https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog daily 0.75 2022-06-23 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/asking-hard-questions monthly 0.5 2022-06-30 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/time-out monthly 0.5 2022-06-23 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/gratitude monthly 0.5 2022-06-23 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/category/Parenting monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/category/Couples monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/category/Conflict monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/tag/thankfulness monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/tag/breaks monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/tag/gratitude monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/tag/appreciation monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/tag/couples monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/tag/emotional+regulation monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/tag/communication monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/blog/tag/conflict monthly 0.5 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/home-page daily 1.0 2026-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1643860506859-G29MRX1BJTXRMA1CB6I7/s-l-T8KywajFeXE-unsplash.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1643860506859-G29MRX1BJTXRMA1CB6I7/s-l-T8KywajFeXE-unsplash.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1643941947707-AJG7NUQNDN1JMNDHN6GI/s-l-T8KywajFeXE-unsplash.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1643860506859-G29MRX1BJTXRMA1CB6I7/s-l-T8KywajFeXE-unsplash.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1695672412806-BDI9PU5MTKV84J8SS720/20230914_125516.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/6ace9bf7-a7f6-46db-95c1-5c7f2b8e5bc3/MelHeadshotsAmericaRoePhotography-36.jpg Home - Mel Koenen, MA LMFT My name is Mel and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have my MA from Bethel Seminary in Marriage and Family Therapy and a BA in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Here is the professional portion of the bio - I am a Master ART Practitioner in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and use it to help clients achieve relief from symptoms more quickly. I also frequently integrate parts work (IFS) into my work. I believe that understanding and regulating the nervous system is truly the key to being able to manage stress and heal trauma responses. I also focus on practical changes that are realistic for your life and we figure out together what those can look like to get you into a better place. At the end of the day, my ultimate goal for all of my clients is making sure I work myself out of a job. I specialize in Law Enforcement/First Responder and Military occupations and also contract with LE-AST Services offering check-ins and therapy sessions for contracted departments. Here is the personality portion - People have told me I’m easy to talk to and make therapy a less nerve-wracking experience. I love to laugh. Witty jokes, dry jokes, dark humor doesn’t matter; I will laugh. I am pretty direct, sweary, and don’t beat around the bush much. However, I hope that my clients know that no matter what I’m always in their corner. Sometimes that will mean holding you accountable and sometimes that will mean showing you how to give yourself some grace. In my spare time I am a mental health consultant for TacMobility, a company that focuses on LE stress recovery and resiliency. You can also find me hanging out with my husband and kids or spending time on the Iron Range with family. Training: Master ART Practitioner in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/) Clinical Trauma Specialist-Individuals Law Enforcement - Police Officer Wellness by Enhancing Resiliency (P.O.W.E.R) by Marie Ridgeway, Blue Line Trauma Response Seminar, Breachpoint Consulting, Peer Support training (30 Hours) Fire/EMS - Unique Stressors in Fire/EMS Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator (https://www.prepare-enrich.com/) Discernment Counseling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/ccd0e48e-65b3-4879-b2f2-7ec1f4b35b8d/Addie+1.jpg Home - Addie, Therapy Dog Addie is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Addie is a true Golden that has a sweet personality that loves people and is excited to meet all the humans. Addie was trained through Soldier’s 6, a non-profit organization based in Minnesota that provides and trains services dogs and therapy dogs for first responders and veterans. Addie’s personal time she enjoys hunting with her dad and retrieving ducks and geese, chewing on bones, and getting pets from whoever will offer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/7ac81cf7-5f0e-419f-818f-16dff8f1112d/amanda-dalbjorn-UbJMy92p8wk-unsplash.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/fb271dd0-c028-4130-9d81-31ee7050b3d8/neonbrand-JXg7Yq5b1wE-unsplash.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1651092069669-8YRDAZ8KAVRIX0VBKKMX/unsplash-image-FH3nsl6pvL4.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/58f082a3-c0d0-4ec6-aa73-14698791cfa7/main+logo_1.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/workshops daily 0.75 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1643861255401-TEB5OUCDBO981J2213VW/luca-bravo-ESkw2ayO2As-unsplash.jpg Workshops https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/schedule daily 0.75 2024-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1643860672005-RX0CX7TI3MH4HR0D86IW/maria-khatami-j_UcfCspPOU-unsplash.jpg Schedule https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/code-4-workbook daily 0.75 2025-01-08 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/read-me-anya daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53cfdbf9e4b09d5219fcc098/1407965662287-JGJDENV4XN2FWVPAW7MD/roshni_blog_020.jpg Read Me https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2026-01-30 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/store daily 0.75 2023-01-18 https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/store/conflict-break-guide monthly 0.5 2024-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1674935434685-Z1B7NS09U94UO1U7DJKJ/Download+-+CB+Page+1.png Store Page - Conflict Break Guide https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1674935434362-TGBWK5OEYDMOGV7R72CQ/Download+-+CB+Page+2.png Store Page - Conflict Break Guide https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1674935434642-TR3CC3V3YSVRZGCSQXBL/Download+-+CB+Page+3.png Store Page - Conflict Break Guide https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1674935434173-13169V0XRPGZVQI6L6X9/Download+-+CB+Page+4.png Store Page - Conflict Break Guide https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/store/parts-worksheet monthly 0.5 2025-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1674070243834-4AH96U2AOCQAYGQDNOIX/Digital+Download.png Store Page - Parts Worksheet https://www.betterthingsaheadmn.com/store/code4workbook monthly 0.5 2024-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1658345565768-QYBLODJLDUGTBMY2HPLM/Code+4+Workbook+cover.jpg Store Page - Getting to Code 4: A Workbook for Law Enforcement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1664301801428-ITZX1SD9BAS9DYYRZFXR/C4+Intro+Page.jpg Store Page - Getting to Code 4: A Workbook for Law Enforcement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cde0fc76aa3c60001a50dde/1680322620420-S4L52DBZDF9S18DRREGC/C4+FINAL+2+%281%29_removed+%284%29_page-0001.jpg Store Page - Getting to Code 4: A Workbook for Law Enforcement