About Us – What Sets Our Therapists in Chicago and Minneapolis Apart
Vision
Artesian Collaborative is changing the world by changing how we relate to ourselves, our workplaces and our communities.
Mission
Empowering our clients to harness pain and direct it towards growth that reshapes lives, relationships, and communities.
Why Artesian?
Artesian wells occur when pressure on the aquifer pushes water up the well without the need for a pump. Therapy, coaching, and consulting are all tools to help apply the gentle pressure at the right place and at the right time, transforming a situation of pain into one of growth and development. Our therapists provide support from our offices in Chicago, Minneapolis, and via telehealth.
Why Collaborative?
We aren't meant to do things alone. We live in context. We live in communities, families, cities, and nations. These places shape who we are and how we function. We are your partners in this journey, equipping you with skills and tools to achieve your personal, professional, and community goals. The healthier we all are, the better suited we will be to transform our cities, nation, and ultimately, the world.
Our Story
What if the resources of mental health and psychology could be harnessed to transform not just individual lives, but workplaces and communities?
We've always been passionate about community mental health. But after years of working in this field, we realized that our definition of community had to expand. It had to include those facing barriers to access mental health resources and the frontline workers fighting to break them down. A healthy community is built through a reciprocal relationship between all the parts, individual, couple, family, workplace, community organization and care provider.
In 2017 we set out to create a business that could provide services across a broad spectrum of our community—from neighborhoods to corporate boardrooms. Our team of therapists in Chicago and Minneapolis have had the privilege of offering services and training for non-profits as well as large corporations all over the country. More than ever, we see the need for counseling, coaching, training, and support among the clients and communities we serve. While Employee Assistance Programs can be a helpful resource, we believe support shouldn’t stop with the individual. Our passion is equipping both individuals and teams with skills that build psychological flexibility and strengthen healthy cultures—so people can support one another and actively shape the culture of their communities and workplaces.
Values
Developmental
Growth never stops and we always have the opportunity to change. We accept that change happens over time and that even when we make mistakes, they can always be turned into opportunities for growth.
Authentically Engaged
Growth requires our full engagement and requires us to take the risk of showing up as we are. We’re committed to showing up authentically ourselves so that you can too.
Compassionately Vulnerable
We’re all in the process of becoming, yet we each find ourselves in different places along the journey. It’s essential to extend compassion to those who are in places we used to be ourselves, or places we don’t yet understand.
Strengths-Based
We believe that every person has something valuable to contribute that we all need for growth. We choose to emphasize the assets we all bring rather than focusing on what we lack.
Community-Oriented
We grow best when we can learn from the experiences, missteps, and strengths of others. That’s why we focus on learning as a group, where we can all be part of the conversation. When our growth is tied into a shared mission, there’s more support for us to take the risk because we have others standing alongside us.
A letter from our Founder
As a clinical psychologist working with companies around the globe, I’ve seen many ways to navigate challenges. Looking ahead, organizations will continue to face disruption, new technologies, and social upheavals that drain energy, pull focus, and raise our stress level. But no matter the challenge, it’s the engaged, creative people in our teams who lead us through.
To meet these moments, people need skills that help them show up authentically and feel safe sharing their resources and ideas, even the unconventional ones. And it’s not just about pushing through hard times—we also need space and tools to acknowledge the strain, so we can build the stamina to keep going.
It’s easy to focus on the what, but people are moved by the why. It’s been a privilege to support teams in recentering and building the capacity to stay grounded and grow, even when things get tough.
As we work with your team, our primary goals are to:
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Point all the skills we teach to supporting/solidifying/strengthening your company's shared values.
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Help your organization increase its psychological and emotional flexibility.
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Guide your team through tension and conflict in a way that builds understanding of themselves and others.
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Facilitate interactive and interpersonal workshops that foster positive team experiences and interactions that can serve as a model for a healthy organizational culture.
We invite you to contact us to begin crafting a custom training journey that meets your organization's needs. We're looking forward to helping you take care of your team.
Sunitha Chandy, PsyD