Free Spirit House

Original Painting by : Meranda Turbak. - Titled- “The Long Way Home” (August 2026)

Trauma Recovery Retreats

Let’s coordinate to find time for you to have a low-cost retreat focused on healing.

Whether that be breaking generational curses with your children and needing a space to do so, or reconnecting with your spouse after a hurt.

Nature HEALS.

I am INTERESTED

While in development donations may be used in a variety of ways. This could be to :

*Offset expenses when trying to bless a family as they recover from trauma.

*Provide training to families interested in becoming a ‘Free Spirit House’ so they don’t continue generational trauma

*Provide support to clients and families who are participating in the program.

*Pay for expenses Host families may incur while housing a family or individual

*Purchase a home that could be used ongoing to help a family in need.

*Other - The ideas are limitless. The owners of Free Spirit House will be ethical in all ways but first and foremost will be doing what is right for those in need.

Donations:

Free Spirit Counseling

Shannon Karsten is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker LICSW and obtained her masters from the University of Saint Thomas / St Catherine’s University in 2016. Gaining her bachelors from Winona State University. Since securing her social work degree she has worked at South Central Human Relations Center / MNPrairie as a Children’s Mental Health Case Manager, a short stint at Family Service Rochester as an In Home Therapist and since 2021 as a Therapist with Experiencing Moore PC as a contracted therapist.

Most recently she has been attempting a small private practice (Free Spirit Counseling) and was working as a Program Therapist at the Lighthouse of Southern MN- local homeless shelter providing psychotherapy and groups in the Men’s and Women’s Programs. The early years of her career included 14 years at the Owatonna School District in roles such as district wide drug prevention, special education in almost every building including ACTIONS which was the district’s Level 4 high school students off campus and Early Childhood Home Visiting.

She has many skills and experiences yet continues to learn from each case, each family, she is blessed to be engaged with.

Can provide professional psychotherapy services for individuals & children
** Trained in ART - Accelerated Resolution Therapy-
Trauma treatment using bilateral eye movements

Insurances : South Country Health Alliance (SCHA),
Medical Assistance, UMR, BlueCross Blue Sheild

Attempting Contracts with Medicare, Health Partners , Others. -

Self Pay available.

Our Story

The Mission…

To be without a home is the largest challenge this world
can hand out.

The Lighthouse has been fine tuning a way to shelter people in their most desperate need in a way that builds them up. A way that brings them back to life… That teaches them skills they never had before…. And loves them through the whole ordeal.

The idea of a Free Spirit House is simply an off shoot of that. There are far more people in need of a safe place than ones that find themselves ‘on the street’ or in a homeless shelter.

People who return to parents, family members or partners that continue to abuse them because they have no other option. People who are desperately trying to survive so they take whatever ‘help’ they can find, no matter how destructive or unsafe it is.

As a community, I think we can do better. We can look at our own weaknesses and perhaps our own toxic traits and heal ourselves so we don’t do any more damage to others and we can help others in the process.

FYI. This is a REAL business, a real agency in development in a grass roots effort . There will be no pretend clients to be helping just good old fashion helping your neighbor. But instead of shoveling their driveway or bringing over some cookies you are signing up to share your space. Space that you worked hard to purchase and keep up and just maybe you could share it and bless a neighbor in need.

.

Dan Karsten (co owner) has been providing for his family for 26 years working as a Union 669 Foreman Sprinkler Fitter. Mostly with Viking Sprinkler in Rochester. He knows the sacrifice and pressure it takes to keep a family together emotionally and financially and he and Shannon have been married 26 years. He has recently stated often ‘how do I make a difference, I’m just a construction worker’? He has not been doing ‘social work’ his whole career but he has taught many young men who are apprentices how to be good men. Modeling humor, hard work, ethics and integrity in all he does no matter if you’re the ‘janitor or the CEO’. Dan has been known to talk to a stranger and give them money if they need it. He has also been known to pick up a guy at the gas station after his own night shift and drive them out of town to somewhere they felt safe. Never accepting any money. Dan knows that he is blessed beyond measure by God and he has no doubt that the man upstairs is in charge and has provided every blessing he has ever received.

Shannon Karsten (co owner) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker LICSW and obtained her masters from the University of Saint Thomas / St Catherine’s University in 2016. Gaining her bachelors from Winona State University. Since securing her social work degree she has worked at South Central Human Relations Center / MNPrairie as a Children’s Mental Health Case Manager, a short stint at Family Service Rochester as an In Home Therapist and since 2021 as a Therapist with Experiencing Moore PC as a contracted therapist. Most recently she has been attempting a small private practice (Free Spirit Counseling) and was working as a Program Therapist at the Lighthouse of Southern MN- local homeless shelter providing psychotherapy and groups in the Men’s and Women’s Programs. The early years of her career included 14 years at the Owatonna School District in roles such as district wide drug prevention, special education in almost every building including ACTIONS which was the district’s Level 4 high school students off campus and Early Childhood Home Visiting.

She has many skills and experiences yet continues to learn from each case, each family, she is blessed to be engaged with.

She is first and foremost a protective and supportive mother and shares with Dan two children Grace Karsten- Middlesteadt (22) and Garrett Karsten (20) from Owatonna. Both children have been highly successful young people and are ‘good people’, which is all a parent can hope for.

The couple is blessed with two grandchildren.

About the Developers of Free Spirit Houde

Free Spirit House
(Under Development)

I have interest… what does this entail?

In summary, similar to Adult Foster Care – Skip the System
Who can be a Free Spirit House?
Individuals or Families with a stable home and room in their heart
Needed: Extra Room or area to ‘Rent’.
No need for ‘Full Time Supervision’ of Guests Provide gentle guidance and support.
Need to be willing to participate out of the goodness of your heart
(No Regular Stipend or Funds to the Host)
If funds allow- will help with expenses incurred such as paying for guests drivers license, helping with school supplies, increase in utilities etc.

Our WHY

Shannon and Dan Karsten had the privilege of providing a safe home to children through foster care, then moved to inviting adults/ teens into their home to provide support while they worked and finished up school to be ready for their own place! We have felt blessed to provide a space for those in need, and hope others will have that same passion. There is full knowledge that this type of service is not for everyone but it could be for you with some support and guidance.

At this time Host Homes are not for ‘Major needs’ or families with serious mental health or aggressive behaviors.

Find out more about the opportunity to make your home a “Free Spirit House’. A place you can be yourself. Come as you are with all your gifts and all your weaknesses and learn and heal together with another family. If you feel a pull to make a difference and grow your faith this experience could be for you. And it will be an experience. One that will shape you, change you for the better and bless your spirit beyond measure.

Join us in the movement to help others, internally from this community and beyond. With little to no oversight from the government. Because we all know that at times the government can mess stuff up.

Mentoring, Coaching, Therapy, Education, whatever you want to call it.

Flexible access to a licensed social worker (LICSW) to assist in problem solving, goal planning, building skills, and reflecting on challenges and growth.

Beyond Shannon, other professionals or para professionals can join in to assist families who become host homes and assist as mentors to the families participating in the program.