Counseling Staff

Daniel S. Nelson, M.A./LPCC

I'm Dan Nelson. I am the owner/director of Crossroads. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and I work with individuals and marriages. My individual work focuses on depression, anxiety, and life adjustment issues (grief, family struggles, results of divorce, abuse survivors, etc.). I also work with sexual addiction. My deep desire is the help people be aware of Christ's presence in the midst of their circumstances. I always hope to help each person to see how Christ woants us to know the Father's heart toward them and to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit's filling, guidance, and counsel.

Barbara J. Zaeska, MSW/LICSW

Hi my name is Barb, I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor and Certified Trauma and Loss Clinical Specialist. I enjoy working with children and their parents or caregivers, helping them through the healing process by using an Experiential-Metaphorical Play Therapy Model which focuses on the developmental tasks of children. I primarily work with children from infancy to age eight. Play is a natural way for children to express their experiences as well as their feelings. Play therapy allows children to play out their developmental needs, relationship issues, emotions, past traumatic experiences and sense of well being through symbolic themes with toys and play materials. Through the play therapy process I help children regain a sense of empowerment, reframe intense emotions related to traumatic experiences and replace it with a restored internal sense of well being. Play therapy has been found to be effective for children who are experiencing anxiety, depression or behavioral problems. I specialize in the treatment of trauma and life stressors including; parental divorce or separation, adoption, fostercare, deployment, death, accidents, medical and illness stress, as well as with neglect, abuse and attachment issues. I am also a Christian Life Coach and provide guidance to women who desire to discover or develop their passion, find a life purpose, learn to manage change effectively and find balance in their lives.

Michelle M. Beeman, M.A./LPC

Hello! My name is Michelle Beeman. I am a Crossroads traveling therapist. I am at our Willmar location on Mondays and Tuesdays and on Wednesdays and Thursdays you will find me in Alexandria. I have a background serving a variety of people. My experience has been mainly working with teenagers and college students. I have a passion for those who are looking for personal spiritual growth, dealing with grief and loss, and serving those in the helping professions. I believe my approach to counseling is direct, real, and supportive. On a personal note, I am a small town, southern Minnesota grown, farm girl which explains my love for being outdoors, especially in the fall. While not working my interests include reading, talking, movies, music, coffee, animals, and traveling.

Elouise 'Ellie' Knutson, MSW/LICSW

Ellie is a clinical level social worker who is state licensed to diagnose and treat mental and behavioral health issues. I enjoy working with a wide range of ages, from 8 to 80 through individual, marital, and group work. I have special interest in anxiety/dpression, marital issues, personality/identity and spiritual formation. I work with cogniive behavioral therapy as well as incorporating art, writing and narrative modalities. I also have a specific interest in holistic mental health - improving our thinking and emotions to improve our total well being. I have a strong backround in Biblical counseling. Offering that option to those that desire a Christian emphasis in their therapy. I received my training at Sioux Falls universtiy and Augsburg College. I have been a mental health professional since 1998 and am a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. I also have provider status with most insurance companies.

Brenda Hubers, MSW/LICSW

I’m Brenda Hubers, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. I specialize in working with people who struggle with eating disorders, body-image and intimacy. I enjoy helping individuals, couples, families and facilitating groups if there is a calling. I draw from a variety of therapeutic theory and techniques as well as using your spiritual gifts. I offer warm, compassionate, trustworthy, and respectful clinical mental health services in a confidential, relaxed environment. I feel it is a privilege and honor to share in your inner struggles and help you achieve hope, health and healing. I have been helping people for 20 plus years. I’m a wife, mother and soon to be grandmother with many life experiences. I am nonjudgmental and it is my hope you will know my therapy office as a safe place to talk about your deepest thoughts and feelings. Are you feeling lonely even when your around others, exhausted most of the time, or have loss joy, have feeling of hopelessness, angry, tired, bothered by past trauma, anxious and worried, feel depression, have low energy, problems with concentration, insomnia, mind races or goes blank, spiritually emptiness, afraid, not sure what your gifts and talents are and have self-esteem troubles, intimacy, body image disturbance, preoccupied with thoughts that won’t go away, been abused or raped, stressed, have parenting concerns, loss, regrets, sadness that will not go away, divorce, or marital conflict or other relationship difficulties, trouble keeping a job or job dissatisfaction. You do not need to struggle alone! Please! Please do not hesitate to reach out for help. I will listen deeply, reflect emphatically, offer insight, provide feedback, help explore alternatives and serve as a guide and friend on your journey to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Embrace your LifeSEASONS.

Patrick Carroll, LP

I am primarily involved in administering and interpreting psychological evaluations for patients who need personality, cognitive, adaptive or ADHD testing to help with treatment planning or to augment the counseling and therapy that they are receiving from other Crossroad’s providers. I have been a clinical psychologist for the state of Minnesota for 30 years and have maintained a private practice in psychology since 1980. I have provided psychological services for Crossroads Counseling Centers, Inc. for the past six years.