About WaldHaven

Healing rooted in relationships and community

WaldHaven was built on a simple idea: relationships shape us, but they don’t have to define us. Our therapists work with children, adults, couples, and families while also partnering directly with schools, emergency response departments, and other community organizations. We take a “shoulder to shoulder” approach, embedding in the environments where people live and work to better understand the patterns shaping their lives and relationships. We believe people have the capacity to grow, choose, and build more meaningful ways of living with others. As a community-centered practice, we focus on connection, agency, and lasting impact both in and beyond the therapy room.

The name WaldHaven reflects the vision behind our work. “Wald,” the German word for forest, evokes a living system where growth happens through connection. In a forest, no tree grows alone—roots intertwine beneath the soil, sharing nutrients and support. The health of each tree is tied to the wellbeing of the entire ecosystem. In much the same way, we believe people are shaped by the relationships and communities around them. Healing and growth rarely happen in isolation; they emerge when the systems surrounding us become healthier and more supportive.

“Haven” represents the kind of space we strive to create: a place of safety, reflection, and restoration—where people can slow down, make sense of their experiences, and begin to move differently in their relationships. Together, WaldHaven reflects our belief that when we nurture stronger families, schools, and communities, we cultivate healthier forests where every individual has the opportunity to grow.

Our Team

Steven Lutes, MSW, LICSW

Co-Founder and Therapist

Children, Youth, Adolescents, Adults, Families and Schools

I approach therapy with curiosity and a contextual lens, paying close attention to the relationships, environments, and experiences that shape how people move through the world. I believe that while relationships can deeply influence us, they do not have to define our future. Healing often happens when people have the space to understand patterns, reconnect with their own agency, and begin building new ways of relating to themselves and others.

My work focuses on helping clients explore the connections between their experiences, emotions, and relationships. Together we look at how past experiences and current environments influence the challenges someone is facing, while also developing practical skills and insights that support meaningful change in everyday life.

I began my career as a teacher, which sparked a lasting passion for supporting young people and the systems surrounding them. Since then, I have worked in day treatment, community mental health, and school-based therapy programs with clients ranging from young children to older adults. Along with the relational work I am trained in several specific modalities including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) to treat trauma, along with Child-Centered Play Therapy for children.

Jake Tjernlund, MS, LMFT

Co-Founder and Therapist

First Responders, Couples, Adults and Families

My approach to therapy is grounded in a systemic and relational perspective. I’m interested in how people make sense of their experiences, how patterns take shape over time, and how those patterns show up in relationships. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, I work to help clients better understand themselves in context—creating space for new ways of relating, both to themselves and to others.

I began my career in 2008 as a firefighter, later becoming an EMT in 2009 and a paramedic in 2015. For over a decade, I worked in emergency services, supporting people in moments of crisis and uncertainty. In 2020, I transitioned into therapy, bringing a steady, relational presence into my work with clients. I began working with adolescents and families in South Minneapolis, walking alongside them as they navigated relational and emotional challenges. In 2023, I shifted my focus to working with couples and individual adults. I am trained in EMDR for those who have experienced trauma.

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