Lake Country Welcomes Two ARMHS Practitioners to the Team!

LCA News and Information

Lake Country Associates is proud to announce the addition of Laura Kempnich and Sarah Elstad to our team of Mental Health Practitioners.  Laura and Sarah will be working in the Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS) program, helping people diagnosed with mental illness avoid hospitalization and manage their symptoms while living in the community.

Laura Kempnich

Laura’s experience as a business owner and social worker uniquely qualifies her in helping the people we serve organize, prioritize and take action in self-advocating and improving their lives.  Laura earned her MSW from the University of Minnesota School of Social Work.  Laura’s social work experience includes working at the Walk-in Counseling Center in Minneapolis, where she provided individual and couple’s counseling and co-lead workshops on suicide prevention.  She also provided services at the Home Away Shelter and Home Away Group Home in Golden Valley, a facility for adolescent girls with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Since moving to the Park Rapids area in 1985, Laura and her husband have built a successful restaurant business, Companeros Mexican Restaurant in Dorset MN.  With the sale of the restaurant this year, Laura now has the time to return to her career in Social Work.

 Sarah Elstad

Sarah is experienced helping people diagnosed with mental illness in residential settings and in their homes.  After earning her Bachelor of Science from Bemidji State University, Sarah worked for Sprucewoods, a residential program for people with mental illness.  Sarah then moved to the metro area and worked in ARMHS programs at Boston Mental Health Services and Central Minnesota Mental Health Center for over five years.

Sarah is now settled into the Park Rapids community and is looking forward to using her experience to continue helping people with mental illness.

 Please join us in welcoming Sarah and Laura to the Lake Country Associates Team!

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Feedback from LCA clients:

I am so thankful I was directed here!

Everyone was very helpful.  I'm glad I called to get help!

Listens to both my child and me.  Getting us through some very difficult times with care and compassion.

Therapy at LCA has helped my progress immensely!

Easy to work with.  You can tell they genuinely care about their clients.

The staff have good attitudes and open minds.

My therapist understands my child's needs and listens.

My therapist is a life saver! :-)

Very welcoming place.  We love our therapist!

Our counselor wanted to meet our entire family to find out how to better help our son.  She offered lots of suggestions and things to help us in the long term.

I have a great therapist.  I appreciate her assistance!

Easy to get to.  Very friendly people willing to help.

I had a person to talk with about my problems and my problems are getting better.

She's thinking through things with me instead of just giving directions.  It shows that she cares.

The front desk staff had a positive attitude and was patient with me.

Easy to work with.  Made me feel comfortable!

The receptionist knew my name after the second visit...very friendly!

They were open to my opinion of which counselor I see.

My therapist was very, very kind and is an awesome problem solver.

I appreciated being treated normally, even though I was getting help with a difficult situation.

The appointment times work well with my schedule.  My children get along well with their therapists.

They gave me hope for the future.  Life saving.

The receptionist staff have been amazing.  They are friendly and caring.  You can tell they enjoy their job.

Her thoughtfulness and her knowledge of helping people with depression is what I need to achieve my goals!

You are all warm, welcoming and so very helpful!  Thank you!!

Meeting with my therapist has been making my life and relationships a lot less stressful.

My ARMHS staff is awesome!  She has helped me make progress in many areas of my life.  I have better relationships now.

Friendly and helpful atmosphere.  Feel at ease walking in.

I love the comfortable feel in the office.

Location is great and the staff is excellent with customer service.  Therapy is also professional and comfortable.

The staff members are always well informed and ready to help/answer questions.

My son and daughter are making steps toward our family goals!

They work with your schedule and do whatever they can to help you.

Quick and easy to get an appointment.  Friendly, helpful staff.

My counselor helps me out when I need it most.  I can always count on them to say the right things, even when I don't want to hear it.

My children's counselors are awesome.  I've seen huge progress in both my kids.

I found scheduling flexible to my needs.

They matched me with the perfect therapist!

When we come in for an appointment, the reception staff always has a friendly smile on her face.

I always feel that my therapist is listening to what I have to say and helping me come up with practical ways to deal with things.

I like that the staff are flexible with scheduling.

I love coming to LCA.  Everybody is so friendly and make you feel so much better.

I appreciate the text/phone reminders.

All the staff were friendly and helpful.  They answered all my questions.

Greatly appreciate having the option of Christian Counseling and being able to filter issues through that lens!

Talking with my therapist is helping, instead of holding it all in.

It is a very comfortable atmosphere.  Everyone is flexible and understanding!

Good location, feels very professional and confidential!

I'm so appreciative of my therapist's knowledge, skill and understanding.

My therapist is great!  Of all the therapists we've had over the years, she understands our family and kids the best.  Very helpful!

My child's therapist is awesome!  So helpful and relates well to the whole family.

Resources

LCA Brochure

April Cottage Activities Calendar

Community Resource List 1.8.24

All Forms and Downloads

Office Hours

Park Rapids Office

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
    8:00 to 5:00
  • Wednesday
    8:00 to 7:00
  • Friday
    8:00 to 1:00

Bemidji Office

  • Monday – Thursday
    8:00 to 5:00
  • Friday
    8:00 to 12:00

Menahga Office

  • Open by appointment

LCA offices may be closed over the noon hour. 

Important Numbers

Park Rapids Office Phone:
218-366-9229

Bemidji Office Phone:
218-444-2233

Menahga Office Phone:
218-564-9229

LCA Fax Number (all offices):

218-237-2520

24-Hour Crisis Line:
800-422-0045

LCA News and Information