Mental Health Services

The majority of clients who have participated in mental health services at AAFS report relief of emotional distress and progress toward personal goals. Counselors and facilitators help clients identify their source of unrest, then offer stability and wellness through culturally responsive and holistic mental health services. AAFS is licensed under State of Minnesota Rule 29 as a Community Mental Health Clinic. AAFS complies with Minnesota Rule 29 and Rule 31 regulations.

Our services address mental health concerns such as depression, trauma, family violence, grief and loss, parenting skills and many other issues. Specific programming and resources include the following programs detailed below.

Individual & Family Counseling

Our licensed mental health therapists provide individual and family counseling for adults and adolescents by appointment or walk-in, when available. AAFS mental health therapists can also be found in Twin Cities community health clinics, where they provide sliding fee mental health counseling sessions for those who qualify. AAFS contracts with most of Minnesota's insurance providers.

Our Hope for Healing Center is a Rule 29 mental health clinic licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. At the Hope for Healing Center, we provide group, couples, family and individual therapy through our innovative tier programming. Our clients receive health assessments, psychiatric evaluations and diagnoses, which are followed by regular therapy appointments and medication consultation as needed.

Our ecological therapeutic approach employs multiple modalities, including:

  • Gestalt
  • Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (E.M.D.R.)
  • Dialectic Behavior Therapy (D.B.T.)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Comprehensive fitness programming
  • Team-building, self-esteem building and confidence-building courses

Trauma Informed Treatment

We largely serve African American people who live in and/or have grown up in poverty, many of whom have experienced a disproportionately high incidence of trauma and violence including sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse/neglect and gang violence.

A major focus of the AAFS Trauma Informed Treatment Initiative is expanding the capacity for culturally-specific, trauma-informed adult mental health services both within the agency and in the community at large. We accomplish this by training doctoral and post-doctoral interns, as well as students and staff, about this innovative and culturally responsive model. We also support the development and expansion of trauma-informed mental health services within other agencies serving urban African and African American people.

Family-Based Mental Health Services

Since 1975, AAFS has been committed to integrating culture and best practices across our behavioral health service offerings. With an emphasis on best practices, AAFS uses evidence-based techniques to support clients in making the behavior changes needed for improved family functioning and wellness.