Andrew Archer
I am a licensed clinical social worker with almost two decades of experience providing psychotherapy. I started Minnesota Mental Health Services in 2017, which is a private practice in Mankato, Minnesota. Most therapists try to “help” their patients. This allows the patient to continue to manipulate their environment instead of relying on self-support. I offer my skills and understanding of personality, the analysis of interpersonal communication, "games," and life-script.
First session
The first session is a 60 minute assessment. I have you fill out some paperwork before hand and then we sit down and I ask you about yourself, the current problems you are having, and then get an overview of your life. I focus on trauma, early child decisions, relationship to your parental figures as well as you interpersonal development. At the end of the session we begin talking about your therapeutic contract for therapy.
Strengths
Most therapists try to “help” their patients. This allows the patient to continue to manipulate their environment instead of relying on self-support. I have developed what I call "Self Therapy." This is a collaborative, patient-driven approach where you learn theories of human development such as transactional analysis. The issue for people is that there is an obstruction to natural self-regulation. I will teach you how to apply a toolbox of therapeutic tools to teach yourself. You revolutionize you.
Ideal clients
I work with people and not "clients." I am trained as a generalist practitioner who began his career working in a community mental health center. My focus was working with patients who had both issues with substance abuse and trauma. After my graduate schooling I moved to a very rural area of northern New Hampshire to work with very young children. Then I worked predominantly with young adults and now I work mostly with men struggling with emotional expression and strained relationships. I enjoy working with elders as well.
Origin story
My introduction to psychotherapy was born out of my own need for support while in college. I quickly changed my major from business to psychology and went to graduate school soon after to pursue what I knew I wanted to do. When I met my first therapist and I found out she was a clinical social worker, I decided to take the same path. After working in rural as well as urban settings across various clinics and organizations, I settled in southern, Minnesota where my family and children reside.
Ongoing work together
My emphasis is on getting you well now, and then analyzing later. We do not need to dissect your past for you to start feeling better. "Self Therapy" is my method of growth through awareness in the now to realize the potential they are neglecting. You will resolve “unfinished business” from your past to go beyond environmental support to rely on self-support. You will make a therapeutic diagnosis and use your inherent power to change yourself versus a medical diagnosis where the doc changes you. You will quickly learn to identify your personality adaptation(s) such as the responsible Workaholic or the creative Daydreamer. Then we will analyze your personality structure, the “games” you play, and the life-script you are unconsciously following. You will transform from a neurotic patient who manipulates their environment to an actualized person who relies on self-support.
Treatment methods
EMDR
I rarely use the eye movement aspect of EMDR. Instead, I teach you to use a Timeline of Life Events to isolate specific "unfinished business" (trauma) from your past. You will work through each negative life event to comprehend what you decided about yourself that is limiting your potential.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions530 N Riverfront Dr, Mankato, MN 56001, 230