About Our Practice
“Sit down, my dear,” said Mr Jarndyce. “This, you must know, is the growlery. When I am out of humour, I come and growl here.” ...“When I am deceived or disappointed in — the wind, and its Easterly, I take refuge here. The Growlery is the best used room in the house.”
- Charles Dickens, Bleak House
Who We Are: A Compassionate Team of Trauma Therapists in Minneapolis
At The Growlery, we believe in the importance of insight, awareness, and change. As humans, we’re natural story-tellers, and sometimes we need help crafting (or re-crafting) a narrative about what’s happening for us and why. We also have an intuitive ability to notice what’s happening, but sometimes we lose track of this and need help building our mindful awareness skills or ability to tolerate being in our bodies and minds again. We can’t stop there, though — we also need the tools and skills to orient to and advocate for, and take action towards the change we need to make in our lives. Your therapist will partner with you through each and every step of the way.
We’re so glad you found us and we’re excited to help you find your refuge in therapy--whether that place is with us, or another therapy provider. Finding the right therapist who is a good fit for you is one of the most important decisions you get to make in life. To help you in this decision process, here is some information about our therapists, our backgrounds, and our practice philosophy.
Meet Our Therapists
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Lexi Schmidt, PhD, LP
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Shannon Robinson, MA, LPCC
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Janel Coleman, MA, LPCC
Lexi Schmidt, PhD, LP (she/her)
Licensed Psychologist #LP6109
ABOUT ME
I think of myself as an Emotions Coach — I’m not here to change who you are, but I am here to teach you a new approach to living your life. You don’t have to permanently adopt my way of thinking, feeling, or being in the world, but you can try it on temporarily and see if it works for you! After all, you’re here because the way you’ve been doing things so far hasn’t been working. You need something different.
MY APPROACH
When I’m talking to someone about their problems, I see things that other people don’t. I’m good at understanding complicated, complex emotional experiences and making people feel seen and heard. I’m also very open to being wrong and adjusting, revising, and trying again. I’m not discouraged by failure, and I’m not afraid of long, hard work in therapy. It took me a long time to figure out how I work and what I need to function and be happy in the world, and I’m ready to help you make that same growth and change in your own life.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
I am a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Minnesota (#LP6109) and have my PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri - Columbia. My training emphasized the use of empirically supported treatment--therapy approaches that have been researched and shown to make real, measurable change in people’s lives--and a focus on multicultural competence and diversity.
My experiences helping people in the community include work at a domestic violence shelter, career counseling and student health services, and community mental health clinics. I have provided therapeutic services to children, adults, and families from all different walks of life and practice understanding people in their own context rather than making assumptions about them. My colleagues describe me as open-minded, empathetic, approachable, and adventurous and I use these strengths to provide a safe, secure space for you as we embark on a journey together.
I also constantly strive to further my knowledge and understanding in psychology so I have the best tools available to help you. Professional development is one of the most important aspects of my job and I make sure to attend conferences, workshops, and trainings to stay up-to-date in the field.
I approach therapy with you in a collaborative way. This means we work together to figure out what you want to change in your life and find a way to get you there. This may involve talking more to explore how patterns and behaviors in your life developed. I integrate a variety of specific therapy techniques including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness.
With these tools, you’ll increase awareness and understanding of yourself and your emotions, identify ways of looking at and thinking about the world that may be problematic for you, and learn and implement coping skills and strategies to make real, lasting changes in your life. My goal in therapy is to eventually work myself out of a job: I want you to leave therapy with the tools to feel satisfied and in control of your life, and with the ability to continue making positive changes in yourself and the lives of those around you.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
I’m a cisgender, queer, poly, White woman who grew up in the Midwest and returned to Minnesota after completing my doctoral program in Missouri. Despite my more southern friends’ protests about the cold, the Twin Cities will always be my favorite home.
In my free time, I like to enjoy our beautiful state parks and will often take long weekends for camping trips in the more tolerable seasons. I also love playing and listening to music and while I am no longer actively involved in any professional gigs, I believe music can be an amazingly therapeutic tool and find that many of my clients feel the same. I am an equal-opportunity cat- and dog-lady and currently live with two wonderful kitties, Lucy and Ms. Bee, and my inexhaustibly loving and enthusiastic dog, Banga. I co-parent a wonderful tiny human with three other adults and have an insatiable love of coffee and naps.
Shannon Robinson, MA, LPCC (she/her)
Licenced Professional Clinical Counselor #1648), Certified Yoga Teacher 500-HR
WHO AM I?
Finding a therapist who meets you where you are and with whom you can build a relationship of mutual trust and respect is an important aspect of therapy. So here is a little about me. I am a curious, compassionate, and quirky hippie who loves being outdoors, connecting with nature, paddle boarding, and walking our beagle, Cutlass. I enjoy camping & traveling with my husband, family & friends. I am a Marvel fan, collect and build Lego & love the color purple. As a community member, ally, and advocate, I strive to be inclusive, anti-racist, & LGBTQIA+-affirming.
PHILOSOPHY & APPROACH
The work I do as a therapist comes naturally to me, so I chose it as a profession. Having gone through difficult times throughout my life, I find it rewarding to share insights & practices that have been instrumental in my healing journey with clients. I enjoy connecting with clients and learning about their perspectives and experiences that may be different from mine.
My core values include kindness, mindfulness, honesty, curiosity, and self-development. As a therapist, I practice from a holistic, trauma-informed perspective. My goal is to create an environment where you'll feel accepted without judgment while being challenged, encouraged, and supported at the same time.
I believe that everyone has the information or resources they need to be their most authentic self. Occasionally, we may be unable to access what we need, do not understand why we are the way we are or are unable to make sense of what is happening to us. That’s where I come in! I see my role as a therapist as offering guidance alongside you on your journey to living your most authentic life.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
As a lifelong learner, I continue to enhance my knowledge & skill sets by attending conferences, workshops, trainings, reading, and listening to podcasts. I have various levels of training in theoretical approaches such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, & emotional regulation), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (acceptance & values work), Internal Family Systems (parts work), and Polyvagal Theory (Autonomic Nervous System). I have additional training in holistic trauma-informed yoga and am certified as a yoga teacher.
BS Family Development and Human Studies | UW-Stout | 2002
MS Human Development and Human Studies | UW-Stout | 2010
MA Counseling and Psychology | Saint Mary’s University | 2015
200-hour Holistic Yoga Teacher Training | Yoga Sanctuary | 2020
16-hour Solid Ground for Healing: Professional Trauma Informed Yoga Training | Terra Firma | 2023
300-hour Embody Yoga’s Roots YTT | Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute | 2023
Janel Coleman, MA, LPCC (she/her)
Janel is currently on leave until the end of Summer 2024. Please contact us if you’d like to be on her interest list for when she returns!
Parenthood:
It’s a duty that requires your undivided attention.
You face trials and struggles that no one but you fully understands. You’re expected to be the subject-matter expert in every area of your child’s life, but you’re still learning and questioning your practices.
“Am I doing it all wrong?” “Is there a better way?” “If I do things one way, will I fail myself and my child for the rest of our lives?” “How do I even begin to navigate this journey when there’s no roadmap to follow” “Am I enough?”
So what happens when your child goes through a traumatic event? You feel powerless to help, and you feel fully responsible for taking on the burden of the outcomes.
I’m here to help! I’ll act as a guide on your journey of change, healing, and empowerment. I’m committed to understanding your unique circumstances so I can help you make a plan to benefit you and your child as you walk into the unknown.
THERAPY WITH JANEL
Janel specializes in the areas of Experiential Play Therapy, complex trauma therapy, high-conflict familial situations, attachment, parental coaching, grief, loss, depression, anxiety, and helping others heal from past and present stressors.
Janel is passionate about helping children and families process traumatic experiences, learn how to understand and manage new and confusing behaviors, enhance family communication, and being an ally for children to be heard and validated.
Janel is a warm-hearted, kind, and compassionate professional who will take the time to fully understand and treat the needs of both the individual child and the family.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Janel graduated with a master’s degree in Counseling and Psychological Service from Saint Mary’s University in 2015.
While completing her graduate studies, Janel interned at Christian Recovery Counseling, where she provided psychological services and therapy for sexual offenders and victims of sexual abuse and trauma.
Later, Janel interned at Park Avenue Treatment Center, focusing her attention on the treatment and recovery of chemical use disorders, facilitating group and individual therapy sessions for male and female adults.
Upon receiving her master’s degree, Janel worked as a reunification and high-conflict play therapist for several years, providing services to families and individuals with highly stressful and traumatic circumstances.
Why “The Growlery” ?
Our name comes from the Phrontistery's Dictionary of Obscure Words, a list of outdated and antiquated terms and phrases. The word "growlery" comes from Charles Dickens' Bleak House (Chapter 8):
“Sit down, my dear,” said Mr Jarndyce. “This, you must know, is the growlery. When I am out of humour, I come and growl here.” ...“When I am deceived or disappointed in — the wind, and its Easterly, I take refuge here. The Growlery is the best used room in the house.”
Reaching out for help can be terrifying, especially if you have had negative experiences with therapists in the past. We want you to feel that therapy is your place in the world where you can be 100% yourself without fear of judgment. At the Growlery, we work to create your refuge in therapy.