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Mental Health & Wellbeing

How We Work

Utilizing evidenced-based therapeutic models with a trauma informed lens, LY&CS, is committed to enhancing mental health functioning, improving personal wellbeing, and assisting in maximizing potential. Understanding emotional self-regulation begins with self-awareness. We listen with compassion and nonjudgment for spoken and unspoken concerns, ask insight-oriented questions to prompt introspection and reflection.

Counselors are generalists with education and understanding of the impact of adverse traumatic experiences and stress responses on brain development. Individual treatment planning and goal setting is a unique collaboration between you and the counselor.

Our Why

Wellbeing goes beyond wellness to help individuals address every facet of their lives, physical, emotional, social, mental, environmental, and spiritual wellbeing. Our approach incorporates the whole person allowing opportunities to explore the root of their perspectives experiencing a mindset shift and to envision a fresh perspective for living their best lives and live up to their human potential.

Babies are born with a biological drive to seek proximity to a protective adult for survival. They are dependent on the physical and emotional availability of the key adults who take care of them.  Early attachment is important because it acts as an ‘internal working model’ (or template) for subsequent relationships.

Our How

IDENTITY CLARIFICATION

Through increased self-awareness, understanding stress responses increasing emotional intelligence; self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation and managing emotions of others and mindfulness.

CORE VALUES CLARIFICATION

Establishing a vision for a purpose driven life and creating measurable goal setting based on your ultimate life’s vision.

OUTCOME

Continuous progress toward realization of true potential. Increased understanding and balance between Independence and Interdependence, making connections with others and strengthening relationships.

Kenneth Hanna

About Us

Lion Youth &Community Services, LLC was established in 2012 as a community-based mental health treatment service. The founding objective was to address the significant increased number of adults and children of color entering the criminal courts and social services systems. The overwhelmed system focused on behaviors rather than the underlying impact of adverse childhood experiences of the students.

My lived experiences, education, work in foster care and adoption, residential and group home settings, private practice and substance abuse programs led to the founding of Lion Youth & Community Services, LLC to address mental health needs.

Today LY&CS Mental Health and Wellbeing Counseling (Lion Youth & Community Services, LLC) has evolved to working with young adults transitioning to adulthood with histories of adverse childhood experiences and adults of all ethnicities, and cultures working through mental health challenges.

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Telehealth Counseling

Telehealth Counseling

Currently services provided remotely via Zoom.

Studies have broadly shown that telehealth has similar outcomes in most cases to in-person therapy. A recent systemic review and meta-analysis found that telemedicine was comparable to in-person therapy in terms of efficacy, patient satisfaction and dropout rates. Psychology Today July 15, 2023

Accessibility and convenience rank among the top reasons for the current prevalence of teletherapy. Patients don’t need to take the time to travel to an office, take time off from work, or find a babysitter. Other benefits are comfort and convenience, flexibility and cost effectiveness.

Individual Counseling
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Individual Counseling

Alcohol, cannabis and other drug abuse.

Cognitive restructuring.

Emotional dysregulation/anger.

Grief and loss.

Mood disorders.

Impact of adverse traumatic experiences.

Acceptance commitment therapy.

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Change versus Transition

The distinction between transition and change.  From the preface of the William Bridges Transitions, second edition (2004):

Our society confuses them constantly, leading us to imagine that transition is just another word for change.  But it isn't.  Change is graduation day, your move to a new city or your shift to a new job. In other words, change is situational.  Transition, on the other hand, is psychological.  It is not those events, but rather the inner reorientation and self-redefinition that you have to go through in order to incorporate any of those changes into your life. One of the most important differences between a change and a transition is that changes are driven to reach a goal, but transitions start with letting go of what no longer fits or is adequate to the life stage you are in.

Finances

Credentialed with most Minnesota Insurance carriers, Medicaid and Medicare.

Acceptable payments- PayPal, Health Savings Accounts, Visa, Mastercard, Square


Fees:

30-minute initial consultation- no charge

Intake session- $150.00

Individual follow-up sessions-$130.

Founder and Executive Director

Kenneth Hanna was born in Nassau, Bahamas attended secondary school in Bentham, England immigrated to the US 1974. Twice married with five adult children, seven grandchildren and a great grandchild. He enjoys walking, hiking, fishing, gardening and working.

EDUCATION

Graduate of St Cloud State University Social Work BS and certificate of Chemical Dependency counseling. University of Minnesota Master of Social Work (MSW) Child Welfare program.  Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) The University of St Thomas.

WORK EXPERIENCE

30 years in human services field, positions include Direct Care staff in residential and group homes for adolescent units; private practice; foster care and adoption services social worker and Director of Operations; State of Minnesota’s Northern Regional inpatient programs Clinical Director; Behavioral Access Social Worker Emergency Department; Inpatient Social Worker adolescent and adult mental health units;  private practice mental health therapist;  Mental Health Therapist Multicultural Specialist private college.

ENTREPRENEUR

Started and managed three businesses, Lion Youth & Community Services, LLC, a mental health counseling practice, LION Community Enrichment Programs, Inc, a nonprofit organization focused on improving mental health and personal growth for people of color and Klh Associates Mindset Align Coaching, a personal development, leadership, and transition coaching agency.

Kenneth Hanna

Kenneth L Hanna, LICSW, MSW, MBA

I work with motivated teens and adults who are experiencing a variety of concerns, including past and recent trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions or questions of identity or purpose. My therapeutic approach has evolved into a collaborative and flexible interaction, together, we will explore your life and experiences up to this point. I have been blessed to work with diverse patients, from many backgrounds.

If you are ready to begin the process of self-exploration and healing, please reach out.

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