Our Staff
Cedric Weatherspoon President/Clinical Director
Cedric Weatherspoon is President/Clinical Director of Empower Therapeutic Support Services, Inc, a practice he co-founded in North Minneapolis. Cedric is passionate about providing a space for community members to grow and learn about their overall wellness. Cedric’s training as a Marriage and Family Therapist inspired him to offer collaborative leadership supporting the whole person and family. Cedric believes when people are empowered and treated with respect, they will make a positive impact on their families and communities.
Cedric is also a Minnesota Marriage and Family Therapy board approved supervisor and an LPC and LPCC board approved supervisor who uses over 20 years of experience and extensive knowledge to increase effectiveness of unlicensed mental health practitioners and community agencies who are committed to implementing client center practices in their work with African American children and families.
Cedric was featured on MPR discussing client-centered therapy in communities of color: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/08/03/mn-slow-to-respond-as-minority-mental-health-needs-grow.
Specialties: Professional athletes, high-risk youth
Beth D. Nelson, MA, LMFT
Beth embraces a holistic approach and believes healing comes from connecting to our communities, and our spiritual, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She is a passionate advocate for issues of equality and social justice. Beth brings much passion to her therapy, and has worked with diverse families, couples, individuals, and communities in both Chicago and Minnesota. She is currently the MAMFT Past President and an Adjunct Instructor for MFT Graduate Program; St. Mary's University and Argosy University-Twin Cities.
Chantele Burgess, MA Clinical Counselor, attaining licensure in Registered Child Play Therapist
Chantele has been working with children and behavioral needs in school base practice since 1995. She served as a Victim Service Advocate in the Domestic Violence Program in Minneapolis. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology with a focus in Adult, Child and Adolescent mental health counseling from Bethel University. She is pursuing the LPCC and Register Play Therapist with supervision. Chantele enjoys listening to music, reading, volunteering time to help in the surrounding communities and spending time with her family. She has an authentic passion to incorporate Multicultural and restorative justice theories. She will create an atmosphere of trust by listening for understanding. Her vision for her client is for them to be empowered and continue to heal in their journeys.
Cherie Goudeau, Mental Health Practitioner
Cherie is a Desert Shield Desert Storm veteran of the United States Army. Cherie earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justices from Cameron University in 2000. She earned her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary’s University, Twin Cities in 2018. Since 2008, Cherie has served individuals, families, couples, high-risk youth, juveniles in the correctional system, families working with child protection, particular service to families of color and homeless youth, adult male offenders, and adult women with various mental health needs in a group home setting.
Jennifer Oliver-King, LSW, LMFT
Jennifer has 29 years of experience working with marginalized populations. From 1989 – 2000, she promoted change as a Family Violence Intervention Specialist. She co-created and facilitated educational groups to intervene and stop domestic violence. The program focused on re-educating individuals: it required accountability for their abuse and taught communication and self-control skills. Jennifer has also worked with facilitators for the Women's Issues Group at the Hennepin Adult Women's Correctional Facility. She recognizes power and control issues systemically and relationally. Jennifer utilizes a feminist perspective, finding joy in working with people and building on their personal power.
September Luitjens, office manager
September has been with Empower since the beginning. She oversees day to day operations of Empower, Patient Accounts, and Human Resources. September has a Masters degree in Education, Primary Montessori Trained, and a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Anthropology. She finds joy in her work by connecting clients to support that advances them to the next best place in their life. She enjoys talking with people and learning about human experiences. Her passions include cooking, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with family.
JOANNA ROSA, MS, LPCC, LADC
Joanna Rosa is a licensed therapist and is passionate about providing trauma informed person centered care to those who are in their journey to health and an improved quality of life. Joanna's specialties include: racial identity, life transitions, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, coping skills, relationships, life goal setting, parenting, family conflict, substance use, codependency and self esteem.
Joanna is currently pursuing a doctorate in Public Health, with a focus on health equity from the Medical College of Wisconsin and is interested in examining the role resilience and mentorship plays for African American women in their careers. Joanna is a skilled professional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion social justice advocate working to serve communities of color in ways that address social determinants of health. With particular emphasis on building partnerships, Joanna has experience designing, developing, and implementing DEI initiatives and strategies to improve community health and organizational growth. Joanna has experience building DEI initiatives in healthcare organizations and in community that address social, health and financial inequities and supports strategies that narrow disparities gaps. She is an experienced DEI training facilitator and has created a number of workshops to move audiences along the intercultural development continuum. In her free time, Joanna enjoys time with family and friends, traveling and attending live concerts with her two daughters (10,14) and playing with their two dogs Jack and Moxie.
Jorgen Knutson, Mental Health Practitioner
Jorgen brings a unique experience and passion to her work as a therapist, having worked with diverse families, couples and individuals. She appreciates the complexity of relationships and collaborates with her clients to foster trust, safety, and respect on the path to healing. She believes that individuals are the experts of their own lives, thus entering this journey with clients is one where she focuses on building her clients’ strengths while also honoring their unique life experiences. Jorgen has worked in various community settings serving individuals and families, as well as holding the perspective of growing up in a rural farming community. Jorgen has a bachelor's degree in Intercultural Studies and earned her master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Argosy University
Vivien Lee, clinical intern
Vivien Lee is currently a Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student at Capella University. Vivien is interested in working with families, couples, and children, especially adolescents. She believes family members who support one another and have strong bonds can create new stories. While working with adolescents, she hopes to help empower them to build on their strengths and work towards their dreams and goals in life.
Vivien has experience as a paraprofessional in a tier 4 setting school, working with children who have disorders like Autism, emotional behavioral disorders, anxiety, and AD/HD. Therapeutic approaches she is interested include, solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) and emotional focused therapy (EFT).
Vivien has her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management from Rasmussen University and is looking forward to graduating from Capella University in 2025. Her dream one day is to work with the Hmong community to bring awareness to mental health issues and bridge the gap between the generations.
Hosie Thurmond III, Mental Health Practitioner
Hosie is a graduate from the Alfred Adler Graduate school. His recent experiences have been working with men and women suffering with co-occurring disorders from substance abuse and mental health disorders. Hosie has facilitated culturally specific, and psychoeducational groups at Park Avenue Treatment Center for the past seven years. He has over twenty years of experience working with the homeless populations in the Twin Cities.
Hosie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques (CBT) and Adlerian Therapy philosophy approaches of community, optimism, empowerment, and hope. This fosters his belief in the resiliency and growth potential of individuals.
Hosie has a professional outlook that believes in the interconnectedness of humanity. That all people are social beings who with compassion, holism, and mindfulness can heal and lead productive lives. He believes that the social strivings of humanity seek personal resiliency, forgiveness, growth, and hope.