Meet Paula

Paula DeSanto, MS, LSW, has developed programs that serve people with mental illness and/or substance use issues for over 40 years. She has dedicated her career to advocating for person-centered, common sense, compassionate care.

She has provided both leadership and clinical services in a variety of settings that include case management, community support, recovery community organizations. intensive residential/outpatient treatment, and the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center. She also taught for 4 years at the U of M Master Level Integrated Behavioral Health Program.

She is the founder of Minnesota Alternatives (outpatient treatment for both mental health and substance use), which was acquired by Mental Health Resources in 2018. She is currently a co-owner of Expanse MN, a state-of-the-art mental health clinic that opened in January 2022. She has a master’s degree from Boston University in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Counseling and is a licensed social worker.