Kellie Bernal, MSW, LICSW

Guiding You Back to Yourself with Compassion and Clarity

At times, life can feel heavy, confusing, or hard to navigate, especially when you’re carrying anxiety, intrusive thoughts, grief, or the weight of past experiences. You might notice yourself feeling less present, struggling to find joy, or unsure of how to move forward. Therapy offers a space to slow things down, better understand what you’re going through, and begin creating a path that feels more manageable and aligned with who you are.

I’m Kellie Bernal, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Blaine, MN. I work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and relationship challenges. Whether you’re struggling with self-esteem, boundaries, or feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, I’m here to support you in building insight, strengthening your relationships, and reconnecting with yourself in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable.

Why Work With Me

My approach to therapy is grounded in connection, curiosity, and respect for each person’s story. With experience across residential care, foster care, school-based services, and outpatient therapy, I bring a flexible and well-rounded perspective to the work we do together.

I strive to create a space where you feel safe, supported, and able to be honest. Together, we’ll build insight, strengthen coping skills, and work toward meaningful change that feels realistic and aligned with who you are.

My Therapy Approach

I take an individualized and collaborative approach to therapy, drawing from a range of evidence-based practices to support your unique needs, goals, and experiences.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps us understand how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected, and work toward shifting patterns that may be keeping you stuck.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on building skills to manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and increase distress tolerance.

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) supports you in facing anxiety and intrusive thoughts in a gradual, supported way to reduce their impact over time.

• Narrative Therapy encourages exploration of the stories you hold about yourself, helping you reconnect with your strengths and reshape those narratives.

• Play Therapy provides a developmentally appropriate space for children to express, process, and work through their experiences.

My approach is flexible and responsive, allowing us to focus on what will be most helpful for you while creating meaningful and lasting change.

What to Expect in a Session

Sessions with me are supportive, flexible, and centered around you. We’ll usually start with a quick check-in on how things have been and anything that feels important to talk through.

From there, we might explore what you’re experiencing, work through challenges, or focus on building skills and tools you can use in your everyday life. Some sessions may feel more like conversation and reflection, while others may be more focused and skill-based.

I’ll meet you where you’re at and adjust along the way, with the goal of helping you feel understood, supported, and more confident navigating whatever you’re facing.

A Bit About Me

Outside of therapy, I enjoy spending time outdoors, getting lost in a good (and often nerdy) book, and being with my family. Some of my favorite moments are the simple ones—snuggling with my kids or playing with my dog.

I value balance, connection, and finding small moments of joy in everyday life, and those are things I try to carry into the work I do with my clients as well.

Let’s Work Together

Reaching out for support can feel like a big step, but you don’t have to navigate things on your own. Whether you’re going through a difficult time or simply looking for more clarity and balance, therapy can be a place to slow down, reflect, and move forward with intention.

If you’re ready to begin—or even just thinking about it—I’d be honored to be part of your journey.