Family Therapy in Bismarck
When the difficulty lives between people rather than inside one of them, family therapy is the right room. We work with parents, children, teens, blended families, and caregivers across North Dakota.
The identified patient is usually not the whole story
Families often arrive because one person is struggling. A child acting out, a teen who has withdrawn, a parent at the end of their rope. Often the individual difficulty is real and also sits inside a pattern the whole household is part of.
Family therapy works on that pattern. It does not mean anyone is being blamed. It means the leverage is often larger than one person.
What we help families with
- Behavior that has escalated past what usual parenting handles
- Conflict between parents and children or teens
- Communication that has broken down or gone silent
- Blended family adjustment and co parenting
- Grief, loss, and change affecting the whole household
- Foster and adoptive family support
- The effects of trauma on family relationships
Approaches we use
For young children with disruptive behavior, Parent Child Interaction Therapy coaches parents live, in the moment, and has strong evidence behind it. For families where trauma is part of the picture, TF-CBT involves caregivers directly in the work. For broader relational strain, family and marital therapy is the starting point.
Who you would see
Tim Gienger, Talia Biederstedt, Mariah Banse, and Kaydee Baker all work with families. Talia is certified in PCIT through PCIT International. Read their backgrounds on the team page and request whoever seems like the fit.
Who comes to sessions
It varies, and it can change over the course of the work. Sometimes the whole family. Sometimes just the parents, which is more common than people expect and often the most efficient place to start. Your therapist will tell you who they want in the room for a given session and why.
Where we meet
Our Bismarck office at 101 Slate Dr Ste 7, or by telehealth anywhere in North Dakota. In person is usually easier for families with young children.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone in the family have to come?
No. Many families start with the parents alone. Your therapist will recommend who should be in each session based on what you are working on.
My child refuses to go to therapy. What now?
Come without them. Parent focused work is a real approach, not a consolation prize, and it often shifts things at home enough that the child becomes willing later.
What is PCIT and is my child the right age?
PCIT coaches parents in real time while they play with their child, and it targets disruptive behavior in young children. See the PCIT page for the age range and what sessions look like.
Can we do family therapy if the parents are separated?
Yes. Co parenting across two households is common work here. Both parents can be involved, together or separately, depending on what is workable.
How long does family therapy take?
It depends on what you are working on and how many people are involved. Your therapist will give you a realistic estimate after the first few sessions rather than an open ended commitment.
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