Carleton College
Northfield, MNThe transition to college life is often described as "the best time of your life", but for many students, it feels overwhelming, lonely, and exhausting. Whether you're adjusting to life away from home, navigating identity or relationship challenges, or dealing with anxiety, depression, or perfectionism, you're not alone. Therapy can be a powerful source of support, clarity, and relief. College student therapy in Northfield, MN can make all the difference.
Dr. Tracy Brottem (she/her) is a college student mental health specialist with deep experience supporting students through the ups and downs of college life. With prior clinical roles at Carleton College, St. Olaf College, and Iowa State University, she understands what students are facing—because she’s helped hundreds of students create stability and resilience, and accomplish their academic and personal goals.
Why College Students Want to Work with Tracy
Students often say they feel seen, supported—and yes, slightly cooler—just by being in the (virtual) room with Tracy. It might be her blue hair. Or maybe it’s just the way she genuinely gets what it’s like to be figuring life out under pressure.
Students remark that Tracy is particularly helpful with:
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Academic stress, burnout, and pressure to succeed
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Perfectionism and self-criticism
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Anxiety, panic, or intrusive thoughts
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Depression and lack of motivation
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Identity exploration around gender, sexuality, and culture
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Relationship concerns and family-of-origin stress
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Healing from narcissistic abuse and emotionally toxic dynamics
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Navigating chronic illness or neurodivergence (ADHD, autism)
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Feeling like a fraud (Imposter Syndrome)
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Struggles with belonging, loneliness, and adjustment
What to Expect
Therapy with Tracy is collaborative, flexible, and grounded in compassion. As part of Northfield Dynamic Therapy’s concierge model, sessions are tailored to your needs—not dictated by rigid session limits or checklists. You’ll get the time, attention, and trust needed to create meaningful change. Whether you need to process a hard week, explore deeper emotional patterns, or just have a space to breathe and be yourself.
Tracy brings warmth, humor, and emotional depth to therapy, and she knows how to help high-achieving students slow down, reconnect with themselves, and find sustainable ways to move forward and achieve their goals.
You don’t have to pretend everything’s fine. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Tracy is here to support the real you—at your pace, on your terms.
"My ideal client may not yet see how special they are, or how they are enough just as they are—and it is my privilege and joy to remind them of this whenever they need it."
— Dr. Tracy Brottem
For Parents and Caregivers
We understand how important it is to find a therapist you can trust. This is especially true when your student is far from home, and facing real mental health challenges in a demanding academic environment. For many families like you, these college years are filled with uncertainty and concern.
You’re not alone in wanting the best possible care for your child. At Northfield Dynamic Therapy, we work with many parents who are professionals themselves—people who value clinical expertise, responsiveness, and a strong therapeutic relationship.
Dr. Brottem is one of Minnesota’s top college mental health clinicians. With extensive experience at Carleton, St. Olaf, and other university settings, she combines clinical depth with warmth, humor, and a collaborative spirit. Tracy partners with each student to help them build emotional resilience and self-trust, while also honoring their autonomy and your role as a supportive caregiver.
As a concierge therapy practice, we tailor treatment to each student’s needs. That means no rigid session limits or one-size-fits-all models. Instead, we offer extended sessions, deep therapeutic work, and individualized care that supports long-term growth (academically, emotionally, and relationally).
If you’re looking for a trustworthy resource to help YOU as a caregiver, we highly recommend the book The Stressed Years of Their Lives by Drs. B. Janet Hibbs and Anthony Rostain. It’s a compassionate, research-informed guide for navigating the mental health challenges of college life, and it echoes much of what we see in our work with students and families.
Therapy Options
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Online Therapy (Available now): Convenient, private, and accessible from anywhere in Minnesota. Many Carleton and St. Olaf students find this fits easily into their busy schedules.
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In-Person Therapy (Coming soon): Tracy's colleague, Dr. Page, offers limited in-person sessions in downtown Northfield. Please ask about this when you reach out to us!
More From Tracy
Tracy also writes regularly on her blog, Smudged Inkblot, where she explores life, therapy, and the messy in-betweens with humor and heart. For college students and the people who care about them, it’s a refreshing and relatable window into the therapeutic process—and a way to see how Tracy brings depth and playfulness to even the hardest topics. From pop culture to perfectionism to Mister Rogers, it’s a great way to get a feel for her voice and values.
“College is hard. And the transition to college for your first year is much harder than many people realize… or are willing to admit.”
— Dr. Tracy Brottem
Click the image to read Tracy’s full blog post: “It Will be the Best Time of Your Life.” Um…are you sure about that?
Northfield Dynamic Therapy is just minutes from Carleton and St. Olaf and offers personalized, affirming therapy for students across Minnesota. Whether you prefer online sessions or are interested in in-person options, we’re here to help you find relief, clarity, and confidence as you navigate college life.
Ready to Get Started?
Tracy currently has openings for college students, with some evening appointments available. You can often schedule your first session within a few days.
Or TEXT/CALL us at 507-581-5920