Linda Santa Cruz, MS, LMFT

Much like my approach to therapy, my path to becoming a licensed therapist was a bit non-traditional. I always knew I wanted to be a therapist, I just wasn’t clear on what it would take to get there. At times it felt like it took forever to finally arrive at the goal I had set for myself so long ago. To now realize I have been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Minnesota since 2011 and have over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health blows my mind! Little did I know the experiences I gained along the way through trial and error would be the most invaluable parts of the process.

I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees at California Lutheran University. The early days of my career were spent in southern California, volunteering for the crime victim’s assistance program while also working as a case manager at a community agency that specializes in domestic/intimate partner violence. I also worked with kids on probation and ran a 52-week intensive parenting program.

Since returning to Minnesota, I have immersed myself in gaining as much experience in as many ways as possible, which means I have done a little of everything! I have worked with kids, adolescents, young adults, couples, and families. I have worked in (or in collaboration with) community mental health clinics, school systems, correctional facilities, hospitalization programs, residential programs, and MI/CD programs. I have worked with trauma (PTSD), anxiety, depression, ADHD, family violence, and family systems. I have also helped clients through infidelity/betrayal, gender identity issues, incarceration, intimacy issues, chemical dependency, custody/co-parenting, supervised visitation, and foster families/adoption.

As a therapist, my clients find me to be kind, compassionate, authentic, and direct. I rely heavily on the strength of the therapeutic relationship to support the collaborative work I do with my clients. I utilize a strengths-based approach with all of my clients, meaning we build off the strengths, knowledge, experiences, and skills that they already bring to our sessions. My clients know that I will challenge them and point out unhealthy patterns of behavior when I see them and will make every effort to do so in a kind and caring way. They also know that I am not an expert on their own experiences, which is why working collaboratively toward my clients’ goals is so important.

I am certified in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and am an approved clinical supervisor through both the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. I absolutely love being a clinical supervisor and teaching my supervisees how to become confident, independent, and creative therapists who are as passionate about this work as I am. I utilize aspects of Bowen Family Systems, attachment theory, narrative therapy, and emotionally-focused therapy in my work with individuals and family systems.

Outside of this work, I am busy raising two children with my wonderful husband, so much of our time is spent at their activities or as the drivers to and from those activities! I am a life-long learner and my curiosity and hunger for information often motivate my hobbies- I love to learn and seek opportunities to acquire knowledge through reading, traveling, or just observing others. (Which honestly tends to benefit my clients as well, since much of my passion for learning is focused on relationships and people). I have also been a quilter since I was a teenager and love putting together different fabrics to make something entirely new.

I want my clients to feel emotionally safe, comfortable, and supported throughout our time together. My goal is to help clients become their happiest, healthiest selves, often moving out of just surviving and into thriving.