Dr. Alise Novak
Dr. Alise Novak
She/Her • PsyD, LP, PMH-C, IPPE-C
Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Perinatal + Reproductive Specialist
CEO + Co-Founder
Coon Rapids • Maple Grove • Virtual • PSYPact Authorized
Inquire by Email (dr.novak@vaydamentalhealth.com)
Specialties
Reproductive MH Perinatal & Maternal Children & Families Trauma/PTSD Grief & Loss Relationships & intimacy
Neurodivergence
LGBTQI+ Affirming
Third-Party Reproduction
Body-Inclusive
Women’s Health
Ages Served
Young Children (Birth-5)
Children Teens
Adults Older Adults
Modalities
EMDR Trauma-Informed
Psychodynamic
Developmental
Feminist Therapy
Relational Therapy
About Me
I'm Dr. Novak, a clinical psychologist and one half of two people who built Vayda. I thought I'd spend my whole career in community mental health and large systems, doing work I loved with kids and families. Then I went through my own years of infertility and pregnancy loss, and it changed everything, including how I wanted to practice.
These days I specialize in reproductive + perinatal mental health and third-party reproduction: the infertility, the loss, the birth that didn't go to plan, and the tender, complicated decisions that come with building a family in a less-than-straightforward way. I've sat in a version of that chair myself, and I bring all of it, the clinical expertise and the lived understanding that some of this is just plain unfair and so damn hard.
Vayda was born out of a desire for a place that delivers genuinely excellent care without losing the human underneath it. That's still the whole point.
Clinical Approaches
I grew up, professionally, as a “kid person” so I really get development- of babes, kiddos, a family, our continued development as grown-ups. This means I also really understand the impact when development goes awry for any reason- infertility, medical complexity, loss, perinatal challenges, neurodivergence, trauma, and all the overwhelm.
My work is relational and attachment-based at its core. I believe healing happens inside a trusting relationship, not on a worksheet. Deep processing and exploration to gain insight and find meaning, not a band-aid for symptoms. I am specially trained by The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), Postpartum Support International (PSI), and others.
For trauma, I sometimes use EMDR to help the body and nervous system process what the thinking brain can't reach on its own. For reproductive and third-party work, a lot of what I do is helping people hold grief, make meaning, and make big decisions with clarity and self-compassion. I am real. Really committed to supporting my clients and doing the hard stuff. The scary stuff, the painful, the buried deep down stuff. We will sometimes cry together, laugh together, and certainly swear together. This shit is hard.
What you can expect from me: directness with warmth, a little humor when it helps, and someone who takes your situation as seriously as you do. I also believe my job goes beyond the therapy room. I collaborate with other providers- I get on calls with teachers, OB/GYNS, psychiatrists, REs, pediatricians, etc. I also consider my job to include advocacy- sometimes in the quiet moments with my clients, and often times loud in our community- feminist, LGBTQIA+ allied, anti-racist, social justice warrior, and actively practicing cultural humility. I don’t know it all, but I will join you to face it all.
The human behind the credentials.
I'm Dr. Novak, a clinical psychologist and one half of two people who built Vayda. I thought I'd spend my whole career in community mental health and large systems, doing work I loved with kids and families. Then I went through my own years of infertility and pregnancy loss, and it changed everything, including how I wanted to practice.
These days I specialize in reproductive + perinatal mental health and third-party reproduction: the infertility, the loss, the birth that didn't go to plan, and the tender, complicated decisions that come with building a family in a less-than-straightforward way. I've sat in a version of that chair myself, and I bring all of it, the clinical expertise and the lived understanding that some of this is just plain unfair and so damn hard.
Vayda was born out of a desire for a place that delivers genuinely excellent care without losing the human underneath it. That's still the whole point.
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