Contact us Monday through Friday 8:00am CST to 4:00pm CST at 715-327-4402

Angela Fredrickson, LCSW

Angela Fredrickson, LCSW

Clinical Director

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Service | Nature | Recreation

“I love spending time with my horses and I also love volunteering with the 4-H organization. I continue to teach 4-H horse project members each year. I learned the importance of service as a 4-H member and have served my community through 4-H since I was 13 years old. I also volunteer my time mentoring therapeutic riding instructors and serving on the board of a therapeutic riding program in Wausau, WI called Stable Hands. I have volunteered with various therapeutic riding organizations since the age of 18 and have been with Stable Hands since 2002.”

  

PROFILE

“I am thankful for my animal companions every day of my life. When I was 16 years old I watched my first therapeutic horseback riding session and was instantly smitten with it. Since that time I have worked to gather the knowledge and experience to someday work with kids and animals. Working at Northwest Passage provided me with the opportunity to put the last pieces of the puzzle together to meet this longstanding goal. Working with the support of Northwest Passage over the years, I have become a certified mental health specialist with the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association and I currently literally bring my passion to work with me one day a week in a horse trailer!”

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Certified EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) Clinician
  • Education: MS, Social Work; BS, Social Work
  • With Northwest Passage since 2005

Tanner Gaffey

Tanner Gaffey

Youth Development Specialist

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Recreation | Exercise | Relationships

“These three PassageWay elements are all ones that I incorporate in my personal life. The relationships you build with people are one of the most important parts of life, in my opinion. Exercise and recreation are two ways that I like to stay healthy physically and mentally.”

    

QUOTE

“To me, hope is positivity and the belief that one can achiever whatever they set out to do.”

DETAILS

  • Education: St. Croix Falls High School; 2021
  • With Northwest Passage since 2022
 

Tate Garcia

Tate Garcia

Evening Supervisor

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Relationships | Service

“I believe these three PassageWay elements, intertwined with the rest are cornerstones of growth.”

   

QUOTE

“To me, hope is the prospect of a positive future. An outlook of gradual progression.”

DETAILS

  • Education: WITC, Production Cabinet Making & Construction Essentials, 2018
  • With Northwest Passage since 2021
 

Mindy Grinde, LPN

Mindy Grinde, LPN

Medical Coordinator

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Relaxation | Relationships

Nature: When I am in nature I get a calming sensation. I feel less stressed and free to breathe in the air around me and take a moment to reflect on life. It is almost like I am taking a vacation from everything around me. Relaxation: I like to take moments in my day to learn to live in the moment and use breathing techniques to reflect on my day. Relationships: To me, relationships are one of the most important things in human life. We all want to connect and make bonds in our lives. Family and friends are something that helps me cope with everyday stressors and always make me feel better.”

     

QUOTE

“Hope is a never-ending journey. It means the feeling of something better or a more desirable outcome.”

DETAILS

  • Education: Pine Technical College, Pine City, MN – Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), 2012
  • With Northwest Passage since 2020
 

Erica Gurtner

Erica Gurtner

Certified Medical Assistant

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Relationships | Nutrition | Service | Exercise | Recreation | Spirit | Relaxation

Coming soon…

              

QUOTE

Coming soon….

DETAILS

  • Specialty:
  • Education:
  • With Northwest Passage since 2018
 

Alan Guthrie

Alan Guthrie

Overnight Care Staff

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Relationships | Service

“I think that developing relationships and creating friendships are very important to put someone on the path towards hope and healing”

             

QUOTE

“For me, hope is being able to see the way forward with love enthusiasm. Once you are able to do that you can gain a good self-worth, confidence, and peace.”

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Patience and Listening
  • Education: London Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Marketing, Public Relations and Sales
  • With Northwest Passage since 2018
 

Jennifer Gwiazda, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Jennifer Gwiazda, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Relaxation | Relationships

“Really all of the elements are important in my everyday life. The PassageWay Elements are a huge part of what drew me to NWP because I believe these elements to be important parts of living a well-balanced, healthy life. I believe that relationships, specifically stable, healthy relationships are the basis for good mental and physical health. I credit the love and support of those around me as a major contributing factor to my current success. I am also a firm believer that everyone enters each others lives with a purpose even if we don’t always know that purpose right away. Nutrition is another element that is important to me. I believe that a diet based on eating plant-based, whole foods allows me to feel both physically and mentally well. I think our bodies and brains react to what we put in them so it is of great importance to put good in to get good out. I do have a bit of a sweet tooth, but as is true with all of life, it’s about progress and not perfection. I also do yoga almost every day and credit my yoga practice with helping me through the stress of completing graduate school during the start of a pandemic. Yoga to me is a form of exercise as well as relaxation and recreation and the time I spend on my mat often gives me time to reflect and give thanks to God for the ability both physically and mentally maintain my yoga practice.”

    

QUOTE

“Hope is knowing that the current situation is not the only situation. Hope is knowing that there is something better on the other side of the challenge and that you have the strength and ability to get to that other side, but sometimes need help with the tools to get there. Hope is the realization that people around you want you to succeed in life because success is not finite. Meaning, I don’t lose my success in life when those around me gain it, too. When we all succeed in living a full life, society itself succeeds and flourishes.”

DETAILS

  • Education: Chippewa Valley Technical College, ADN, 2010; UW-Eau Claire, BSN, 2015; Husson University, MSN, 2021
  • Specialties: I think I have a great sense of humor, even if my family disagrees.
  • With Northwest Passage since 2021
 

Ethan Halainen

Ethan Halainen

Therapist

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Recreation | Relaxation | Nutrition | Exercise | Relationships | Service | Spirit

Coming Soon…

            

QUOTE

Coming Soon…

DETAILS

  • Education:
  • With Northwest Passage since 2021
 

Julie Hall

Julie Hall

Development & Communications Director

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Relationships | Service |Recreation

“I believe maintaining balance in life requires setting aside time to create relationships, cultivate interests, and invest in service to others. When you care for the “parts” the “whole” will take care of itself.”

            

QUOTE

“Tomorrow can be different than today. Each day presents a new opportunity for growth and change. When you embrace those opportunities there is always hope!”

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Graphic Design, Marketing
  • Education:  BFA, Graphic Design (UW-Oshkosh); MS, Management & Organizational Behavior (Silver Lake College)
  • With Northwest Passage since 2018
 

Olivia Hall

Olivia Hall

Overnight Care Staff

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Relaxation | Relationships

“Spending time in nature with friends and family is a great way to relax and take a break.”

    

QUOTE

“Hope is keeping a positive outlook and knowing that good things are yet to come.”

DETAILS

  • Education: Miami University – Biology, Bioinformatics, and Forensic Investigation; degree in progress
  • With Northwest Passage since 2022
 

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