Acquire Mental Health

Have you ever wondered what starting mental health therapy looks like? Maybe you've considered it in the past then got cold feet in following through with the initial outreach. Keep reading to see how Acquire Mental Health is here to support you in the process.

Starting therapy can be a big step. There are lots of reasons it can be challenging. Acquire Mental Health, located in Brainerd, Nisswa, and St. Cloud, MN, is here to walk with you on this journey without judgement. We offer a wide range of therapist personalities, modalities, and theories. A key part of the therapy journey is meeting with a provider you can trust. You deserve to feel safe and comfortable when sharing difficult things.

At Acquire Mental Health, we are fundamentally humanistic/client centered, systemic, holistic, and trauma informed. Many therapists provide animal assisted therapy.

There are some core theories used at Acquire Mental Health:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on automatic negative thoughts, and how by changing our beliefs about ourselves and situations, we can influence our outcomes in a positive way.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy teaches people how to be more mindful, cope with stress, regulate emotions, and distress tolerance.

Solution-Focused utilizes individual strengths, believes clients hold the solutions, and the therapist co-constructs new

meanings and identities.

Narrative Therapy has clients “rewrite” their negative or problematic stories into positive and empowering narratives.

Internal Family Systems is a type of therapy that believes we are all made up of several parts or sub-personalities.

Polyvagal Theory emphasizes the role the autonomic nervous system (especially the vagus nerve) plays in regulating our

health and behavior.

Somatic Therapy is a therapeutic approach that places importance on what we experience in the mind and the body as well as the connection between the two.

Play Therapy allows children to express and process development and tasks and emotions by imitating, learning, and exploring through therapeutic play. Therapists learn from children's observations and interests as they encounter their world and relationships. We see kids aged 0-plus.

Psychodynamic Theory uses unconscious processes, past conflicts, or inner child work.

Sand Tray uses sand and mini figures to help client's express emotions, process trauma, and promote healing.

Exposure and Response Therapy (ERP) helps reduce symptoms of OCD.

Some modalities require additional certification or training.

We offer the following at Acquire Mental Health:

Emotionally Focused Couples/Family Therapy focuses on attachment habits, reducing unhealthy attachment styles/patterns, and improving secure attachment goals.

EMDR/ART uses bilateral stimulation, typically eye movement, to help desensitize traumatic incidents and events.

Alpha Stim is a cranial electrotherapy stimulation device to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Integrated Assessment combines a diagnostic assessment with a chemical dependency assessment and gives recommendations for level of care for substance use.

Neuroaffirming Assessments (for adults with verbal fluency): Assessments for diagnosis of ADHD, Autism, or both (*not a neuropsychological exam)

Free Therapy for Farmers/Ranchers, Farm families, and Ag workers: Jenny Vaughn is able to provide free mental health services through funding from the State of MN. She is able to provide services in office, telehealth, phone, or even on the farm.

Everyone’s reason and timing for starting therapy is different. We are always open and willing to answer any questions you have. We are here for you, from the first contact, until you’ve met your goals.