About Me

Young woman with long wavy brown hair, blue eyes, smiling, wearing a beige top and a gold cross necklace, against a white background.

Hallie Orton, MSW, LICSW

Hallie is the founder and owner of Functional Life Psychotherapy. Hallie is a licensed independent clinical social worker passionate about helping adolescents and young adults navigate life’s most challenging seasons with compassion, clarity, and evidence-based care. She works with clients experiencing a wide range of concerns. These include functional neurologic disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, trauma and other stressor-related disorders, and ADHD. Hallie also has extensive experience working in hospital settings and supporting patients with chronic medical conditions.

Hallie takes a whole-person approach to therapy, blending proven therapeutic modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based strategies, to name a few... She tailors her work to the unique needs of each client—whether that means building emotional regulation skills, strengthening identity, improving executive functioning, or learning to live well with long-term health challenges.

Hallie also offers Christian-based therapy for clients who wish to incorporate their faith into the therapeutic process. She honors each person’s spiritual journey and provides a safe, supportive space to integrate biblical principles, prayer, or faith-based reflection as part of emotional healing.

Above all, Hallie believes that therapy should be collaborative, empowering, and deeply respectful of each person’s story. She strives to create a space where young people and their families feel heard, supported, and equipped to move toward a more functional, fulfilling life. 

Outside of being a therapist, Hallie is a professional dancer, enjoys spending time with her friends and family, has the pleasure of volunteering at Young Life, and is very involved in her church.

Education & Training

Undergraduate

North Central University, Bachelor of Social Work, Minor in Christian Studies

Graduate

St. Catherine University, Master of Social Work

Internships

BSW: Forensic Service Specialist, CornerHouse
MSW: Program Therapist, Children’s Minnesota Partial Hospitalization Program

Professional Organizations

American Epilepsy Society
National Association of Social Workers
Functional Neurologic Disorder Society

FND Hope

National Eating Disorder Association

Licensure

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker – Minnesota (30502), Wisconsin, and North Dakota (licenses pending).

A workspace with a laptop, an open notebook with a pen, a white mug, a vase of flowers, a glass jar, and a wooden tray on a wooden table by a window.

  • Hallie had the privilege of speaking at Minnesota Epilepsy Group’s 2025 Continuing Medical Education Conference for Primary Care Providers.

    Hallie collaborated with Epileptologist, Dr. Jessica Winslow to discuss the diagnostic process of Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Events and the treatment for PNEE through psychotherapy.

  • Hallie had the pleasure of speaking at the American Epilepsy Society’s 2024 Conference.

    Hallie participated in a multidisciplinary panel focused on the transition to adulthood for pediatric patients with epilepsy. Her presentation addressed key considerations for transitioning care from pediatric to adult settings, tailored to patients with varying levels of functioning. Topics included decision-making supports, epilepsy self-management, educational and vocational planning, and best practices such as alternatives to guardianship. She also provided practical strategies for clinicians, including how to navigate billing, adapt treatments over time, and initiate transition discussions grounded in patients’ goals and social contexts. The session emphasized equity, ethics, and building services in resource-limited environments.

  • Hallie had the pleasure of speaking on an interprofessional panel at the 2024 American Epilepsy Society Conference.

    This panel highlighted the critical need for a multidisciplinary approach to epilepsy care, recognizing that an epilepsy diagnosis extends far beyond seizure management. Presenters emphasized how epilepsy can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life—including mental health, cognitive functioning, education, employment, independence, and social relationships. By integrating the expertise of neurologists, mental health professionals, social workers, educators, and other specialists, a more comprehensive and person-centered model of care can be achieved. The discussion also underscored the value of early intervention, coordinated transition planning, and the importance of addressing social determinants of health to ensure equitable outcomes across diverse patient populations.

  • Hallie provided a lunch and learn presentation to the providers at MNGI Digestive Health on guardianship, conservatorship, health care directives, and alternatives.

Public Speaking & Publications

Link to Publication

Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND)

Evidence-Based Perspectives

A woman standing behind a wooden podium with a logo of the American Epilepsy Society (AES). She is smiling, has long wavy brown hair, and is wearing a white blazer over a black top.
A woman speaking at a podium during the AES 2024 Annual Meeting, with a cityscape backdrop and audience members in the foreground.
Panel of seven people sitting at a table during the AES 2024 Annual Meeting, with a large screen behind them displaying the event's logo and a cityscape background.