Dawn Huyge-Opsal, MS, LPCC
BemidjiOur Staff
Dawn Huyge-Opsal, MS, LPCC is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor at the Bemidji MN office. She received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Bemidji State University and is licensed through the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. She previously owned and provided services through Bemidji Autism and Children’s Therapy LLC.
Dawn specializes in working with children (age 7 years and up), adolescents, college students, and adults on the autism spectrum as well as accompanying disorders related to ADHD, depression, anxiety, anger, and OCD. She has been certified as an Advanced Certified Autism Specialist (ACAS) from 2020-2024 and a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS) from 2022 to the present.
Dawn provides behavioral therapy for younger children and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for pre-teens to adults which may include “talk therapy” along with visuals, play, art, and game strategies as needed to increase functioning and motivation, decrease emotional outbursts, reduce sensory reactions, and improve relationships and communication. The strategies used are tailored to each individual client and are client-led, allowing the client to make decisions on the focus of therapy and the strategies used.
Interventions are ASD-informed: concrete thinking, impulsive decision-making, sensory seeking/avoidance, and deficits in communication and relationships are considered. The goal is to help families and individuals understand autism spectrum disorder, particularly their own or their child’s subjective experience, and focus on strengths. Dawn does not provide formal testing for autism; however, she can identify if autism is likely present and provide services for autistic traits and symptoms while waiting for, and after, formal testing.