My Story

Therapist in Blaine MN . April Williamson, MA, LMFT

Hello! I am April Williamson, and I am a licensed therapist in Blaine MN.

Many clients come to me at a time when the rug has been pulled out from under them.

Whether it’s a break up, a betrayal, being laid off, it shakes up our plans, steals our confidence, and isolates us. In these times the people around us may not know how to help and we feel unbearably disconnected from ourselves, our environments, and our lives.

My expertise is in working with individuals who are in the middle of a major life change, feeling scared or uncertain of what life is going to look like next.

I help clients learn the skills to get back up, when life has changed their plans. Through honesty and exploration, we’ll figure out what it’s going to take to get you moving in the right direction again.

Therapy couch at Kindred Counseling in Blaine MN. Contact Me

In my life I have experienced death, financial instability, job loss, and a whole lot of other tough stuff. I have valued all of it, because it forced me to grow. And as a result of my own growth and resilience, I have a strong belief in the life changing power of psychotherapy.

As a therapist, I definitely bring my real self into sessions. If you ever hear me say, “Tell me the juicy stuff”. It means that I want you to share all of it, the real, honest, raw thoughts and feelings that go around in your head, that you might not tell anyone else.

I find authenticity and vulnerability to be so valuable. One thing my clients quickly realize about me, is that I’m very down-to-earth, and laid back. What you see is what you get.

Don’t get me wrong, I have boundaries and I always take client concerns seriously, but I sometimes come up with silly phrases, or try and get clients to see the lighter side of a situation, because being in that heaviness 24/7 is really hard for most people.

Therapist in Blaine MN . Woman holding plant

While our sessions will always feel like a real conversation, my work is grounded in evidence-based practices. I pull from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help you manage the difficult, everyday things, and use Solution-Focused and Narrative Therapy to help you rewrite your story and figure out where you’re headed next.

Therapist in Blaine MN . Lavender field at sunset.

Here are my core beliefs that often come into sessions with clients:

  • I believe that most people aren’t truly stuck, they just keep focusing on getting through that closed door, when there is a cracked window around back.
  • I believe you may not always get what you want, but you can get close.
  • I believe that finding purpose isn’t nearly as difficult as some people make it out to be. It could be raising a chicken,  donating gifts, having children, raising other people’s children, anything that you do for others that brings you joy. 
  • I believe that life is meant to have highs and lows, and it’s important to appreciate the “in between.”
  • I believe you’re never too old to act a little silly.
Therapist in Blaine MN Person painting a landscape.

Prior to becoming a therapist, I had over a decade of experience as a teacher, working with infants up to high school students. This gave me a front-row seat to the challenges we face at every stage of development, and it’s a perspective I still carry with me today.

In my free-time, I enjoy creating art, crocheting, baking cookies, binge-watching shows with my partner, and letting my toddler shove plastic food into my mouth. 

Therapist in Blaine MN . A vibrant green wooden door surrounded by lush ivy, creating a natural and rustic entrance.

Favorite Quote

” You find your home, and it may not be what you thought, you know; color’s off, style’s wrong…but there it is anyway and to hell with you if you can’t take a joke.” 

-Susan Surandon, Moonlight Mile (2002).

I love this quote because in my experience, life rarely turns out the way we planned, whether it’s the job we imagined, the person we thought we’d marry, or even the version of ourselves we pictured when we were ten years old. That doesn’t mean that life can’t still be beautiful. 

So much of therapy, and life is about learning to find comfort in places we didn’t expect. Sometimes healing looks different than we imagined. Sometimes it’s slower, messier, or even funnier than we thought. But with a little honesty and a little honesty and a little humor, we often end up exactly where we’re meant to be.

I’m currently accepting new clients. If my way of doing things seems like a good fit for you, I encourage you to book a free 15-minute consultation.

Not quite ready yet? Reach out for more information.

Follow along on social media for reflections, resources, and encouragement