About

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

I’m Dr. Courtney Padjen, PhD, LMFT. I’m a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MN License No. 4041) and I am here to provide individuals with safety and support as they embark on their counseling and healing journey.

I’ve been described as honest, compassionate, approachable and trustworthy, and in the same breath I am blunt and direct. Often, I tell clients I’m “a mover and a shaker” – – Growing up I bounced around small towns in the Northwoods. There I learned that being direct is a kindness. I have wanted to be a therapist for as long as I can remember and have always had an interest in human sexuality and trauma. Having taken the ACES Quiz and scoring an 8, I feel my trauma provides me with the ability to connect with clients with a deeper level of empathy and understanding. I am here to help you get comfortable with being uncomfortable to disrupt your own homeostasis and work as a catalyst to create the change you desire.

I specialize in providing sex therapy, trauma-informed therapy, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in a sex-positive, kink-aware, and gender-affirming space. Using an eclectic approach, I tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs, integrating techniques from solution-focused, motivational, cognitive-behavioral, and narrative therapies. Whether addressing concerns related to sexuality, relationships, past trauma, or mental health challenges, I strive to create a supportive and nonjudgmental environment where healing and growth can thrive.

If you feel you are ready to start your journey, let’s connect! You can email me at courtney@centreforsexualwellness.org or fill out the consultation request form provided on the website.

Associations

  • American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors & Therapists (AASECT)
  • National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF)
  • Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ Mental Health Providers’ Professional Network
  • Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT)
  • Kink Aware Professionals (KAP)
  • Sexual Health Alliance (SHA)
  • The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance (TASHRA)
  • Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities (CARAS)
  • The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS)