellbeing, yet many adults report having fewer close friendships than previous generations.

The grief that comes from a changing friendship is real, even when there wasn’t a dramatic ending.

Sometimes people grow in different directions.
Sometimes seasons of life no longer align.
Sometimes a friendship simply changes.
It’s okay to acknowledge that loss.

Have you noticed friendships changing as you’ve gotten older?

Source:
Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010, PLOS Medicine
U.S. Survey Center on American Life, 2021

River Pines Counseling | Stillwater, MN
In-Person Therapy in Stillwater | Telehealth Across Minnesota & Wisconsin
Adult friendships • Friendship changes • Loneliness • Life transitions

Healthcare professionals are often expected to function under continuous pressure while remaining emotionally present, r...
05/29/2026

Healthcare professionals are often expected to function under continuous pressure while remaining emotionally present, regulated, and responsive.

Research shows burnout is associated with prolonged workplace stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced sense of accomplishment — particularly in high-demand caregiving professions.

A 2023 report from the National Academy of Medicine identified excessive workload, administrative burden, lack of recovery time, and emotional strain as major contributors to healthcare worker burnout.

Chronic stress impacts more than energy levels.

It can affect concentration, sleep, emotional regulation, relationships, physical health, and overall well-being.

Therapy can help create space to process the weight of caregiving, identify early signs of nervous system overload, and develop healthier, more sustainable patterns of coping and recovery.

Support is not just for when things fall apart.
It is part of staying well enough to continue caring for others.

Sources:
National Academy of Medicine, 2023
Maslach & Leiter, 2016

Transitions – whether expected or not – disrupt your sense of normal.Even positive changes can create uncertainty, stres...
05/27/2026

Transitions – whether expected or not – disrupt your sense of normal.
Even positive changes can create uncertainty, stress, and emotional strain.

Career shifts
Relationship changes
New roles or identities
Children growing into a new phase of life

These moments hold both challenge and opportunity.

Therapy helps you move through transitions with intention – so they become periods of growth rather than prolonged uncertainty.

If you’re navigating change, support can help you move forward with clarity.

Meet Clare, LPCC, MA — Psychotherapist & Art TherapistClare specializes in: • Grief and Loss • Identity exploration • L...
05/26/2026

Meet Clare, LPCC, MA — Psychotherapist & Art Therapist
Clare specializes in:
• Grief and Loss
• Identity exploration
• Life transitions
• Anxiety and stress
• Creative expression through art therapy

She integrates traditional talk therapy with creative approaches – offering alternative ways to process experiences that may be difficult to put into words.

Her work supports deeper emotional access, insight, and healing.

Explore a different way of processing and understanding your experiences with Clare.

A distracted or unfocused mind is often misunderstood as a lack of discipline.More often, it’s a reflection of a nervous...
05/22/2026

A distracted or unfocused mind is often misunderstood as a lack of discipline.
More often, it’s a reflection of a nervous system that has been under sustained pressure for too long.
When your body is in a heightened state, your brain prioritizes survival – not clarity, creativity, or deep focus.
This is why you might feel:
Mentally scattered
Easily overwhelmed
Unable to fully rest – even when you have time
Therapy helps you recognize these patterns and build the skills to regulate your system more effectively.
Over time, this creates:
More consistent focus
Better decision-making
A greater sense of control over your internal state
If your mind has been feeling constantly “on,” therapy can help you reset and build a more sustainable way of functioning.

Meet Kate, LICSW, MA — PsychotherapistKate works with individuals navigating: • Anxiety and overthinking • Trauma and em...
05/20/2026

Meet Kate, LICSW, MA — Psychotherapist
Kate works with individuals navigating:
• Anxiety and overthinking
• Trauma and emotional processing
• Emotional overwhelm
• Life transitions
• Self-understanding and identity

Her approach is relational, grounded, and deeply supportive – helping clients feel seen while building tools for clarity and emotional balance.

Kate focuses on helping you better understand your internal patterns so you can move through life with more confidence and connection.

If you’re looking for deeper understanding and steadiness, Kate offers a supportive place to begin.

Address

105 New England Place Suite 150
Stillwater, MN
55082

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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