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 found scheduling flexible to my needs.

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

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.

Good location, feels very professional and confidential!

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

Friendly and helpful atmosphere.  Feel at ease walking in.

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

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

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

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

They gave me hope for the future.  Life saving.

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

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.

It is a very comfortable atmosphere.  Everyone is flexible 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!

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

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

Very welcoming place.  We love our therapist!

I am so thankful I was directed here!

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

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

I like that the staff are flexible with scheduling.

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.

They matched me with the perfect therapist!

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

I have a great therapist.  I appreciate her assistance!

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

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

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

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

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

My therapist is a life saver! :-)

Therapy at LCA has helped my progress immensely!

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

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

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

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

Easy to work with.  Made me feel comfortable!

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

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

My therapist understands my child's needs and listens.

I appreciate the text/phone reminders.

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

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

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

The staff have good attitudes and open minds.

I love the comfortable feel in the office.

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

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

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

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

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