Rachel Nester MS,LPCC,NCC,RPT, IMH-E®

I am so happy that you are here! I have been serving children and families for over a decade and I find myself more passionate about finding innovative ways to help families reach their therapeutic goals every single year.

Long Version: Over the span of my career, I have provided individual, couples, family, and group therapy. I have worked with young infants up to geriatric seniors. I have experience working in Preschool Day Treatment, Outpatient Settings, Group Parenting Courses, Case Management, and School-Linked Therapy for grades K-12 in settings including Public Schools, Alternative Learning Centers and Level III and IV Schools. I have presented to educators, daycare staff, parents, public health workers, guardian ad litem, and staff at Child Protection Services. I have experience in assisting with interventions for 504 plans and IEP's. I am a verified provider of birth-to-five (better known as DC:0-5) diagnostic assessments. I am a Registered Play Therapist and am credentialed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist (IMH-E® III) and recently completed a Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health from the University of Minnesota. I am also nationally certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). As well as being identified on MNAdopt as an adoption competent therapist. My professional interests include attachment, trauma (including generational trauma) and epigenetics. 

Cliff Notes Version: I have taken many higher education courses and evidence-based intervention workshops and pursued additional professional credentials to ensure that I am confident in my ability to help.

I offer compassion, creativity, humor, approachability, and authenticity. I consider myself to be open-minded, accepting, and curious. I treat caregivers as I would want to be treated and children with the highest level of respect.

• Post-Graduate Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
• Master of Science in Agency Counseling
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Minors in Health Education, Health Science, Human Development, and Gerontology                                            

• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
• National Certified Counselor
• Registered Play Therapist
• IMH-E® (Infant Mental Health Specialist III)
• Certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist

• Association for Play Therapy
• Association for Play Therapy-MN Division
• American Psychological Association
• Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health: Infant and Early Childhood Division
• Minnesota Counseling Association
• Minnesota Women in Psychology
• National Board of Certified Counselors
• Phi Kappa Phi
• Zero to Three

• Play Therapy- Non-directive/Child-led, Somatic Experiential, Directive, Sand Tray, and Theraplay 
• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy 
• Person-Centered (Rogerian)
• Ecotherapy