Washburn Center's Leadership

Tom has worked at Washburn Center for Children since 1996, initially as a therapist, program manager and trainer, providing therapeutic services for children with severe emotional and behavioral problems, and doing training and consultation with schools, families and community agencies. He became Program Director in 2001, then Chief Operating Officer in 2010 and moved into the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2017. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Masters in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology, Tom has presented nationally and locally on treating child trauma and aggression, developing and sustaining school-based mental health services and performance-based compensation. He has given presentations to the National Council on Community Behavioral Health, the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health, the University of Minnesota’s Lessons from the Field Series and the National School-based Mental Health conferences.

Jenny has worked in a variety of roles since joining Washburn Center in 2003. Jenny’s past experience includes elementary day treatment, in-home individual and family therapy, school-based individual and group therapy, children’s mental health case management, outpatient therapy and providing therapeutic services at a homeless shelter. She received her Bachelors degree in Social Work and Family Studies from St. Olaf College and her Masters in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine. She began supervising the Case Management team in 2008 and the Intensive In-Home team in 2013. Her areas of expertise include helping children who are severely emotionally disturbed, providing wrap around services for children and families who have been exposed to trauma and providing in-home family therapy. Jenny’s trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) and has a passion for treating the family as a whole in order to assist with long term and holistic healing.

Beth joined Washburn Center for Children in 2008 as a school based therapist, became the co-supervisor of Washburn Center’s School-based program in 2013 and moved into the role of Director of Program Administration in 2016. In addition to her school based work at Washburn, Beth previously worked in a school based program in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Beth’s other experiences include day treatment therapist (individual, family, group work), treatment manager at a residential facility, completing court ordered assessments with adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system, and providing individual and family work at part of a voluntary county program. Beth is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and PracticeWise. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the College of St. Scholastica. Her Master’s degree was completed at the joint University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine’s Social Work program.

Pearl has a graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling Capella University and combines education with practical life experience in her work of uncovering true identity and illuminating potential. In addition to contributing to the mental well-being of herself and others, she is committed to the pursuit of intercultural development. Pearl adeptly facilitates developmentally-grounded conversations across diverse individuals and groups in order to increase people’s capacity to better understand culture and to develop culturally responsive and appropriate strategies for engaging difference.

Prior to joining Washburn Center for Children in 2017, Pearl served in higher education, was co-leader of a Diversity and Inclusion Networking Group and worked alongside cultural development consultants.

Amy Pfarr Walker, BA, has more than 20 years of nonprofit fundraising and communications experience. She has helped shape the agency’s philanthropic efforts and communications since 2010, and moved into the role of Interim Chief Advancement Officer in Spring 2019. Amy earned her Bachelors degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and completed the Masters of Business Communications certificate program at the University of St. Thomas.

Dr. Gozy started her career at Washburn Center for Children in 2008 for her post-doctoral fellowship.  After a brief hiatus she was hired as a full-time outpatient therapist in late 2009. The following year Dr. Gozy started supervising doctoral trainees. Currently, Dr. Gozy maintains a small case load of clients and is the Quality Assurance Supervisor at Washburn Center. As part of her QA responsibilities, Dr. Gozy provides trainings to staff (paperwork, treatment plans, data privacy), develops training materials for staff, assists in overseeing audits, oversees Washburn Center’s Peer Review process, and is dedicated to improving the efficiency and quality of the clinical work done at Washburn Center. Dr. Gozy completed her BA in psychology at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and her PsyD from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology in 2008. She completed her APA-Accredited internship at the Allendale Association in Lake Villa, IL. Dr. Gozy is a certified PCIT(Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) and MAP (PracticeWise) therapist.  Her professional interests include: ethics, data privacy, staff training, early childhood, attachment, development, behavioral issues, anxiety/depression, and trauma.

Before joining Washburn Center’s leadership team in 2009, Kate worked in a variety of roles for Hearthstone of Minnesota, including the Quality Assurance Coordinator, Director of Human Resources and Director of Program Operations. Kate graduated from St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame with a B.A.. After several years as a youth counselor in a residential treatment center, she earned a Masters of Social Work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine in 2007.

Natalie joined Washburn Center in 2005 and worked as a therapist in Washburn Center’s Day Treatment program for two years before becoming the Family Focused supervisor in 2007. Natalie’s experience includes providing therapeutic services to children in crisis, preschool day treatment, in-home family and individual therapy, play therapy, providing ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) therapy to children with autism, school based therapy with children from grades K-8 and outpatient therapy. Natalie has also completed training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and DC: 0-3 (a diagnostic model for identifying mental health challenges and developmental disorders in infants and toddlers). In 2013, Natalie completed the University of Minnesota’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate Program. She also completed training and certification in Trauma-Informed Child Parent Psychotherapy in the Fall of 2014, which resulted in the opportunity for her to lead the Family Focused team through Trauma-Informed Child Parent Psychotherapy training. In 2018, Natalie moved into the role of Associate Director of Early Childhood Group and Mobile Services.

Dr. Krahn has worked at Washburn Center since 2000 and greatly enjoys the training and supervisory components as well as direct client care in her work as the Associate Clinical Director of Outpatient and School Based Mental Health Programming. Dr. Krahn received her BA in Psychology from Hamline University and her PsyD from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology in 2000. She completed her American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited predoctoral internship at Crestwood Children’s Center in Rochester, New York. Dr. Krahn has committed her career to the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and families within a community mental health setting. For over a decade, she supervised Washburn Center’s Psychology Training Program and completed the self-study that granted APA accreditation to the Pre-doctoral Internship Program in December 2012. She has been trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and PracticeWise, and her areas of interest include supervision, trauma, play therapy, attachment and development, family systems, and program development and training.

Lauren joined Washburn Center in 2002 and served as supervisor of the Day Treatment Program from 2006 – 2013 before focusing on her new role as Clinical Trainer and Outpatient Therapist. Lauren has more than a decade of experience providing therapy to adults, children, groups and families who are struggling with the effects of trauma as an in-home family therapist and day treatment therapist. She utilizes Developmental Repair, a treatment model that was developed at Washburn Center for Children, and trains other clinicians in the model. Lauren is also trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and DC: 0-3 (a diagnostic model for identifying mental health challenges and developmental disorders in infants and toddlers). She obtained her Masters of Social Work and earned her Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate from the University of Minnesota.

When Theresa joined Washburn Center for Children in 2007, she brought a wealth of therapeutic experience from other settings, including emergency shelters, residential treatment and outpatient programs. Theresa was a therapist in Washburn Center’s Day Treatment program for five years before becoming an Assistant Supervisor of the Case Management Program in 2012. She is trained in the Developmental Repair Model and in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She enjoys helping children with trauma histories and school difficulties learn to how trust, ask for help when needed and discover what makes them unique. Theresa earned a degree in psychology from Monmouth College and a Masters in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago.

Jenna joined Washburn Center in 2009 as an intern in the Outpatient program. In 2010 she was hired as a children’s mental health case manager and started seeing outpatient clients during that time. She transitioned into the Intensive In-Home program in 2013 and became the Assistant Supervisor in August 2015. Jenna earned her Masters in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine. Her interests include helping children and families who have experienced trauma, in-home family therapy, incorporating integrative health techniques such as mindfulness and yoga and utilizing strength’s based and relational approach with families. Additionally, she is a Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP) Certified Therapist and Supervisor.

Dr. Cohen joined Washburn Center in 2000 and has worked as an Outpatient Therapist, Day Treatment Supervisor and currently as the Outpatient Supervisor. Dr. Cohen obtained her PhD from Adelphi University and completed her predoctoral internship and fellowship at Hennepin County Medical Center. She then worked for over three years at the Eisemenger Learning Center/Wilder Foundation, where she provided therapy, case management and school consultation services for children identified as severely emotionally disturbed. Her areas of clinical interest include: DC: 0-3 (a diagnostic model for identifying mental health challenges and developmental disorders in infants and toddlers), therapy with young children, EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing), adult psychotherapy, trauma and attachment dynamics.

Kathy is a mental health practitioner of 35 years and a supervisor of early childhood programming at Washburn Center since 1996. A former classroom teacher, Kathy has served as the supervisor of the Early Childhood Outreach program since 2002.  Kathy has a Master’s Degree in counseling psychology from Central Connecticut State University. She has been serving children and families within the community at each Washburn Center location. She and the Outreach program currently reside at the West site in Minnetonka.

Laura joined Washburn Center for Children in 2008 as a Day Treatment therapist. Laura utilizes Developmental Repair, a treatment model that was developed at Washburn Center for Children, for working with children and their families struggling with the effects of trauma. In 2013, Laura transitioned to Washburn Center’s School-based program where she provided mental health services in two north Minneapolis public schools. Laura returned to the Day Treatment program as an Assistant Supervisor in 2015. Laura received her Masters of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. Her professional interests include early childhood trauma and the impact of trauma on family systems.

Ann joined Washburn Center for Children in 2010 as a school-based therapist in the Minneapolis schools.  She began her transition into an assistant supervisor role for the School-based program in August 2014.  Prior to her work as a school-based therapist, Ann was a mental health practitioner/professional providing school-based services in Pierz, Minnesota.  She also has previous experience providing in-home family services and day treatment services in a preschool mental health program.  She received her Masters of Social Work from a joint program offered at the College of Saint Catherine/University of St. Thomas.  In addition, Ann is specialized in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Kara joined Washburn Center in 2007 as a clinician in both the Outpatient program and the Child Development Policing program, a collaborative program with the Minneapolis Police Department, University of Minnesota, DAP and Tubman providing psycho-education and support to families whose children had recently witnessed violence. Kara received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan and worked in treatment foster care, residential treatment for parenting adolescents and the St Paul Public School system prior to joining Washburn Center. Kara is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and professional interests include anxiety disorders, attachment work, cognitive behavioral therapy, adolescent development and emancipation issues and trauma. Kara is currently a co-supervisor of Washburn’s School-based program.

Dr. Shah has worked at Washburn since 2007. She started at Washburn through a postdoctoral fellowship and then went on to become a psychologist in the outpatient program and eventually the supervisor of Washburn’s Predoctoral Psychology Internship Program. Dr. Shah received her BS in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota and her PsyD in Clinical Psychology form the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology in 2007. She completed her American Psychological Association accredited internship at Canvas Health in Minneapolis. She has specialized training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and PracticeWise. Dr. Shah’s professional interests include: mindfulness, play therapy, psychological assessment, development, trauma, adult psychotherapy, attachment dynamics, working with multicultural populations, as well as providing psychology training/supervision.

Dr. Sinko started her career at Washburn Center for Children in 2011 as a post-doctoral fellow in the Outpatient program. She briefly left the agency following completion of her fellowship, but returned to the School-Based Mental Health Program in early 2013. Dr. Sinko provided school-based individual and family therapy services, as well as school consultations and training until 2016, at which time she transitioned into the role of Assistant Supervisor for the School-based Mental Health Program and in 2018 became Supervisor for School-based services. She has also collaborated with the Psychology Training Program to facilitate psychoeducation and social skills groups in the school setting and currently participates in psychological testing consultation. Dr. Sinko received her BA in Child Psychology and Sociology from the University of Minnesota and her MA and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology in 2011. She completed her American Psychological Association accredited internship at The Guidance Center in Long Beach, California. Dr. Sinko has specialized training in DC: 0-3 assessment and therapy and is a certified Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral and PracticeWise therapist. Her professional interests include: psychological testing, play therapy, trauma, anxiety, depression, behavioral struggles, clinical supervision, and program development.

Pamela began working at Washburn Center for Children in 1994 as an in-home family advocate/clinician helping children and families at Four Wind School. Pamela became an in-home clinician with the Home Front program and in 2002 helped develop Washburn’s Crisis Stabilization program. At the program’s start, Pamela was the only clinician providing crisis services throughout the metro. Pamela has helped oversee the program’s expansion and is the assistant supervisor of the nine clinicians in the program. Pamela attended Metro State University.

Michael joined Washburn Center for Children in 2016 and has more than 11 years of experience providing mental health services to children.  Prior to joining Washburn Center, he was a manager for a children’s case management team in the northwest suburbs and has additional experience working with children in day treatment and school based services.  Michael received his Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine’s in 2005. His professional interests include working with children who have experienced complex trauma, attachment theory and advocating for our clients mental health needs.