Ms. Jodi Helseth is a counselor with Natalis Counseling and Psychology Solutions. Her areas of specialty include: children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, anger management issues, emotional difficulties, depression and anxiety, as well as parenting skills, adult life change, and personal growth. Ms. Helseth specializes in working with elementary school-aged children. She has almost 15 years experience working with children, adults, and families in school, clinical, and in-home settings. Ms. Helseth has led a variety of support groups for children in addition to teaching parenting classes. She stresses that by working with children, one must also focus on the parents, and that tightening the bond between parent and child is of utmost importance. Many times this means setting communication parameters and discussing the best means during emotional times, whether it be excitement or grief. Ms. Helseth talks about seeing children as an investment; who need patience, understanding and good listening. It’s an approach she developed by being a mother of three kids and grandmother of two, and by earning her stripes in the field at Central Center for Family Resources and the University of Minnesota, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In additional to parenting classes and counseling, Ms. Helseth’s work with adults includes counseling women in regard to personal growth or life changes such as divorce. Before joining Natalis, Ms. Helseth gained specialty experience including parent education and anger management skills for children. She says child therapy starts with the parents, with understanding being the first step – earlier communication skills set the table for managing the transitional adolescent years. It’s a topic Ms. Helseth knows well – she wrote her Masters Degree paper on developing resiliency in at-risk children. Ms. Helseth completed her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in St. Paul in 2003. She earned her bachelors degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Hamline University in 2000. Outside of Natalis, Ms. Helseth is involved with the Crisis Connection, and also served as Den Leader of the Cub Scouts. With her specialties in adult personal growth and parenting, and child development, Ms. Helseth bolsters these very important disciplines at Natalis.