Our Therapists

    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

        Sandi is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a master’s degree in Social Work from Boise State University and bachelor’s degree in Mental Health Studies and Animal Assisted Therapy from Carroll College. Utilizing a trauma-informed approach to therapy, she emphasizes examining choice and control in finding happiness and balance in one’s life. She enjoys working with clients from adolescence to end of life as they work through challenges related to depression, anxiety, psychosis, anger, trauma and substance use. Sandi has a particular interest in assisting families when a loved one is struggling with the effects of trauma manifested in behavioral issues, anger, relationship conflict or substance use.
    Sandi has previous experience working in acute and residential treatment for children and adults. She is well versed in managing mental health crises and assisting both clients and their loved ones through these distressing times. Additionally, she has extensive experience working with the Veteran population and navigating their unique mental health needs regarding combat, family separation, moral injury and guilt and shame.
    Sandi is skilled in providing individual, family and group therapy. She draws on her training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Structural Family Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.  Sandi is a certified provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders.  

     Heather is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, who specializes in individual, couples, and family therapy. Heather also holds 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.