John A. Gunvalson, MA, LPCC

I’m a trauma‑competent, adoption‑competent therapist with more than 15 years of experience supporting adoptees, adoptive parents, and kinship/foster families in Minnesota. My work is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment‑aware care, and a deep understanding of how identity, race, and belonging shape a person’s emotional world. As a Latino adoptee raised in an ethnically Norwegian, rural Minnesota family, I bring both clinical training and lived experience to the work, especially with clients navigating identity development, belonging, grief, and complex family dynamics.

In my practice, I focus on helping adult adoptees, teens, and adoptive parents who are looking for insight, clarity, and healthier patterns. My style is steady, warm, and direct. I help clients slow down, understand what’s happening inside them, and build practical skills for staying grounded during moments of overwhelm. Much of my work centers on identity, attachment, racial identity, and the long‑term impact of early experiences, including how complex trauma shapes a person’s life over time.

Alongside adoption‑related work, I also support adults dealing with anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and family‑of‑origin wounds. I work in a way that honors the cultural, racial, and identity contexts that shape each person’s story, and I’m committed to offering a calm, grounded space where people can make sense of their experiences and move toward a more regulated, values‑aligned life.