About Mercy's Place

Mercy’s Place Counseling Services was developed to empower children, youth, adults, and families to enhance strength they can draw from to effectively address or cope with concerns in their life, to invite hope and expectancy into sometimes trying and discouraging times, and to inspire changes that move people toward their future with meaning.

At Mercy’s Place, we understand it can be very difficult to seek professional help. We’re here to answer your questions and give you the information you need to determine if Mercy’s Place Counseling Services may be a good fit for you or your family.

Our Professionals

Kathy Bunke, MSW, LICSW

Kathy opened Mercy's Place Counseling Services in 2010 with a desire to provide high quality mental health assessment and therapy services to clients with clinical excellence, compassion, and integrity. Kathy strives to create a welcoming environment where client concerns are approached in a holistic manner, considering the various aspects of well-being (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational). Services are respectful, personalized for each individual/couple/family and are evidenced-based.

Kathy is certified as a Gottman 7 Principles Program Educator by the Gottman Institute in Seattle, WA. Kathy offers offer the Gottman Relationship Check-Up Questionnaire to couples to enhance the effectiveness of marital therapy.

507-226-7963

    • Child & Adolescent Mental Health/Child Development & Attachment

    • Marriage & Family/Parenting

    • Faith-based Christian counseling services to those desiring an integration of their Christian faith, coupled with clinical therapeutic services

    • Young Adults/College Students

    • Depression

    • Anxiety

    • OCD

    • Licensed by the State of Minnesota as a Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)/Mental Health Professional

    • Certified as a Gottman 7 Principles Program Educator

    • ART Trained Clinician (Accelerated Resolution Therapy)

    • Undergraduate degree in Social Work/Minor in Psychology and Emphasis in Child Studies

    • Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota/Child Welfare Scholar

    • Advanced course in “Advanced Child Protection Services Evidenced-Based Practice”

    • Advanced Training and Certification in “Life Space Crisis Intervention"

    • Member IATP (International Association of Trauma Professionals)

    • Completed training in Level I & Level II Gottman Method Couples therapy

    • Advanced training/consultation in ABFT (Attachment-Based Family Therapy)

    • Ongoing continuing education in multiple areas, including Trauma-informed therapy

    • Advanced Training in Clinical Supervision

Amy Tremain, MA, LP

Amy has been working for over 30 years in the field of mental health for children and adults. This has included work with depression, anxiety, trauma, chemical dependency, and persistent mental illness. Amy participates in ongoing collaboration with mental health colleagues as well as further education in current mental health issues and practices. Her approach includes combining evidence-based mental health interventions and theories along with her Christian faith. Each client is welcomed as a unique individual with the potential for growth and healing.

507-226-4576

    • Depression/Anxiety

    • Adolescent Mental Health

    • Interpersonal Relationship Issues

    • Parent and Child Relationship enhancement

    • Licensed Psychologist with the Minnesota State Board of Psychology

    • Registered Nurse with the Minnesota State Board of Nursing

    • ART Trained Clinician (Accelerated Resolution Therapy)

    • Undergraduate degree, Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Luther College

    • Master’s degree in Counseling and Psychological Services from St. Mary’s University

    • Ongoing continuing education in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy, ART, and other current mental health areas

Shelby J. Jensen, MA, LPC

Shelby enjoys working with adults of all ages (18+) on a variety of issues. She has specialized training in treating depression, anxiety, loss, and complex grief. She enjoys working with adults navigating life transitions. She loves helping parents find their unique parenting styles and healthy relationships with their children. Shelby has a passion for working with clients who have experienced abuse and has extensive knowledge of narcissistic abuse recovery. She has additional training in disaster response and trauma recovery.  With a background in writing, music, and art, she has worked with clients using the creative expressive approaches to explore pain and past trauma, in addition to more classical therapy approaches.

507-398-1924

    • OCD

    • Parenting

    • Self-harm and cutting

    • Self-Image and Perfectionism

    • Shame

    • Spirituality and Spiritual Growth

    • Trauma, Dissociation, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

    • Women’s Issues

    • Adjustment issues

    • Anxiety, Depression, and Phobias

    • Church and Spiritual Abuse Recovery

    • Divorce Recovery

    • Grief and Loss

    • Infertility and Infant Loss

    • Interpersonal Relationship Issues

    • Narcissistic Abuse Recovery

    • MN Licensed Professional Counselor

    • Bethel University, MA in Counseling Psychology

    • Minnesota State University, BA in Music

    • Dallas Theological Seminary, Biblical Counseling Training

    • Liberty University, Pastoral Counseling Certification, Disaster Response Recovery Training

    • American Association of Christian Counselors, Disaster Recovery and Trauma Response

Marcia Mihalovic, MS, LPCC

Marcia’s professional experience includes over two decades as an elementary school educator, five years as a school counselor, and 2 ½ years working as a school-based and family therapist. Theoretically, Marcia works from an eclectic perspective utilizing elements from attachment, strength’s based, cognitive behavior, and brief solution focused therapy interventions, as well as techniques from art and play therapy.  Marcia’s therapeutic experience has primarily been working with children and families as they navigate ways to cope with grief, depression, anxiety, oppositional defiance, adjustment disorders, and trauma. Marcia has additional training in clinical work with children, birth to five. In all, Marcia’s goal is to reflect a holistic approach to one’s mental and overall wellness.

507-316-4604

    • Children-Adolescents, with specialized training for birth to five

    • Parenting

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Oppositional Defiance

    • Adjustment Disorders

    • Trauma

    • ADHD

    • University of LaCrosse, BS in Elementary Education

    • The Reading Center/Dyslexic Institute of MN, Basic and Advanced Training

    • Winona State University, MS in Clinical Counseling

    • DC:0-5 Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood

    • Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP)

Bobbi Jo Brenner, MSW, LICSW-S

Bobbi has been in the mental health field since 2005 working in both inpatient and outpatient settings with a variety of clientele. Her primary focus currently are ages 18 and older. Bobbi emphasizes providing a safe place to those taking the risk of entering counseling. She has a passion to come alongside each individual and personalize their care with a holistic approach. Bobbi especially has a heart to work with those who wrestle with life’s toughest questions about God, why He allows suffering, and how suffering can become a vehicle to transform one’s soul into who he/she was created to be. She utilizes education to help foster greater self-awareness, to help explain difficult topics, and to inform people in her care to understand how mental, physical and spiritual health are all connected and affect each other.

507-323-7143

    • Evidence based practices integrated with Faith-based Christian counseling

    • Grief and loss

    • Trauma informed care

    • Depression and Anxiety

    • Soul Care

    • Spiritual direction

    • Interpersonal and relational issues

    • Codependency

    • Premarital counseling

    • Chronic Illness with emphasis in ESRD, dialysis, and kidney transplants

    • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota (LICSW)

    • Certified supervisor for the MN Board of Social Work and the MN Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy

    • Certification in the Prepare and Enrich program for premarital and marital counseling

    • Bachelor of Social Work from the University of North Dakota with a minor in Rehabilitation

    • Master of Social Work from the University of Denver

    • Narrative Focused Trauma Care (level I) from The Allender Center at the Seattle School of Theology

Teri Scharpen, MA, LMFT

Teri has been serving in the mental health field since 2008, working in a wide range of settings. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience working with teens, adults, and couples, with a primary focus on adults and couples. Teri has a special passion for working with individuals who have endured abuse, trauma, suffering, and hardship. She helps clients move from a place where the past continues to haunt them toward one of healing, peace, and renewed meaning—transforming pain into wisdom, understanding, hope, and strength. Her work addresses the whole person, considering mental, physical, and spiritual health to foster true and lasting growth. Teri believes in empowering clients to take accountability and responsibility for the changes they seek, guiding them to see themselves as stronger, more capable, and more resilient than they may have ever believed.

507-226-5318

    • Marriage, Couples & Family

    • Interpersonal Relationship Issues

    • Premarital Counseling

    • Depression & Anxiety

    • Grief and Loss

    • Pornography

    • Sexual Abuse

    • Childhood Relational Trauma (emotional trauma, neglect, abandonment, boundary violations, enmeshment, physical abuse)

    • Pathological Love Relationships/Domestic Violence

    • Trauma & PTSD

    • Offering faith-based Christian counseling that integrates evidence-based practices for those who wish to incorporate their faith into the healing process.

    • Licensed by the State of Minnesota as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

    • Approved Supervisor. MN Board of Marriage and Family Therapy - Effective April 2021 Approved Supervisor, MN Board of Behavioral Health - Effective February 2021

    • PREPARE/ENRICH Facilitator: Certified to administer and interpret assessments for premarital and marital counseling, helping couples grow in key relationship areas.

    • Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Winona State University

    • Master's Degree in Marriage and Family therapy from Argosy University, Twin Cities Trained in

    • Post-Induction Therapy for Healing Relational Trauma, Levels l-lll.

    • Relational Life Therapy (RLT): Trained in helping couples rebalance power dynamics and build emotional honesty and accountability within relationships, Levels l-ll.

    • Gottman Method Couples Therapy: Incorporates evidence-based interventions to improve conflict management, intimacy, and communication.

Tara Maier, MA, Clinical Trainee

Tara Maier is a counseling clinical trainee who is working towards her post-graduate Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) certification. Tara counts it a privilege to hear one’s story. Tara believes individuals can develop insight, tools, and wisdom to navigate life experiences. She works alongside her clients to create a plan for healing that best serves the client while remaining evidence based. Tara believes every therapeutic relationship begins with fostering trust. She is committed to providing client-centered care encompassing all aspects of well-being, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational selves.

507-993-5194

    • Marriage & Family/Parenting

    • Adolescent Mental Health

    • Depression/Anxiety

    • Career

    • Spiritual Growth

    • Grief/Loss

    • Cancer Recovery

    • Bethel University, BA in Community Health / Minor in Psychology

    • Western Illinois University, MS in Kinesiology

    • Calvary University, MA in Biblical Counseling (May 2024)

    • Prepare/Enrich Certified Facilitator

    • Trained Chaplain by International Conference of Police Chaplains

Clinical Support Staff

Hannah Marie, Clinical Support Specialist

Hannah is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Health Humanities, along with minors in Music and Creativity & Inquiry. One of Hannah’s roles is to get clients started on the process of scheduling with a provider and answering initial questions. Hannah looks forward to welcoming you to our practice!

For more information or to schedule an appointment:

CONTACT US