Emily Kleiber – Gospel Care Collective

I consider it a great privilege to come alongside hurting people in the counseling process. At the foundation of my practice is a warm, empathetic, Gospel-centered approach that seeks to emphasize the magnitude of God’s grace in our lives and the freedom it brings.

I currently serve as the Counseling Director at my beloved home church in Minneapolis and have experience working with women, men, and couples. I see clients struggling with a variety of concerns, some of which include: processing hurts from childhood and family of origin, anxiety, depression, feeling purposeless or stuck, burnout in ministry or career, and adjustment to parenthood with a special focus on women in the perinatal period. I received my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University. My therapeutic approach comes from varied backgrounds including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Pesso Boyden Sensoripsychomotor (PBSP) to support regulating emotion, adapting to change, and healing from unmet needs. I have a diverse mix of clinical and ministry-related counseling experience including assessing pastors for readiness in church planting, leading a series of Marriage & the Gospel classes for couples, and counseling women at a pregnancy resource center.

I have been married to my husband for 20 years and we have three amazing children. I absolutely love living in the city and appreciate live music, enjoying the local food scene, exploring on long walks, and cheering on our kids at their sporting events.

Schedule an introductory session with Emily here. Feel free to send any questions to: emily@gospelcarecollective.org

More about Emily…

What led you to become a counselor?

As a child, I experienced some forced family counseling that was completely lacking in warmth or empathy and I remember thinking, “There has to be a better way.” As I grew, I began to notice that asking questions and digging into what made people around me tick was absolutely fascinating. I have never been very enthralled with small talk and feel a general excitement and invigoration when connecting with others and exploring the depth of our experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

What do you enjoy most about your work as a counselor?

It feels like a true privilege to be “let in” to someone’s inner world in order to listen and help make sense of what sometimes can feel like chaos. There is nothing more fulfilling to me than leading people outside of themselves and to the hope of the Gospel.

How do you take care of your own mental and emotional well-being?

I am a true extrovert and really love spending time with people I love – my family, friends, and church family, too. I externally process with my husband and trusted friends and love taking walks where I pray to clear my mind.

Do you have any specific areas of expertise or personal interests within counseling?

I have a special interest in working with people who have experienced spiritual trauma and are forging a path forward in their journeys of faith. I am passionate about widening the lens we have of God’s grace and how perfectionism and legalism can rob us of so much. I love meeting with women in the perinatal period and beyond who are adjusting to motherhood and all of its joys and struggles.

What are your favorite books or resources related to counseling or personal growth?

I meet regularly with other Gospel-centered counselors and those using the same theoretical approach and really value their feedback and insights. I appreciate the content of Mockingbird. I will read anything by Tim Keller or Elyse Fitzpatrick.

How do you integrate your faith or spirituality into your personal life?

It’s interesting how we can connect with God while completely alone and while spending time with His people. Sometimes when I feel like I don’t have much to give or can’t focus, I’ll play worship (loudly!) while at home or out and about and I find it so centering and calming. I also love to gather with other believers – often informally – and talk about ways we’re seeing God moving and glimpses of grace in the ordinary. Praying for my children at night reminds them (and me!) that God is our foundation and hope and not our circumstances, our works, or the current state of our faith.

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of your counseling work?

I love live music, exploring new restaurants around the city, hiking, and cooking new recipes with my family.

How do you handle stress or challenges in your life?

Connecting with friends, sitting close to my family and soaking them in, asking my husband or a good friend to pray for me, and staying connected to my church body to remind me that my suffering has purpose and can point me to Christ.

What is one piece of advice or wisdom you find yourself sharing often with clients?

It is so freeing to stop the cycle of constantly judging ourselves – our thoughts, emotions, and actions. We can actively move toward replacing those self-imposed voices of criticism and condemnation with the truth that God won”t love us any more than He already does once we start doing x or stop doing y. We are rejoiced over, kept, valued, and accepted as we are and nothing can change that.