Welcoming August 24: Corey Renner, MA, LADC

Cory has over 16 years of experience in the counseling profession and is currently completing the clinical supervision requirements to obtain licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Minnesota. Throughout his career, he has witnessed the remarkable resilience of the individuals he serves and is passionate about helping clients build upon their strengths, overcome challenges, and achieve meaningful personal growth.

Corey takes an eclectic, client-centered approach to therapy, tailoring treatment to each individual's unique needs. He draws from a variety of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

He earned his Bachelor's degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from Metropolitan State University. After seven years working in the substance use treatment field, Corey pursued a Master's degree in Counseling and Psychological Services from Saint Mary's University while continuing to work full time. His professional experience includes positions with the State of Minnesota, nonprofit organizations, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, and community mental health clinics, where he has provided services as a mental health practitioner.

Corey works with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, emotional regulation difficulties, relationship concerns, financial stress, and life transitions. He is committed to helping clients develop practical coping strategies, strengthen communication skills, build healthier relationships, and create lives that are more balanced and fulfilling.

Corey believes that clients are the experts on their own lives. His role is to provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to direct their own therapeutic journey. By combining compassionate listening with practical skill-building, he helps clients make lasting changes aligned with their personal goals. He understands that trust develops over time and is committed to fostering a therapeutic relationship grounded in authenticity, acceptance, and confidentiality.

Outside of the counseling office, Corey enjoys playing guitar, songwriting, appreciating art, staying active through softball, golf, bowling, and fitness, traveling, experiencing roller coasters, following professional sports, and spending time with animals—especially dogs. A lifelong student of psychology, he also enjoys movies and continually expanding his knowledge of human behavior.

JOINING US IN AUGUST: SONIA COBOS, MS

Sonia (she/her) is passionate about mental health and behavioral science and considers herself privileged to work in this field.  Sonia recently completed a Master’s degree in rehabilitation and addiction counseling. Her training was focused on addiction and mental health counseling, including the special needs of individuals living with disability, congenital or acquired.

Sonia takes a holistic and goal-oriented Adlerian approach. Informed by this perspective, Sonia believes that the person’s wholeness or holistic nature is irreducible, therefore considering parts of the personality while ignoring others undermines the understanding of the individual. Sonia likes to apply contextual psychology, family system theory, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing in her practice.

As an immigrant, Sonia is mindful of cultural influences as well as the trauma and generational trauma experienced by the immigrant and first and second generation Americans. She approaches multiculturalism as an enriching opportunity to expand our humanity and grow consciousness.

Sonia’s clinical training is patient centered and non-directive. Sonia’s research during graduate school was in neuroplasticity and the promotion of neurogenesis as part of the therapeutic approach for individuals with addictions and co-occurring mental illness.

Sonia enjoys working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds, and has special interest in helping those who experience addictions, domestic violence, developmental trauma, PTSD, grief and traumatic grief, and patients with long-term disability.

Welcoming in December: Amber Phelps

Amber (they/them) is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and working toward becoming Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). They are passionate about working with individuals, families, and couples by utilizing harm reduction, trauma-responsive care, and providing culturally affirming therapy to help people embrace recovery from a holistic approach. They are trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help survivors of trauma manage symptoms and to assist people to discover their hope from within to achieve their recovery goals. Amber uses a collaborative approach to therapy and is experienced with treating and diagnosing PTSD, depression, anxiety, dissociative disorders, substance use disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

They have nearly 10 years of varied experience working with survivors of complex and historical trauma, people experiencing homelessness, substance use treatment, crisis intervention, case management, and community-based harm reduction programs. Amber graduated from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota with a MA in Counseling and Psychological Services and a Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies. In addition to this, Amber has specialization in working with diverse populations as an intersectional, sex-positive, and social justice oriented therapist.

In their free time, Amber enjoys spending time with their family by hiking, thrift shopping, and going to concerts.