Therapists

Alison Erickson, MSW, LICSW

I believe that everyone has a unique story to share, and that every story deserves to be heard. As a therapist, my goal is to empower my clients and offer them hope as they navigate life’s challenges. I deeply value the connections and relationships that shape our lives, and this belief guides my approach to therapy. With a trauma-informed and family systems perspective, I work to help individuals and families build stronger, healthier relationships and achieve their personal goals

I specialize in supporting children, teens, and adults of all ages, with a special focus on helping parents and families improve communication and overall functioning through early intervention. I am passionate about working with families to foster positive change and resilience, whether it’s through individual therapy, family therapy, or parent-child support.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with a Master’s Degree in Social Work, earned in 2017. With over 10 years of experience working in diverse settings—including schools, mental health treatment programs, the court system, and in-home services—I am committed to providing compassionate and effective care. I believe that every step toward healing is important, and I am honored to be a part of my clients' journeys.

In my free time I enjoy spending time in nature, taking pictures, and playing with my two black labs. 

Trained in:
Attachment Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC)

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Child Parent Psychotherapy

Level I and Level II training in Theraplay

Chris LeDuc, MA, MS, LMFT

On a personal level, I’ve been happily married for thirty years to a local physics professor, and we are “crazy cat people.”  When not at work, I am reading, watching British spy movies, gathering friends together for hot meals and conversations, and traveling.

Professionally, I spent many years working in local agencies that support students, families and the community. In my late thirties, my journey began to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. After attending graduate school and gaining experience at CentraCare’s Clara’s House, I worked closely with families and young children at Nystrom before joining the team at Ellison Center.

My approach to therapy is trauma-informed and focuses on helping children and families heal through play. I use techniques like TheraPlay to help families connect, find joy, and create new, positive stories that make sense of difficult experiences. I believe that hope is essential for change, and I am passionate about building real connections with families through meaningful conversations that encourage reflection, growth, and joy.

Trained in:
TheraPlay (Level 1 Certification)

Attachment & BioBehavioral Catch-Up (ABC)

Child Parent Psychotherapy (rostered)

Shelby Lies, LPCC

I'm a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor passionate about fostering a safe, supportive space where you can explore stressors and process difficult experiences. I understand how past experiences shape our present and how unexpressed emotions can lead to feeling disconnected from the world and those around us.

In therapy, I prioritize wellness and the belief that positive change is possible. My approach is trauma-informed, integrating attachment theory, developmental insights, and a systems perspective. Together, we’ll focus on your strengths and resilience to create meaningful change and help you and your child feel hopeful and connected.

Over the past 10 years I have worked with children and families in all stages of life and healing. Taking steps toward healing can feel vulnerable, but I’m here to walk alongside you. With warmth, humor, and even moments of play, I aim to make this process as supportive and uplifting as possible—all while providing a professional, non-judgmental environment for growth and healing.

I also utilize play, creative interventions, and somatic theories to best support whole body healing.

Trained in:
Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Theraplay (Level 1)

Brainspotting (Level 2)

Noelle Young, MA, LPCC Clinical Trainee

I offer in-office therapy services to children and families in a caring and supportive environment. Before joining the Ellison Center, I spent over eight years in a school setting, where I had the privilege of supporting young children and their caregivers.

I am deeply passionate about nurturing young minds and creating a safe space for them to share their stories. I approach therapy with kindness and compassion, utilizing evidence-based techniques to provide effective support. I believe that everyone deserves to be heard, and I strive to listen with an empathetic heart.

I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology from the College of Saint Scholastica and recently graduated with a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of North Dakota. I currently live with my husband and our two dogs. In our free time, we enjoy taking walks, traveling, and discovering new movies. I look forward to getting to know you and embarking on a journey of hope and healing together.

Trained in:
Theraplay

Beka Swisher, MS, LAMFT

With over 20 years of experience working with children, parents, and families, I bring a strengths-based and compassionate approach to my work with families. With experience in both school and clinical settings, I’ve had the privilege of working with children and adolescents throughout their developmental stages, addressing a range of social, behavioral, and emotional challenges. At the heart of my approach is the belief that involving caregivers is key to effective therapy. I enjoy working with young children and their caregivers, teenage clients and their families and adult individuals.  I offer in-office therapy services in Little Falls and Saint Cloud and telehealth options as well.  

I conduct therapeutic groups and book clubs for caregivers, provide mental health support for families and individuals housed at AnnaMarie’s Alliance, offer reflective consultation, and conduct training focused on wellness for families and individuals, child development, trauma informed care, early childhood education, alternative learning settings, and more. 

When I’m not in the therapy room I love staying active in nature, reading, traveling, and watching sitcoms from the early 2000s.  I live in Little Falls with my husband and together we parent four children.

As an LAMFT, I approach my work from a family systems perspective. Using a combination of compassion and evidence-based techniques, I help clients identify their strengths and learn new ways to approach life’s challenges.

Trained in:
Theraplay

Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)

Leanna Neuschwander, MA, LMFT

I received my master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary's University in 2015 and have over a decade of experience working with young children and their families. In this time, I have gained experience in assessing children, child development, facilitating day treatment groups, family therapy, working with a variety of diagnoses and families of diverse backgrounds and experiences, training and supervising staff - all with the main goal of supporting relationships. I have extensive experience with neurodivergence and related experiences, using a strength-based approach. In my previous experience, I also worked as compliance manager to assure services are compliant with laws, rules, statutes, and best practices.

Each child and their support system are unique so from the start, we will work together in creating an individualized plan to meet your family's needs. Through my experience, I have observed much of the way people communicate is through body language. I strive to support parents and children with understanding these nonverbal cues, as much as the verbal ones, to facilitate understanding of what one's body tells themselves and others, building both self-awareness and relational-awareness.

Originally from central MN, my family and I have returned after being in the metro area for many years. I enjoy family hikes through the woods and being in nature. Much of my time goes to raising my young ones and soaking up the fleeting, precious time with my family. With spare moments, I enjoy reading, exercising, cooking, trying new restaurants, crafting, and house projects.

Trained in:
Circle of Security Parenting Program

Greenspan Floortime - Level II

Angie Ebert