What is family and marital therapy?
Family and marital therapy helps the people in a relationship work through conflict, communication breakdowns, and stress together, rather than one person at a time. Instead of pointing at who is to blame, it looks at the patterns between you and helps you change them. It can bring a family closer after a hard stretch, help parents get on the same page, or help a couple rebuild connection and trust.
At Empowered Mental Health in Bismarck, we offer both family therapy and couples work, matched to what your relationships need.
What we help with
- Frequent conflict, arguing, or tension at home
- Communication that keeps breaking down
- Parenting stress and getting on the same page as co-parents
- Family adjustment after a big change, loss, or transition
- Couples working to rebuild connection, trust, and communication
What to expect
Your therapist starts by understanding how your family or relationship works and where it gets stuck. Sessions focus on real communication skills, understanding each person’s perspective, and changing the patterns that keep causing friction. The work is practical and collaborative, and everyone gets a voice.
Who provides family and couples therapy at Empowered
Tim Gienger, LCSW specializes in family systems and in children and adolescents experiencing behavioral concerns, communication difficulties, family conflict, and relationship challenges. He helps parents and family members understand one another, strengthen communication, and build practical tools for healthier relationships, using approaches like CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing.
Mariah Banse, LCSW provides couples and marital therapy, along with family work grounded in relationship-focused and trauma-informed training.
Talia Biederstedt, LCSW and Kaydee Baker, LMSW also support families, including parent coaching and strengthening parent-child relationships.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone have to come to every session?
Not always. Your therapist will recommend who attends based on your goals. Sometimes the whole family comes, sometimes just the couple or the parents.
Do you offer couples and marriage counseling?
Yes. Mariah provides couples and marital therapy focused on communication, connection, and rebuilding trust.
Can family therapy help with a child’s behavior?
Yes. Often the most effective change happens when the whole family is involved. We also offer parent-focused approaches like PCIT for young children and their parents.
What ages do you work with?
We work with children, teens, adults, and families across the lifespan.
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes. You can book online through our secure patient portal, or call (701) 805-1939.
Ready when you are.
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. A short conversation, at no charge, is usually enough to know whether we are a fit. In person in Bismarck, or by telehealth anywhere in North Dakota.
Book a free 15-minute consultCall (701) 805-1939