About Lake Country Associates

Lake Country Associates Main Office
Lake Country Associates in Park Rapids.

Lake Country Associates (LCA) was founded in the fall of 2009 by Jean Greseth and Shawn Anderson.  On April 5, 2010 LCA opened it’s doors in a two room rental office on Grove Street.  After a short time, we moved into our newly renovated building at 515 Bridge Street in Park Rapids.

Our motivation in starting Lake Country Associates was to:

  1. Serve the residents of our community with a locally owned and operated, financially stable mental health service provider.
  2. Provide good paying jobs and a positive work atmosphere for our dedicated family of coworkers.
  3. Serve our community and referral services through flexible, consumer-focused decision making that benefits the communities we serve.

From its inception, Lake Country Associates has been proud to offer community-based services such as Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS) and Community Support Program (CSP).  Our experienced ARMHS and CSP staff help people with mental illness avoid hospitalization and remain in their homes.  Strong coordination between community programs and clinical staff means an improved quality of life and a reduction in expensive hospitalizations for the people we serve.

Lake Country Associates Bemidji
LCA Office in Bemidji MN.

In the winter of 2015, LCA expanded its services by opening an office in Bemidji.  Spearheaded by Jessica Niemi, an experienced clinician, supervisor and trainer, the Bemidji office is located at 1426 Bemidji Avenue NW.  The Bemidji office has since grown into a larger space and offers specialized services such as Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma-Informed Child Parent Psychotherapy (TICPP).  Bemidji now serves children, teenagers, adults and families.

Lake Country Cottage
Lake Country Cottage Drop-in Center.

In the spring of 2017, LCA purchased a single-family home at 516 1st Street West in Park Rapids.  Originally intended to provide office space for our community program staff, we soon found that the building dubbed the “Lake Country Cottage” was also ideal for fulfilling the community’s need for a drop-in center for people with mental illness.  Now known simply as “The Cottage”, the space is both a drop-in center and a home base for community mental health staff.

White Pine Center building In Menahga MN
LCA Offices in Menahga, MN.

Recognition of community need in October 2018 led us to expand South and open an office in Menahga, MN.  First opening one small office, then a second, then a third office within the White Pine Center building gave us the ability to expand our services to provide outpatient therapy and serve people with Substance Use Disorders.  Working together with our team of SUD professionals in Park Rapids and Menahga provides us more tools to more effectively help the people we serve.

Through the hard work of our entire team, flexibility and a willingness to serve our community, Lake Country Associates has seen significant growth over the years.  Despite our growth, we are proud to have maintained our original dedication and appreciation for the people we serve, the professionals we work side-by-side with, and the communities we call home.

Feedback from LCA clients:

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.

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

I love the comfortable feel in the office.

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

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

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

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

I have a great therapist.  I appreciate her assistance!

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

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

My therapist is a life saver! :-)

I appreciate the text/phone reminders.

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

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

Easy to work with.  Made me feel comfortable!

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

Good location, feels very professional and confidential!

I am so thankful I was directed here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I like that the staff are flexible with scheduling.

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

They gave me hope for the future.  Life saving.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Friendly and helpful atmosphere.  Feel at ease walking in.

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

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

My therapist understands my child's needs and listens.

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.

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

I found scheduling flexible to my needs.

They matched me with the perfect therapist!

Resources

LCA Brochure

February Activities Calendar

January Cottage Activities

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