** Kristy is not accepting new clients.
About Kristy
Dr. Kristy Brecke is the Founder and Owner of Dr. Brecke Counseling Group, a Mental Health Outpatient (office) group practice, serving individuals and families in the Eagan, MN area. Kristy is a Board-Approved Supervisor with the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy and has been providing person centered, trauma-informed care since founding her practice in 2012.
Kristy’s reputation grew quickly, so quickly that she was unable to keep up with referrals. In 2019, she expanded into a group practice, demonstrating her commitment to making quality mental health counseling accessible to more people in the community. Just four months later, COVID-19 arrived — a challenge she and her team met with resilience.
Kristy grew up in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood and in Eagan, where she graduated from Eagan High School, Class of ’97. Her roots run deep in this community, and so does her understanding of the real-life challenges her clients face.
Kristy understands mental health not only as a clinician, but as someone who has lived it. She was raised by young parents who relied on public assistance and the federal food program as their family grew. In her 20s, Kristy navigated her own health challenges, spending two years on SSDI while recovering from a chronic health condition. These experiences gave her a firsthand understanding of vulnerability, resilience, and the critical role that mental health and social support systems play in people’s lives. Her lived experience combined with her love for helping people and a passion and curiosity of how the mind and body works, lead her to a Doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
As Carl Rogers, the founder of humanistic psychology, once said: “The greatest gift I can conceive of having from anyone is to be seen by them, heard by them, to be understood and touched by them.” This philosophy is at the heart of everything Dr. Brecke Counseling Group stands for.
Today, Kristy’s focus is on reducing stigma around mental health and improving access by offering a team of exceptionally trained professionals to the local and surrounding communities.
Professional Focus
Over the years, Kristy’s role has evolved. Although she continues to see a small number of clients, she now dedicates much of her time to supporting her clinicians. This shift allows her to stay connected to therapy while also nurturing a strong, healthy clinic culture. As a result, Kristy can prioritize both client care and staff well-being. She believes everyone deserves high-quality and accessible mental health support.
Experience and Approach
Kristy has worked in the social services field for 25 years and has been a fully licensed therapist for 17 of those years. Each week, she enjoys meeting with clients and creating a safe space for reflection, connection, and growth. She often helps people understand how shame influences their choices and sense of self-worth. When clients begin to release that shame, they frequently feel “unburdened” and experience meaningful, lasting change.
Education
Kristy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota (UMD). She then completed a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of St. Thomas. Later, she earned a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University (MN School of Professional Psychology). Each step of her education strengthened her clinical perspective and deepened her understanding of human behavior. In hindsight, some of her educational choices are at question. Her last two years of the 4 year doctorate education, she was raising rowdy twin boys. They were
2. 5 yrs here.
Background and Values
Although education has played a major role in her career, Kristy describes herself as a nontraditional learner. She believes lived experience teaches lessons that cannot be found in textbooks or classrooms. Her diverse work history reflects this belief and has shaped her values. Over the years, she has worked in residential treatment in Alaska, wilderness therapy in California and Oregon, and in-home crisis work throughout the Twin Cities. For the last 14 years, she has focused on outpatient care, which provides stability for her family and allows her to invest fully in her clients, clinic and her family. Kristy is fully commitment to inclusion and diversity.
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
Martin Luther King, Jr
Inclusive and Collaborative Care
Kristy enjoys working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and identities. Her therapy style is collaborative in which both therapist and client learn from each other. Because of this approach, clients often feel more empowered and in control of their healing. Her goal is to create an environment that feels calm, supportive, and grounded, while encouraging clients to build insight and confidence.
Life Outside the Office
Outside of work, Kristy finds inspiration in travel, nature, and lifelong learning. Her travel experiences have expanded her understanding of culture, perspective, and community. She is passionate about the outdoors and often encourages clients to use nature as part of their healing process because of its grounding effects. Her personal interests include sociology, religion, spirituality, child development, and the arts. She believes that knowing your strengths and accepting your weaknesses can help you move toward the life you want with clarity and purpose.
Family and Hobbies
Kristy has been married for 17 years and is the mother of 16-year-old twin boys. When she is not working, she spends time with her family or outside in nature. She enjoys home projects, writing, puzzling, interior design, meditating, acrylic painting, lifting weights, backpacking, canoeing, skiing, boating, biking, hiking, and exploring new activities. Her energy comes from maintaining healthy routines and prioritizing rest. When she does slow down, she can be found on a boat, near a bonfire, or people-watching. She believes stillness and presence are lifelong skills that require practice and intentionality.
2026 Session Rate
Self-pay rate: $205 for a 53–55 minute session
Communication Guidelines
For active clients:
Please message Kristy through the secure client portal. You can cancel or reschedule appointments directly through the portal, and late-cancellation messages should also be sent there using the envelope icon. If you are a former client and would like to see if she has availability to see you, you can reach out to the administrator @
Admin@breckeccounseling.com
Because email is not HIPAA compliant, contacting her directly about clinical matters outside the portal is discouraged and should be reserved for in-session discussion.
Billing questions:
Insurance companies or clients needing billing support should contact our billing specialist:
breckecobillingspecialist@gmail.com
Crisis or urgent needs:
Kristy is not available outside regular business hours.
For Crisis or urgent situations, please call 911 for a crisis. For urgent situation please call the national crisis number as your therapist is not available outside of regular business hours. Dial 988.