Sex and Relationship Therapy in Minneapolis, MN
Move through trauma, heal relationships,and see your sex life transform
Virtual or in-person appointments available
A down-to-earth approach to therapy for people navigating everyday challenges with love and sex.
Choosing to go to therapy is an important first step towards healing. While life may feel heavy right now, you’re in the right place to make the changes you want to make. We do the work we do because we believe in the power of therapy to help people heal. When you show up ready to get to the root of your issues, you’re saying that you’re ready to find a better way.
At Birch Lake, we don’t judge; we’re here to support you at every step, and want you to know you’re never alone.
Our specialties include Sex Therapy, Couples & Relationship Therapy, EMDR Trauma Processing, and Alternative Relationship Structures. All of our therapists are licensed in the state of Minnesota. We welcome people of all backgrounds and relationships, including LGBTQIA+ folks
THE STORY BEHIND OUR NAME
Why ‘Birch Lake’?
Birch trees became our namesake because they grow in pairs, like couples building a strong foundation. They also shed the bark they no longer need– a representation of how therapy allows us to shed shame and old stories as we heal. As trees indigenous to Minnesota (and growing near the Great Lakes), birches are also a fitting representation of our resilient community.
As two therapists founding a practice together, we wanted to create a welcoming, accepting place where couples and individuals would feel supported. We call the therapy we do ‘relational therapy’ because the work we do starts with the individual, but becomes a ripple effect into every relationship.
OUR THERAPISTS
Empathetic, personal therapy helping you tend to your most important relationships.
Anne Bauers
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, Cofounder of Birch Lake Relational Therapy
Struggling with sexual issues can leave you feeling ashamed, anxious, depressed, and disconnected from your partner and loved ones. I help you identify what keeps you stuck in old patterns and behaviors so you can build the life you want to live.
In session, I work with couples who struggle with issues like differing levels of desire, infidelity, past trauma, sexual pain, and shame about your sexuality. I also work with people considering separation, divorce, blending families, and opening up relationships.
I am trained in EMDR, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1, Gottman Level 1, and Relational Life Therapy Level 1. Alongside these methods, I often use narrative techniques, somatic/body-based approaches, and an Internal Family Systems framework in my practice. My approach is warm and curious, operating from the belief that we all have the inherent ability to create change. As your therapist, I am here to walk alongside you through that process.
Joanna Diem
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, Cofounder of Birch Lake Relational Therapy
Sex can be a difficult subject to talk about, but in therapy, we take away the stigma and judgment to create an accepting, welcoming place. Talking about sex is sometimes serious, while other times we find the humor.
In therapy, I guide my clients in developing self-understanding so they can strengthen their connections and relationships. My areas of special interest include coping with addictions, anxiety & depression, grief & loss, and intimate relationships. I also have a passion for working with clients who are figuring out “adulting” or preparing for marriage. I am trained in EMDR and have a background working with clients recovering from addictions, as well as Gottman Level and Relational Life Therapy Level 1.
Clients describe me as warm, connection-driven, and funny. I will hold you accountable, but always with compassion and without judgment. I’ll hold your pain and joy alongside you.
Cara Mielke
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS LMFT
Sexual pain and concerns with sexual functioning are more common than you’d think. In therapy, we debunk myths you may have learned about bodies and relationships, and get to the root of sex-related anxiety. From vaginal and vulval pain to performance anxiety and erectile dysfunction, I’m here to support you in developing a more joyful relationship with your sexual expression.
While my clients describe me as collaborative and nurturing, I also value humor and transparency. When we are in session, my goal is always to provide a safe space and support you in making lasting change.
Olivia Schwendinger
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, Prepare/Enrich Facilitator
My approach to therapy brings compassion and celebration of all parts of the individual while acknowledging our capacity to grow– no matter our age. I work with both individuals and couples through life transitions like new partnership, divorce & separation, opening up a relationship, pregnancy, and empty nesting. For couples getting married, I help create a satisfying, enriching foundation from the beginning.
With a social justice lens, I have experience with and welcome clients of all backgrounds and relationships. In therapy, we can explore communication related to sex, relationship dynamics, sexual identity, grief and loss, traumas and patterns, and so much more.
