Meet Our Speakers

Dr. Benjamin Kohls is the Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN. He holds professional counseling licensure in Minnesota and South Dakota. He earned his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of South Dakota, a Master of Science in Community Counseling from MSU-Mankato, and a Bachelor of Science in Staff Ministry from Martin Luther College.

Dr. Kohls has been active as a professional counselor for over 15 years and has experience working with youth, couples and families, and adults in a wide range of clinical settings, including residential care, in-home therapy, acute inpatient psychiatric hospital care, partial hospital programing, and outpatient clinics. He regularly provides professional presentations and trainings on a wide range of mental health topics, often specializing in mental health education, professional ethics, compassion fatigue resilience, and integrating mental and spiritual wellness.

He and his wife Sarah have been married for 22 years and are blessed with six wonderful children. Together, they enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, games, traveling, literature, and most of all, family dinners.

Katelyn Ottum is a licensed professional clinical counselor at The Soul’s Apothecary in Lakeville, MN. She attended Minnesota State University, Mankato and graduated with a degree in psychology with a minor in sociology. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on marital and family systems counseling. Katelyn has worked as a Christian counselor in the field for approximately eight years.

Katelyn has worked with an array of clientele ranging from intensive clinical settings with at-risk adolescents, college students, addiction concerns, family systems, and geriatric populations.

Katelyn’s specialties include marriage counseling and trauma-focused individual therapy. Throughout all clinical work, Katelyn enjoys using biblical foundations to instill hope and healing through Jesus Christ. Katelyn and her husband, Eric, have been blessed with two children.