Hello, my name is Kristen/“Kris” Morgan, and I am a mental health counselor, a mixed media artist, and a trauma survivor.

As a Counselor, I help lead people back to themselves: to be with the truth of what they feel, what they need, and what they can do to move forward with greater self-compassion, courage, clarity, and confidence.

I believe that we heal through connection (with ourselves, with others, with living things), and that we suffer with disconnection. Over the years, I’ve experienced counseling, creativity, meditation, and relationships as healing, transformative processes that rely on authenticity and connection.

As a mixed-media artist, I’ve shown my work in solo and group exhibits. Much of my artwork centers on themes of vulnerability, trauma, and redemption following childhood sexual trauma.

My art background gives me sensitivity and insight into working with those who identify as creative, visual thinking, spiritual, abstract, and/or out-of-the box.

On a more personal note, I’m a young-at-heart old soul, and the mother of my 20-something-year-old daughter. I value family and friendships, and I take good care of people and plants.

My Counseling Approach is:

• IFS-informed: Using the IFS (Internal Family Systems) model of counseling, I help clients increase self-compassion; access inner strengths and resources; heal emotional wounds; and create new experiences of life.

• Solution-focused: I work with clients toward “solutions” to their presenting problems. Collaboratively, we develop specific, measurable, and attainable therapeutic goals to help clients create meaningful change.

• Visual Arts-informed: Based on individual preferences and needs, I use visual arts interventions to help clients connect with, express, and process challenging emotions.

• Inclusive: I respect and value individual differences in culture, ethnicity, values, ability, and religious beliefs. As as LGBTQI+ ally, I work to create an atmosphere of safety, openness, and acceptance.

• Trauma-informed: As a trauma-informed counselor, I am aware of: 1) the widespread impacts of trauma; 2) the symptoms and signs of trauma; and 3) the modalities for treating trauma. To protect clients from stress and re-traumatization, I implement the principles of trauma-informed care into my counseling practice.

• Intuitive/Spiritual: I see counseling and personal development as spiritual processes. From this perspective, I hold clients’ presence, histories, and hopes as sacred.

• Empathic and nonjudgmental: I have provided compassionate counseling for clients from a wide range of backgrounds including those attending court-mandated counseling following criminal convictions.

• Wellness-focused: I am passionate about the science of habit formation, and helping clients compassionately focus on self-care across multiple domains of wellness to build resilience and thrive amidst their current challenges.

My training:

• Internal Family Systems Level 1 Training (IFS Institute)

• I have provided counseling services through Gundersen Health System; La Crosse County Mobile Crisis Unit; and Project Pathfinder

• Master of Science degree - Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Winona State University)

• Master of Arts degree - Human Development with specialization in Spirituality (Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota)

• Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with specialization in Studio Art (University of MN-Duluth)

• Associate of Arts degree - Visual Communications (Art Institute of Pittsburgh)