Linnea Bergvall, LMFTA

Hi and welcome! I am a couple and family therapist associate who works with children ages 4-6 and their parents and family systems, as well as with individuals. I have transitioned from the field of early childhood education, where I worked with young children for over 6 years. As it turns out, there is a great deal of overlap between how we interact with children as educators and as therapists. It was as an educator that I learned to deeply value and respect the language of play, to connect with children, create safe spaces, share wonder, and co-regulate. Therapy for Parents If you are navigating life as a parent, you may at times feel as if most of the interactions you have with your child(ren) are negative. Parenting is HARD, and we live in a culture where parents all too easily can become isolated and left without support. The everyday stress of parenting in this context can get us stuck in negative cycles where the joyful moments of parenting we dreamed about are too few and far between. I do not offer quick solutions to “difficult” child behaviors or steps to increased child compliance. Rather, I use an attachment lens to help strengthen the relationship between yourself and your child. When children feel safe, loved, and seen by their caregivers, challenging behaviors tend to decrease on their own. I know from my own experience as a single parent that parenting from a place of secure attachment is a journey with ups and downs, not a final destination one can arrive at where the work is done. And as the saying goes, it takes a village. I would love to support you in your parenting journey as others have supported me. In addition to attachment theory, my work with children is also informed by play therapy, art therapy, and family systems theory. Pregnancy Support Pregnancy is another time in the life of a parent which can sometimes feel especially lonely or stressful. Perhaps you had a difficult first pregnancy, birth, and/or postpartum period, leaving you feeling vulnerable as you plan for a second pregnancy. I believe that it is important for those of us who wish to have children or have carried children to have safe spaces to process and tell our stories without being met with platitudes such as “but at least you have a beautiful baby.” Experiences of infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, birth, postpartum, and all things related to childbearing matter. I use a feminist lens to hold space for experiences that are not given a place of importance in our society. Sex-Positive Therapy It has been a life goal of mine for many years to become a certified sex therapist. I feel honored and excited to be part of Out of the Woods Therapy, working alongside sex therapists and learning from their expertise. I hope to join them in earning my certification, but in the meantime, I strive to create a safe, sex-positive, and LGBTQIA+ affirming space for my clients. Do you wish for a safe space to discuss how sexuality was addressed (or not) in your family of origin, your sexual identity, masturbation, or how you navigate sexuality as a sexually marginalized individual? These topics can be difficult to bring up; many of us have not had the opportunity to discuss sexuality openly. Whether it is the first time you are speaking about your sexuality or you do so with practice and ease, I will let you set the pace and meet you where you are. About Me I grew up in Sweden and moved to the U.S. in my early twenties. In fact, I am the fourth generation of women in my family to have grown up in one country and then moved to a different country as a young adult. Being bi-cultural comes with its own unique gifts and challenges, and I love to support others navigating more than one culture. As a therapist I am calm, soft-spoken, and thoughtful, and I will honor your journey and what you bring to the table. Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my children and close friends. I travel when I can, dabble at gardening, relish good food, and soak up the beauty of nature, plants, and flowers.