New behavioral health director takes on expanding services at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic

Over the past year, the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) has expanded behavioral health services for their patients. Most recently that has included hiring a Behavioral Health Director.

After spending several years commuting between Cook County and the Twin Cities, Cecilia Bloomquist told WTIP she is happy to be back full-time in Grand Marais, and to be taking on the director role.

The expansion of services at SMC has been spurred by grant funding, according to Bloomquist. She added that the grant has “kick started” several efforts, including working to serve a wider range of patients. “One of the items that we are looking at is to expand family service.” Bloomquist said, “We have an open position right now. They’re recruiting to add on a provider that is specialized in couples and family therapy.”

Behavior health services will be available for “the entire lifespan” of patients, including for children from birth.

Bloomquist explained that behavioral health services for very young children may look different than for teens or adults. She said that for young children the session may involve caregivers and family members, and be based around play and emotional skills learning in the larger context of a family.

Beyond family and child services, Bloomquist said the clinic is also working to expand the recovery support they are able to offer. She said they are investing in building peer recovery services for those experiencing substance misuse disorder, adding to what is currently available for county residents.  She said, “We do have service already in the county, but we’re trying to kind of evaluate and assess what are the gaps, and then try to meet those gaps at the clinic.”

With five therapists on staff at SMC, and another open position they hope to fill, Bloomquist said that the clinic is in good shape to meet community need. She added that as more space for patients has become available, people in the area have been quick to use the service. “When I started here at the clinic a couple weeks ago, we had a waiting list of people waiting to start doing psychotherapy service,” Bloomquist said. “My schedule is getting busier, which is great. So there are, there’s demand for the service.”

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke to SMC Behavioral Health Director Cecilia Bloomquist. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski March 12, 2025