Therapist Bios

    Dr. Leslie is an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor. She is also an approved supervisor for the Minnesota boards of Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, and Board of Behavioral Health. Dr Leslie is also a Registered Play Therapist and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor.

    Dr. Leslie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Minnesota and Tennessee and a Minnesota Licensed Psychologist. She is also Advanced Certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) and is a mentor of new EAGALA professionals. She holds advanced certifications in Autism, Play Therapy, Parent Child Relational Therapy, and Neuropsychology.

   Dr Leslie earned her Master's degree at St Cloud State University. She earned her PhD at Northcentral University. She earned her Post Doctoral Re-specialization in Clinical neuropsychology at Fielding Graduate University. 

   Dr. Leslie has led conferences in the areas of children’s mental health, Neuropsychology,  trauma, reactive attachment, therapeutic techniques, early childhood mental health, and autism. She has also served as Adjunct faculty at St. Cloud State University and Hamline University. Dr. Leslie specializes in couples, family and children’s mental health. She is also experienced in clinical diagnosis and evaluation, the treatment of child and adults. 

   Dr. Leslie’s specialties include Autism, trauma, TBI, neurological conditions, and Reactive Attachment disorders as well as infant and child mental health. One of the clinics, and Dr. Leslie’s, passions is to provide quality mental health care to children and families using both traditional and non-traditional therapeutic methods.

   Dr. Leslie works with children and families as well as couples and individuals ages 18 months and up. She also completes neuro- psychological assessments for individuals ages 18 months through adult. 

     Jennifer is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a registered play therapist, a well as a registered play supervisor and and AAMFT approved supervisor.  Jennifer holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Cloud State University.

     Jennifer is experienced in family dynamics, issues accompanying the stressors of having a child with special needs, and teaching children coping mechanisms when dealing with change and challenging home environments. Jennifer is experienced working with children with trauma and attachment disruption and utilizing play therapy techniques. 

     Jennifer began her career as a mental health professional working with adolescents in residential treatment. With a passion for helping children, she then began working as an in home therapist with children with autism, as well as coaching parents on how best to help their children.

     Jennifer has also had the opportunity to lead and mentor new mental health practitioners in applied behavior analysis

       Tanya is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist as well as Registered Play Therapist.  She enjoys working with the male population ages 8 and above and is passionate about adolescents of either gender.  She works with both individuals and families.  Tanya has experience working with military members and their families.  She is the spouse of a retired soldier and has personal experience with deployment cycles.  

Tanya has special areas of interest including; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, animal assisted therapies, play therapies and is trained in two parenting techniques including Families Moving Forward associated with Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  

       Tanya brings her Certified Therapy Dog to work most days, Ripley enjoys greeting and working with clientele.  Outside of work Tanya enjoys time with her family on their hobby farm and all things aviation. Additionally, Tanya is a MN State Rule 114 Mediator, Child Custody Evaluator and Parenting Time Expeditor.  Please see: Balanced Mediation Services for more information

 Kathleen Anderson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with years of experience behind her. She earned her Masters degree at St Cloud State University in 1998. She approaches therapy with with “Candid, Caring, and Compassionate” mindset. Kathleen focuses on rehabilitating the family system by working intensively with all members of the family. Kathleen’s experience includes working with families struggling with communication, physical and sexual abuse, child neglect, behavioral problems, attachment issues, and parenting concerns. 

     Heather is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, who specializes in individual, couples, and family therapy. Heather is currently a graduate student at Walden University, working on her PhD. in clinical psychology. Her dissertation topic is exploring the lived experiences of rural transgender (gender nonconforming, genderfluid, and nonbinary) adolescents and social media. Heather received her Master’s Degree from St. Cloud State University and Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Minnesota. 

     Heather has been with True Balance since 2009. Previously, Heather worked at Recovery Plus as a Prevention Consultant; Lutheran Social Services as an In-Home Therapist; and at Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women as a School/Youth Advocate. Heather has experience in individual, family therapy, and couples therapy. Heather provides mental health services for clients ages 12 through adulthood. She also provides psychological testing and evaluations for clients ages 10 through adulthood, under the supervision of Dr. Leslie Russell-Martin.

    Heather’s experience includes working with clients who struggle with symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment, family issues, self-esteem, relational problems, gender dysphoria, adolescent issues, anger, communication and conflict resolution, grief and loss, suicidal ideation, and self-injurious behaviors. 

    Her approach is integrative, collaborative, client-centered and includes being able to focus on the goals of clients.  Heather values and respects diversity, believing that everyone’s story is unique.  She enjoys seeing transformation and growth with her clients. Her experience spans across various settings which has provided exposure and expertise to a variety of perspectives, situations, and challenges. She utilizes strengths-based, solution-focused, experiential, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems models to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. Heather is committed to assisting each individual build on their existing strengths to live their best possible life. 

    Kiersten Wimmer, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, has a bachelor’s degree in community psychology and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, both from St. Cloud State University. Kiersten enjoys working with a wide variety of age ranges and family structures. Kiersten has a particular passion working with couples, those in the military system, teens and mothers.     

   Kiersten works with an array of mental health conditions and is committed to helping her client’s produce the changes they wish to see. Kiersten believes the therapeutic relationship is the biggest catalyst for change and works to make therapy a safe environment for you to pursue your changes. 

    Kiersten likes to incorporate traditional and non-traditional therapeutic elements into her work including art therapy, Sandplay therapy and movement to help promote emotional growth and wellness. Kiersten enjoys looking problems from a holistic and systemic approach. Kiersten views treatment within mental health as a journey, and she is just a part of the change you are making. 

    Kiersten has done additional training in several areas including Experiential Play Therapy, Jungian Sandplay Therapy, EMDR,TBI’s, mediation and is currently pursing certification in Maternal Mental Health.