About Wild Hope

Dr. Nora Halverson, PhD, LP

Individual Therapy for Adults

What burdens you? What are you most longing for in life right now? Where do you experience joy, laughter, connection, wholeness, and freedom? What is your wildest hope?

As a PhD Clinical Psychologist, I offer therapy that is both rooted in evidence-based practices and personalized to your unique needs. Together we will create a supportive environment for you to explore your experiences, challenges, goals, dreams, relationships, thoughts, and emotions. We will celebrate the courage to be vulnerable, the choice to live an authentic life, and the growth that can come from self-understanding and discovery. Scroll down to learn more about my therapy approach.

In-Person or Telehealth

Based in Northeast Minneapolis, my office is a space to feel seen and heard. Phone or video appointments are also available whenever it works best for you.

Topics We May Explore Together

I offer expertise for a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, and more.

Wondering if Wild Hope is the right fit for you? Learn more about my areas of expertise or schedule a free 15-minute consultation call.

Therapy Approach at Wild Hope

The Heart of the Work

Therapy is a relational space. I walk with you in accompaniment. I encourage and support you in caring for all dimensions of you – mind, body, spirit, relationship. I’ll ask thoughtful questions, challenge you when needed, offer direction when you’re feeling lost, and remind you to be kind to yourself. We’ll laugh. We’ll cry. We might even swear a little

(or a lot if that’s your style). We’ll be real. This work is grounded in:

Narrative & Storytelling

We all live by the stories we tell about ourselves, others, and the world around us. We’ll work together to understand the narratives that have shaped your identity, explore where they came from, and revise the ones that no longer serve you. This process involves exploring and creating a cohesive narrative that empowers you and reflects your values, strengths, and aspirations, enabling you to move forward with confidence and purpose. We can explore how things may have happened for you instead of to you, not in a bypassing, minimizing, or glorifying way, but in a way that invites curiosity, courage, and possibility.

Mindfulness & Acceptance

Mindfulness invites us to gently return to the present moment even when it’s uncomfortable. Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up. It means choosing curiosity and learning alternatives to avoidance and numbing. Together we will cultivate awareness and presence so you can respond to life with clarity and intention rather than reactivity.

Compassion-Focused

Learning to treat yourself with patience and kindness, especially when you may feel least deserving of it, is a radical act. Together we’ll challenge harsh inner critics and replace self-judgment with a more compassionate, supportive inner voice. Healing often begins with how we speak to ourselves.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

We’ll explore how your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are all connected and interact. By examining these patterns, we can develop tools to shift unhelpful and limiting ways of thinking, reduce emotional distress, and foster healthier habits. Small changes in perspective and awareness can create meaningful shifts in your day-to-day experience.

Attachment-Based

Our relationships – past and present – have profound impacts on how we view ourselves and relate to others. We’ll explore how early attachment patterns shape your adult interactions and work toward building more secure, satisfying connections in your life today. Acknowledging the centrality of relationships for a happy and healthy life, we can explore how to engage constructively with others in a complex world.

Personal Strengths

You bring strengths into therapy even if they feel buried right now. We’ll highlight and build upon your resilience, creativity, and resourcefulness. Healing often involves rediscovering what’s always been strong within you.

Mind-Body-Spirit Integration

True healing involves your whole self. We’ll incorporate practices that support your nervous system, senses, and movement while honoring the wisdom your body holds. When mind, body, and spirit are aligned, lasting change becomes more possible.

Positive Psychology

Symptom relief matters but I am also dedicated to helping you achieve flourishing. Together we can explore how to celebrate the richness of life through positive psychology practices, like cultivating wonder and awe, nurturing contentment and gratitude, savoring moments of beauty, engaging in acts of kindness, and fostering deeper social connection. Through these gentle but empowering practices, therapy becomes a journey of discovery, and resilience and well-being can reach new levels.

Trauma-Informed

Trauma can profoundly impact emotional and physical well-being. A trauma-informed approach creates a safe and supportive space where your experiences are honored, and you can explore your feelings at your own pace without fear of judgment. Together, we'll work to help you heal and reclaim your sense of safety and strength.

Existential

Life's big questions, like “Who am I?” "What's my purpose?" or "Why am I here?" can be overwhelming. Existential therapy invites you to explore these questions, helping you find meaning and direction in your life. It's about embracing your freedom, making authentic choices, and living a life true to yourself.

Psychodynamic

Ever wonder why you react a certain way or find yourself in the same patterns? Psychodynamic therapy delves into your past to uncover how it shapes your present. By exploring unconscious patterns and early relationships, you can gain insight, break old patterns, and build healthier relationships.

Culturally Sensitive

Your identity, background, traditions, and beliefs are integral to who you are. In our sessions, your cultural experiences are honored and respected to ensure that therapy feels relevant and affirming.

Evidence-Based

Our work together will be grounded in approaches backed by research and clinical experience. I use tools that have been shown to be effective and adapt them to fit your unique needs.

Individually Tailored

There’s no one-size-fits-all in therapy. Because every individual’s experience is different, I will tailor our sessions to your specific needs, preferences, and comfort level. Our sessions will be guided by your pace, with a deep respect for your boundaries, as we process the past and help you build resilience for the future.

Transparency

Therapy shouldn’t be a mystery. I’ll let you in on the “how” and the “why” of what we’re doing. I’ll explain the purpose behind each approach and invite your input every step of the way.

Time-Limited

Therapy is a space to grow, not a place to stay forever. My goal is not to keep you here for years on end. I want us to say, eventually, “See you later. Farewell. May you fare well.” Not because you’re done growing, but because you’ve gained the tools, insight, and confidence to carry on and are ready to take it from here.

Wild Hope Means...

Believing in beauty even when the story is hard
Liberating yourself from shame
Letting meaning emerge from the mess
Living with humor, heart, and honesty
Trusting the process and yourself

Wild Hope isn’t just a name; it’s a path, a practice, and a possibility: one that resists despair and rejects cynicism. In a world that often feels overwhelming, hope is not passive. Rather, it is a powerful act of resistance. Hope is a pathway to personal healing rooted in creativity, depth, love, courage, and imagination. Let's journey together.