Jennifer M. Knapp,
(she/her) MS, LMFT

We all exist within the context of relationship, whether it be our parents when we are young, or intimate partners and friends, or community. I believe behavior makes sense in context and people are doing the best they can. I also believe change happens when people begin to make sense of that context and are able to shift from reacting to situations to responding in a thoughtful, balanced way.

My style is supportive and nurturing, yet direct when necessary. I am a trauma and attachment based therapist. This means when I sit with folks, I am thinking about all the experiences that have happened thus far and shaped who they are and how they view the world.

Professional Licenses:

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, state of Minnesota, #2340 initial licensure date August 2012
• American Association Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor-2016
• MN Board Marriage & Family Therapy Approved Supervisor, LMFT-2015
• MN Board Behavioral Health & Therapy Approved Supervisor, LPCC-2016

Advanced Training:

• Diane Poole Heller, Interventions to help heal attachment wounds, September, 2019
• Laurel Parnell Attachment Focused EMDR, June 2019
• Sandra Paulsen EMDR attachment trauma protocol, April 2019
• Trauma, Attachment, and Neuro Science, Bessel van der Kolk, April 2015
• I see you, I feel you, I know you: An EMDR attachment-focused model to heal the parent, the child, and heal their bond, Ana Gomez, June 2015
• EFT Externship- October 2015
• Trauma and attachment in Families, Daniel Hughes, June 2014
• Internal Family Systems, Dick Swartz, May 2014
• State of Affairs: Rethinking our clinical attitude towards infidelity, Esther Perel, May 2012
• EMDR Externship Level II-2012
• DBT training-2010
• MN Rule 110 Qualified Neutral-2010

Community Presentations: 

• Meeting the Mental Health Needs of LGBTQ Students, Elk River School District, November 2017
• Parent Education Series, monthly topics, Elk River School District, September 2017–May 2020
• Perfectionism and Anxiety: How to be Enough!, Buffalo Partners for Youth 7 Families, February 2017
• What to Expect in the Teen Years, Elk River Parent Education series, September 2016
• Healing Attachment and Trauma Wounds, Minnesota Adopt Coalition presentation, January 2016
• Supporting Parents and Caregivers of Children with Trauma, Wright County Partnership for Families presentation, March 2012
• Single Parents and the Importance of Community, Elk River Community Presentation Series, September–December 2012

Publications: 

• Knapp, J. , Polley, S, and Floren, R. (2017). Increasing Cultural Competencies in Supervision through Self-Reflection of Identities. Minnesota Association of Marriage & Family Therapy Spring Conference, April 21, 2017, Minneapolis MN.
• Knapp, J, Heiden-Rootes, K.M, Miller, B, Cates, J, Edwards, L, Goodwin, A (2017). Enhancing Cultural Competencies with Attunement and Humility. American Association of Marriage &Family Therapy Annual Conference, October 6, 2017, Atlanta, GA.
• Whole Brain Approach to Parenting, Wright County Partnership for Families presentation, November 2010

Honors and Professional Organizations:

• Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapy at-large board member, Chair of Social Justice Committee, 2017-2020
• American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy, Clinical Fellow, membership since 2011
• Minnesota Association of Marriage & Family Therapy, membership since 2011
• Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, 2012-present