KIMBERLY CARROLL, MA, LPCC, LADC, LCMHC
I have worked in mental health and substance use treatment since 2010, serving individuals across outpatient, community, and correctional settings. I completed my graduate training at Pacific University in Hillsboro, Oregon, and gained experience in a wide range of environments—including community corrections, drug court, walk-in clinics, and outpatient substance use programs—before continuing my work in Minnesota and opening my private practice.
I have been an entrepreneur for many years and have owned several businesses over time. Great North Counseling Services, established in 2016, has evolved alongside my clinical work and the changing needs of the people I serve. This experience informs how I work with professionals and business owners who are navigating growth, transition, uncertainty, and the responsibility of long-term decision making.
My clinical background includes work with outpatient facilities, in-school counselor at Leech Lake Behavioral Health, Band of Ojibwe, and lead clinician for the grant-funded Steps to Freedom program in Bemidji, MN. These experiences shaped my commitment to thoughtful, practical, and culturally responsive care.
Clinical Focus & Approach
My work supports individuals navigating complex emotional, behavioral, and life challenges—whether that includes substance use alongside co-occurring mental health concerns, persistent anxiety or mood symptoms, emotional dysregulation, or feeling stuck during periods of transition. I work with adolescents through older adulthood and frequently support people managing changes such as new roles, career shifts, caregiving responsibilities, grief, identity changes, and major life adjustments.
I have extensive experience working with dual diagnosis presentations, anxiety and depressive disorders, mood disorders, and individuals with borderline personality disorder. I also have specialized experience treating agoraphobia and OCD-related concerns, including hoarding.
My approach is integrative and skills-based, with strong foundations in:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Motivational Interviewing and client-centered work
At times, therapy focuses on deeper process and contextual understanding; at other times, it is more solution-focused—helping clients build structure, improve daily functioning, and develop coping strategies that translate into real-world change.
Performance, Athletes, and High-Pressure Roles
I work with athletes and high-performing individuals across a variety of sports and professions, helping them develop emotional regulation, focus, confidence, and sustainable performance under pressure. In recent years, I have also placed special focus on supporting first responders and military families, as well as continuing education in maternal mental health, disordered eating, and performance anxiety.
Helping people feel “unstuck”—whether from long-standing emotional patterns or sudden life disruptions—is at the heart of my work. I want clients to leave therapy with tools, hope, and a clearer sense of direction.
Who I Am Outside the Therapy Room
As part of the sandwich generation, I understand how easily caregiving, work, and family responsibilities can stretch people thin. This perspective shapes how I support clients in building boundaries, regulation, and sustainability—not just pushing through.
I am a wife, mother of two, and coach, and I work to practice what I teach. I coach track and field and paddling, and I am deeply engaged in endurance and water sports. I am a member of Team USA Premier Dragon Boat and Team USA Elite Va’a Sprint, competing internationally, and have represented the U.S. in world championship events in both Dragon Boat and Va’a. These experiences strongly inform my work with athletes, performers, and anyone navigating discipline, resilience, and pressure.
I enjoy being outdoors and can often be found on the water. I also homeschool my children and value lifelong learning—something both parenting and athletics continually reinforce. I enjoy gardening and previously co-owned and ran a market garden business.
I recently authored a journal for athletes, integrating performance psychology and self-reflection, and continue to explore research in sports performance, mindset, and nervous system regulation.
Language
I speak basic to moderate Afrikaans and limited Spanish.
Licenses
North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors: LCMHC #19619
Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy: LPCC #01739, LADC #304598
