School Linked
School-Linked Mental Health (SLMH)
School-Linked Mental Health (SLMH) services are provided to students through 12th grade who attend partnering school districts across Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright Counties. SLMH services are shown to increase access to children and youth and improve functional outcomes in those with mental health concerns. SLMH services are funded, in part, by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Referrals can be made for SLMH services by contacting a partnering school or through the schools’ designated referral process.
Available Services provided by SLMH Therapists:
~ Diagnostic Assessments~ Individual and Family Therapy~ Group Psychotherapy
~ Psycho-Education Services~ Mental Health Crisis Intervention Services~ Safety Risk Assessments and Safety Planning
~ Parent, Teacher, and Administration Consultations~ Staff Training and Development
~ Attendance at school meetings and Individualized Education Program (IEP)/Special Education planning meetings~Clinical Care Coordination with teachers, parents and other providers
For more information, contact:
Phone: 612.219.6384
Fax: 763.682.1353
Involved with the school system and looking for mental health resources? Fill out THIS form and email the completed copy to Sheri Tesch at stesch@cmmhc.com
Meet Our Providers
Sheri Tesch – MS, LMFT
Sheri completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth, her master’s degree in child and family studies from St. Cloud State University, and her post-graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Cloud State University. She has been working for the Buffalo Hanover Montrose School District since 2001 and as a School Linked Mental Health (SLMH) Therapist since 2009. Sheri is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been the Program Manager for our School Linked Mental Health program since 2017. Her areas of expertise are attachment disorders, trauma, ADHD, anxiety, depression, Autism Spectrum Disorder and behavioral disorders.
Jamie Peterson – MSW, LGSW
Jamie is a School-Linked Mental Health Therapist in the Buffalo Hanover Montrose schools, working primarily with children ages 5-11. Jamie completed her master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is working toward licensure as an Independent Clinical Social Worker. Her experience prior to joining CMMHC includes school social work and case management. She uses trauma-informed strategies and holistic, collaborative, and creative approaches to support children and families experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and adjustment challenges. Her areas of expertise include ADHD, ASD, and twice-exceptional children, and she is particularly interested in using a blend of skill-based executive functioning coaching, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and creativity (play, art, music, and metaphor) to support neurodiverse children, parents, and families. She is also a Certified Yoga Calm Instructor.
Michelle Johnson – MSW, LGSW
Michelle completed her bachelor’s degree in social work from the College of St. Scholastica and her master’s degree in social work from the University of North Dakota. She is currently working toward her licensure for an Independent Clinical Social Worker. Prior to joining CMMHC, Michelle has held internships working with victims/survivors of sex trafficking as well as a mental health agency providing assessments, DBT skills groups, and individual therapy. Michelle is joining CMMHC as a School Linked Mental Health (SLMH) Clinical Trainee. Her areas of expertise are DBT, CBT, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, mindfulness practice, and autism spectrum disorder.
Sarah Maurer – MS, LPCC, LADC
Sarah completed her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Prior to joining the CMMHC team, Sarah has worked as a chemical health counselor and an in-home therapist. Her current role with CMMHC is a school-based therapist for Pleasantview Elementary, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School, and Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. Sarah specializes in serving children and adolescents, birth-age 5 population, and people with chemical use issues. Her expertise is in relationship/interpersonal issues, anxiety disorders, trauma and relational/attachment issues, and chemical health. Sarah is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, DC 0-5 trained, and Managing and Adapting Practices (MAP) certified.
Gina Theisz – MSW, LICSW
Gina completed her master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Prior to joining the CMMHC team in 2010, Gina worked in school and community based settings to provide mental health therapy to children, adults and families. She is currently a School Linked Mental Health Therapist in the Monticello schools. She uses a trauma informed, integrative approach to work with those experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, loss and domestic violence. She uses a strength based and collaborative approach with mindfulness based stress reduction and cognitive behavioral therapy to help people make positive changes and reach their goals. She is also a Managing and Adapting Practices (MAP) certified Therapist.
Marah Walker– MSW, LGSW
Marah completed her master’s degree of social work at Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in clinical social work. She is currently working toward her licensure as a Independent Clinical Social Worker. Prior to joining CMMHC, Marah held internship positions in both school-based and community-based mental health organizations providing group and individual psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Marah is joining CMMHC as a School-Linked Mental Health (SLMH) Clinical Trainee in the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District. Marah’s areas of growing expertise include working with individuals experiencing symptoms of mood disorders, relationship/interpersonal issues, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She is experienced in utilizing evidence-based trauma treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, and is certified in counseling on access to lethal means restriction. In her free time, March enjoys spending time on the water, finding new podcasts to listen to, and working with clay.