Director of Mental Health
Amanda Richards, MA, LPCC, LADC, MT-BC, has over 25 years experience in mental health and substance abuse treatment. She blends her skills and expertise as a Creative Arts Therapist, Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor to assist clients in healing from trauma, addressing substance use disorders and develop coping skills. Amanda has competencies in working with the LGBTQ community, Chemical Dependency, Gender-Specific Approaches and Trauma. She utilizes an integrative approach incorporating creative arts therapies, cognitive behavioral, person-centered and empowerment models in counseling.
Therapists, Clinical Supervisors
Chris Bargeron, MSW, LICSW is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who provides individual therapy to adults, adolescents, couples, and families, as well as clinical supervision to students and licensees. His areas of clinical interest include depression, anxiety, grief and loss, life transitions, chemical health, LGBT Issues, men’s issues, older adult issues, spirituality and mental health. Chris also has extensive experience in career and leadership development, and can assist clients in working through issues that are affecting job satisfaction and well being. Prior to coming to N.I.P., Chris was on the clinical staff of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis and PRIDE Institute.
Weston Edwards, M.Div., MAT, PhD, LP currently teaches in graduate programs at Capella University and Walden University. His past work includes work as the clinical director at an outpatient mental health clinic, work with adult sex offenders at the Program in Human Sexuality and Alpha Human Services and with adolescent sex offenders at the P/S-A program at Lutheran Social Services. Dr. Edwards trained for ordination within the Catholic Church and completed additional graduate degrees in Divinity and Moral Theology. His research area is in the area of sexual health. He recently completed a book: Creating Sexual Health: A workbook overcoming sexual compulsiveness, sexual addiction and other problematic sexual behaviors.
Max Hines, PhD, LP, is a doctoral level licensed psychologist and a clinical supervisor with over 30 years of experience in mental health counseling. He works with individuals, groups, couples and families. In general, he seeks to alleviate emotional and relational difficulties. With each unique, individual client his central focus is what the client wants and finds difficult to achieve or find for self. Max uses a variety of approaches to assist and facilitate the client's progress toward their goal(s) in therapy.
John Souza Jr., DMFT, LMFT is a Minnesota board approved MFT and LPC/LPCC supervisor. He received his doctorate and master’s degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University Twin Cities and his bachelor of science in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University. John is an adjunct assistant professor at Saint Mary's University and Argosy University. His current clinical work is focused on developing empirically based, culturally responsive assessments and treatments for inner city youth and families and supporting social justice in the mental health profession. John specializes in working with families and has practiced family therapy for seven years.
Jennifer Torres, MSW, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 16 years of experience, Jennifer has provided a variety of counseling services including individual, family, couples and group therapy. Additionally, she participated in an intensive clinical externship program in Family Therapy with the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City. Jennifer's areas of specialty include: child development, parent-child attachment, anxiety, depression, trauma related to childhood sexual abuse, family transitions, adjustment to illness, and bereavement. She has worked with children and families coping with divorce/separation, past and current trauma, and life threatening illness. Her work also included assisting families who were dealing with loss from the September 11 th tragedy. Jennifer has provided consultation and clinical supervision for graduate students for more than six years.
Amy Wagener, PsyD, LP, Clinical supervisor/therapist has over a decade of experience as a clinical psychologist. She is skilled at working with adolescents and adults who struggle with a variety of mental health and developmental issues, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, identity, and relationship issues. She utilizes an integrative approach in therapy, and is adaptable in terms of assessing and treating each client's unique needs.
Jerry Shih, Ph.D., LP
Kurt Gehlert Ph.D., LP
Mental Health Programs Assistant
Rose Lindquist
Amanda Richards, MA, LPCC, LADC, MT-BC, has over 25 years experience in mental health and substance abuse treatment. She blends her skills and expertise as a Creative Arts Therapist, Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor to assist clients in healing from trauma, addressing substance use disorders and develop coping skills. Amanda has competencies in working with the LGBTQ community, Chemical Dependency, Gender-Specific Approaches and Trauma. She utilizes an integrative approach incorporating creative arts therapies, cognitive behavioral, person-centered and empowerment models in counseling.
Therapists, Clinical Supervisors
Chris Bargeron, MSW, LICSW is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who provides individual therapy to adults, adolescents, couples, and families, as well as clinical supervision to students and licensees. His areas of clinical interest include depression, anxiety, grief and loss, life transitions, chemical health, LGBT Issues, men’s issues, older adult issues, spirituality and mental health. Chris also has extensive experience in career and leadership development, and can assist clients in working through issues that are affecting job satisfaction and well being. Prior to coming to N.I.P., Chris was on the clinical staff of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis and PRIDE Institute.
Weston Edwards, M.Div., MAT, PhD, LP currently teaches in graduate programs at Capella University and Walden University. His past work includes work as the clinical director at an outpatient mental health clinic, work with adult sex offenders at the Program in Human Sexuality and Alpha Human Services and with adolescent sex offenders at the P/S-A program at Lutheran Social Services. Dr. Edwards trained for ordination within the Catholic Church and completed additional graduate degrees in Divinity and Moral Theology. His research area is in the area of sexual health. He recently completed a book: Creating Sexual Health: A workbook overcoming sexual compulsiveness, sexual addiction and other problematic sexual behaviors.
Max Hines, PhD, LP, is a doctoral level licensed psychologist and a clinical supervisor with over 30 years of experience in mental health counseling. He works with individuals, groups, couples and families. In general, he seeks to alleviate emotional and relational difficulties. With each unique, individual client his central focus is what the client wants and finds difficult to achieve or find for self. Max uses a variety of approaches to assist and facilitate the client's progress toward their goal(s) in therapy.
John Souza Jr., DMFT, LMFT is a Minnesota board approved MFT and LPC/LPCC supervisor. He received his doctorate and master’s degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University Twin Cities and his bachelor of science in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University. John is an adjunct assistant professor at Saint Mary's University and Argosy University. His current clinical work is focused on developing empirically based, culturally responsive assessments and treatments for inner city youth and families and supporting social justice in the mental health profession. John specializes in working with families and has practiced family therapy for seven years.
Jennifer Torres, MSW, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 16 years of experience, Jennifer has provided a variety of counseling services including individual, family, couples and group therapy. Additionally, she participated in an intensive clinical externship program in Family Therapy with the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City. Jennifer's areas of specialty include: child development, parent-child attachment, anxiety, depression, trauma related to childhood sexual abuse, family transitions, adjustment to illness, and bereavement. She has worked with children and families coping with divorce/separation, past and current trauma, and life threatening illness. Her work also included assisting families who were dealing with loss from the September 11 th tragedy. Jennifer has provided consultation and clinical supervision for graduate students for more than six years.
Amy Wagener, PsyD, LP, Clinical supervisor/therapist has over a decade of experience as a clinical psychologist. She is skilled at working with adolescents and adults who struggle with a variety of mental health and developmental issues, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, identity, and relationship issues. She utilizes an integrative approach in therapy, and is adaptable in terms of assessing and treating each client's unique needs.
Jerry Shih, Ph.D., LP
Kurt Gehlert Ph.D., LP
Mental Health Programs Assistant
Rose Lindquist