Dawn Pappas, MSW, LICSW, DBTC

Graduating with honors in 2000 with her Master of Social Work, Dawn moved to the Park Rapids area with her young family, seeking the benefits of small-town lake living.  She gained valuable experience at the community mental health center in town, and went on to manage the Park Rapids office along with her full-time clinical practice.  

 

Dawn has been a business owner since 2010.  GroupWorks represents the culmination of her work and training, with a focus on helping people realize comprehensive changes in the way they think, behave and feel, both inwardly and outwardly.  With a focus on self-awareness and the person’s physiology, Dawn is able to educate clients on specific strategies to notice, observe and ultimately change their responses to stress.  Her practice consists of children 10 and up, teens, adults, couples and families.  She treats a wide array of conditions including anxiety, chronic pain, inattention, depression, PTSD, trauma, life stress and sleep problems.  She works collaboratively with your physician and others to assure positive outcomes.  She has specialized training in breathwork, peripheral biofeedback and neurofeedback, all of which she integrates into talk therapy sessions.  Dawn is a hands-on therapist, providing clients with feedback and assistance with problem-solving.  Her clients

find her active in their attempts to make positive changes, whether it be brainstorming after a setback or cheering them

on for progress made.  

Deb Farrell, MSW, LICSW, DBTC

Deborah is a Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the Park Rapids area for more than ten years.  Deb is known for a warm, relaxed, and comfortable approach to counseling.  Deb embraces an integrative approach to therapy, which means utilizing a variety of orientations and therapies in order to meet the client’s needs.  Deb's approach is one of respect, caring concern, acceptance, and non-judgment.  Deb works with clients from a strength-based perspective, supporting clients in using their current strengths to build new capacities for solving their life difficulties.  Deb works with a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, other mental health disorders, sexual trauma and behavior, unresolved emotional issues, self-esteem/self-empowerment, grief and loss, relationship/family concerns, and counseling for personal and emotional growth.

Deb has a life-long commitment to service in a client focused way and has previous involvement and experiences consistent with those goals, bringing a richness of knowledge to the work of therapist.  She considers herself blessed to work in a profession that she feels passionate about and finds rewarding.  Deb notes, "I consider it a privilege to be allowed into my clients' inner lives, and to walk beside them through healing, change, and self-empowerment." 

Jessica Baum, MA, LPCC

Jessica has a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Saint Thomas.  She has worked in community-based counseling and mental health services since 2012.  Jessica's focus and passions are fostering personal growth and empowerment, teaching mindfulness and self-compassion skills to assist clients in developing emotional resources, and supporting psychological flexibility. 

 

Jessica has experience working with clients to reduce symptoms of social and generalized anxiety, depression (both Major and Bipolar depression), panic attack, phobia, trauma, and the emotional consequences of chronic pain.  She has extensive experience helping clients find new and creative ways to transform reactive anger and other forms of emotional dysregulation by exploring the mind-body relationship and redirecting responses to agitation, pain, and discomfort.  Jessica strives to create a safe and trusting space for clients to explore problems non-judgmentally and honestly, identify and build strengths, develop self-acceptance, and a sense of wellbeing. 

Monica Watson, MSW, LGSW

Monica Watson is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker who is currently under clinical supervision working on becoming a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.  She is a graduate of the Clinical Social Work program at St. Scholastica and also received her Bachelors of Social Work from St. Scholastica.  Monica has worked in the nonprofit sector, county case management and is also currently a Licensed School Social Worker. 

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Monica’s approach to therapy is one that incorporates Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and other strength-based modalities that will help the client meet their therapeutic goals.  She is currently working on becoming a Registered Play Therapist, is trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and is trained in Birth to Five Assessment and Diagnosis.  Monica works with young children, adolescents, and their families.