Dr. Christen Tusler
Christen Tusler
She/Her • PsyD
Coon Rapids • Virtual
Specialties
Reproductive Perinatal & Maternal Children & Families Trauma Grief & Loss Parenting
Ages Served
Young Children (Birth-5)
All Ages
Modalities
Trauma-Informed
Play Therapy
Parent Guidance
Family Systems
Person-Centered
Relational + a
About Me
I am Dr. Christen Tusler, a postdoctoral fellow who believes that we are all searching for connection, belonging, and a deeper understanding of ourselves. Children are no exception. I view behavior as a window into a child’s inner world, offering an invitation to understand what they are experiencing, communicating, and needing. When we approach these moments with curiosity rather than judgment, we can respond with genuine compassion.
Therapy works best as a collaborative partnership: you bring the expertise of your lived experience, and I provide a grounded space for healing and growth. Drawing on my background across community mental health centers, specialized adoption medicine clinics, and pediatric hospitals, I tailor my care to honor each family’s unique story. In our work together, I bring a warm, lighthearted presence where families feel fully seen, safe, and supported as we navigate challenges, celebrate wins, and strengthen relational bonds.
Clinical Approaches
My practice is grounded in Trauma-Informed, Person-Centered, and Relational frameworks, meeting you and your child exactly where you are. Because there is no single path to healing, I integrate evidence-based practices tailored to each family’s unique developmental needs. For younger children, play therapy and creative strategies serve as the primary language to express big feelings, process difficult moments, and build trust. With older children and parents, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles help guide you through challenging thoughts and emotions, cultivate mindfulness, and build practical tools aligned with your family’s deepest values.
Above all, I aim to create a creative, empowering environment where children and families can build on their strengths and navigate life’s transitions with clarity and confidence.
The human behind the credentials.
When I am not in the clinic, you will usually find me curled up with a good book from my ever-growing reading list or hanging out with my husband and dog, Finn. I am also a big fan of cozy gaming. I am often attempting a multi-generational legacy challenge in The Sims 4, tending to a farm in Stardew Valley, or unwinding on my island in Animal Crossing. These everyday moments of warmth, creativity, and simple connection are what ground me and they remind me of how important it is to make space for joy, rest, and play.
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