Therapy Services

Counseling for adults, youth and families

Compassionate, confidential mental health therapy

CVIC’s licensed, certified adult and youth therapists provide individual and group therapy for children and adults in a compassionate, nonjudgmental environment. We are honored to be your partner in healing.

Crop anonymous African American man in casual clothes sitting on sofa and talking to female psychologist during psychotherapy session in modern studio

Confidential

Counseling for adults with mental health concerns.

Trauma-Informed

Reducing risk and improving outcomes.

Rural and Virtual Support

Grand Forks County and surrounding communities.

Meet Our Adult Therapists

Ages 0-19

Mental health care tailored to the needs of survivors of any age.

A loving family moment indoors with a young boy playing with a toy, surrounded by caring women.

Child & Caregiver Therapy

Mental health care for families learning to heal—together.

Accessible Services

Therapy available in schools, by virtual appointment, and in rural communities surrounding Grand Forks.

Meet Our Youth Therapists

Adult Support Groups

For survivors and others impacted by violence.

Youth Support Groups

Comprehensive counseling for all survivors.

Groups at Local Schools

Removing transportation barriers.

Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Read Full NPP

With help, there is healing

CVIC’s team of licensed therapists are dedicated to the work of helping people heal. We are honored to serve the greater Grand Forks County communities with licensed, certified mental health therapy for individuals, families and youth.

Our practitioners are deeply knowledgeable in helping people of all ages overcome barriers related to:

depression
anxiety
complex traumas
physical, emotional and sexual abuse
interpersonal violence or violation
substance use treatment

Specializing in trauma-related interpersonal violence

CVIC’s therapy team is the region’s primary resource for care related to sexual assault, domestic violence and other interpersonal situations where abuse is present. We provide evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy for all ages with trauma due to domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, and related interpersonal violence.

Learn more about our trauma-informed therapy services.

Client resources

Victim Services

Practitioner or Self-Refer

Referral forms

FAQ’s

Visit our FAQ section to learn more

We aim to reduce barriers to quality mental health care

by offering in-person and remote services in Grand Forks and nearby rural communities, including therapy in local schools.

Many insurance plans accepted
No one is turned away due to lack of coverage
Free and confidential care for survivors of assault or violence
LGBTQ2IAS+ affirming care

Meet our therapists

A mother enjoying a tender moment with her sleeping baby indoors, embracing love and parenthood.

“Therapy has given me a place to share my trauma experiences that contribute to my ongoing anxiety and depression in a nonjudgmental and safe environment.”

—Adult Therapy Client

Adult Therapy Team

Our adult therapists are trained in a variety of counseling practices that help us offer care tailored to you. Whether you or a loved one are experiencing depression or anxiety, or you are working hard to overcome trauma, we are here to provide effective and lasting support.

Kayla, LPCC | Director of Adult Therapy

Mentor

Compassion

Confidence

Since joining CVIC in 2018, Kayla has become a key figure in advancing CVIC’s mission, focusing on empowering individuals through evidence-based therapeutic approaches. As the Director of Adult Therapy Services, she oversees a dedicated team of therapists, assists in program-specific grant writing, and provides direct care to clients.

Kayla’s therapeutic style is person-centered, focusing on the unique needs and goals of each client. Known for her warm, nonjudgmental presence, she fosters a cozy, trustworthy environment where clients feel truly seen and heard. Her approach combines empathetic support with gentle challenges, helping clients develop confidence, self-esteem, and hope for the future.

Kayla’s areas of expertise include trauma therapy, particularly in working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as well as addressing grief, depression and anxiety. She holds specialized training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), which equip her to provide effective, individualized care. Kayla also has an interest in supporting first responders, offering a safe and nonjudgmental space to process their experiences.

As the director of Adult Therapy, Kayla aims to foster a strong, nurturing team atmosphere that is rich in compassion, care and support for clients and one another. Like many CVIC staff and leaders, Kayla enjoys sharing the message of safety, healing and prevention wherever she can. She considers it an honor to provide therapy to clients while also collaborating with community leaders and entities to address the overarching social issues related to trauma, domestic violence and sexual abuse.

For Kayla, therapy is not just about addressing the immediate impacts of trauma but also about empowering clients to rewrite their narratives and discover their inner resilience. She takes immense pride in providing a space where survivors are not only welcomed but celebrated as they navigate on their healing journeys.

Beyond her direct work with clients, Kayla is a passionate advocate for her team and their mission. She is dedicated to ensuring that CVIC is recognized as a leader in trauma-focused care, not only within the local Grand Forks community but in the broader field of mental health. Kayla’s leadership reflects her belief that highly trained, compassionate professionals can create transformative change for survivors and their families.

Education

BS Rehabilitation and Human Services

MA Counseling Psychology, University of North Dakota

Areas of focus: domestic and sexual violence, trauma, first responders

Evidence-based therapies: EMDR, CPT, DBT

Felix, LAPC

Creativity

Exploration

Patience

Specializing in trauma recovery, child bullying, sexual assault and domestic violence, Felix is dedicated to providing creative, compassionate care to CVIC’s clients of all ages.

Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Bounce Back, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Felix believes in creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment where clients of any age can take a break to focus on exploring hurtful thoughts and behaviors related to abuse or trauma. Guided by Carl Rogers’ principles of unconditional positive regard, Felix ensures his clients feel heard, deeply valued, and strongly supported no matter what.

Felix’s journey into therapy began during his transition out of the U.S. Air Force where he worked at a Veteran’s Administration hospital and volunteered on a suicide prevention hot line. He soon recognized a desire to pursue a helping profession.

Since joining CVIC, clients often describe Felix as patient, calming, and especially skilled at working with people of all ages. His approach incorporates play therapy, sand tray therapy and origami to encourage creative emotional exploration. Felix also integrates faith-based healing for those who seek to explore spirituality in their path to wellness.

Education

BA Biological Anthropology, University of New Mexico

MA Counseling, Webster University

Evidence-based therapies: TF-CBT, EMDR, CBT, Bounce Back, CBITS, and Anger Coping

Areas of focus: bullying, sexual assault and domestic violence, play therapy and faith-based healing

Samantha, LCSW, LICSW, LAC, LADC

Collaboration

Empowerment

Resilience

With a trauma-informed and client-centered approach, Samantha strives to create a space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered. A passionate and dedicated mental health practitioner, Samantha specializes in trauma recovery and empowerment related to domestic violence, sexual assault, addiction and general mental health.

Samantha’s approach to supporting healing emphasizes collaboration and choice by tailoring therapeutic methods to each client’s readiness and comfort level. She offers options like EMDR, trauma-informed techniques, and creative interventions while incorporating humor and authenticity into her sessions.

Samantha’s path to therapy was shaped by her own experiences as a licensed addiction counselor. Witnessing the barriers many face in accessing mental health services inspired her to pursue a holistic practice focused on removing barriers to care.

Beyond individual growth, Samantha is an advocate for addiction recovery, challenging the stigma surrounding substance use by addressing the connections between mental health and substance use disorders. She finds inspiration in books like Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson, which highlights the complexities of trauma and the shared humanity of overcoming life’s struggles. These values are at the core of her practice: helping others see that we are all beings worthy of love, safety and respect.

Education

BS, Criminal Justice and Sociology, University of North Dakota

MSW, Capella University

Evidence-based therapies: EMDR, CPT, motivational interviewing, IFS

Areas of focus: Trauma, domestic violence survivors, sexual assault survivors, depression, anxiety, addiction/substance use

Stephanie, LPC

Exploration

Learning

Purpose

As a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in trauma, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, Stephanie provides a safe, compassionate space for clients to process their experiences by helping them explore identity, culture, beliefs, and goals.

With more than 30 years’ experience, Stephanie’s mission is to empower clients to see their strengths, resiliency, potential for growth and gain insight from past experiences to move forward in their healing journey. She focuses on helping clients recognize their inherent strengths and values so they can see the value of prioritizing themselves, and therefore become stronger, more resilient people.

As a lifelong learner who is always striving to sharpen her helping skills, Stephanie’s journey into therapy was inspired by a psychology professor whose engaging and positive teaching style sparked her interest in the field. She values the continuous learning that comes with being a therapist and believes there is always more to discover about supporting clients effectively. As a result of her curiosity, Stephanie is inspired by witnessing people’s ability to improve their lives and overcome challenges.

Using cognitive processing therapy and other evidence-based therapies, clients under Stephanie’s guidance identify and address the traumatic experiences that have shaped their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. She is deeply committed to helping clients understand that their trauma does not define them, often reminding them of their intrinsic value as human beings by saying, “It wasn’t your fault, and it doesn’t need to define who you are” and “We can grow through what we go through.”

Education

BA Psychology, University of North Dakota

MA Counseling, University of North Dakota

Evidence-based therapies: EMDR, CPT, and CBT

Areas of focus: Trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, people who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence, sexual assault as adults, or adults who experienced abuse, neglect or sexual assault in childhood

“I have noticed that I have been able to make more friends and have been able to talk to my friends more without being scared to.”

—Youth Therapy Client

Youth Therapy Team

Our youth therapists work with children and young adults to support their unique needs as victims of and witnesses to interpersonal violence. We also support children’s family units, with the understanding that long-term healing happens at home.

Emily, LCSW | Director of Youth Therapy

Leader

Resilience

Self-Worth

As the Director of Youth Therapy Services, Emily leads a team of dedicated therapists and social workers providing trauma-informed care to children and families. With a master’s degree in social work and extensive experience in both clinical and administrative roles, Emily is committed to ensuring youth and their families receive compassionate, effective support tailored to their needs.

Emily’s journey into therapy and leadership was shaped by a lifelong desire to support children and families, coupled with personal experiences that deepened her empathy and understanding. Beginning her career as a social worker and later transitioning into therapy, Emily has a unique perspective on the challenges faced by individuals navigating complex systems. Her work emphasizes creating a shame-free, supportive environment for those seeking help, with a focus on empowering clients to build confidence, resilience, and self-worth.

In her leadership role, Emily manages a growing team of therapists, provides clinical and administrative supervision, and ensures that the program helps meet the needs of the community. She collaborates with schools, public health agencies, and other community organizations to identify trends, address gaps, and develop innovative solutions for youth and family services. Emily also oversees grant management, budgeting, and staff training, ensuring her team remains equipped to provide high-quality care.

Emily draws on her personal experiences with trauma and her professional training to create a safe space for clients to learn about and understand their emotions, process things that have happened to them, and discover their inner strength.

In addition to her clinical and leadership work, Emily is passionate about mentoring the next generation of therapists. She views supervision as an opportunity to give back to the profession, fostering growth, learning, and innovation within her team.

For Emily, the heart of her work is serving others—whether through direct client care, empowering her team, or collaborating with community partners to create a brighter future for children and families.

Education

BSW Social Work, University of North Dakota

MSW Social Work, University of North Dakota

Evidence-based therapies: TF-CBT, EMDR, CBT, play-based therapies, Bounce Back, CBITS, and Anger Coping

Areas of focus: Trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, LGBTQIA+

Leah, LMSW

Hope

Creativity

Survivor

Leah is a compassionate and creative therapist dedicated to supporting survivors of violence and trauma and their care partners. As a former family advocate and rural advocate, Leah combines their professional expertise as a social worker and counselor with their lived experience to offer a deeply empathetic approach to therapy.

As a survivor of violence, Leah understands how difficult it can be to see the future in those moments, and their personal connection with violence furthers their commitment to helping others. Their therapeutic style is person-centered and highly adaptable. Whether clients are ready to take significant steps or need support coping in the moment, Leah provides a supportive and nonjudgmental environment for clients to heal.

Drawing from their own positive experiences with art therapy, Leah offers creative methods like drawing, painting, and clay work in sessions, knowing that art can be an incredibly effective way to reveal insights that words alone can’t uncover.

Leah’s ultimate goal is to help clients and caregivers feel safe, empowered, and hopeful as they navigate their healing journey. They believe in the power of connection and creativity to foster resilience and growth, ensuring each client’s unique needs and preferences guide the therapeutic process.

Education

MA Social Work, University of North Dakota

BA Social Work, University of Pittsburgh

Evidence-based therapies: EMDR, TF-CBT, Bounce Back

Areas of focus: rural outreach, LGBTQIA+, gender-affirming care, trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions, communication, ADHD, coping skills, grief

Maura, LMSW, CNP

Playfulness

Tenacity

Initiative

Maura is a licensed master social worker serving clients age 3+ who sees the hope and beauty in watching a child heal from hardship. With a deep understanding of how a child’s living environment affects healthy brain development, Maura focuses on emotional dysfunction related to both traumatic events and unhealthy generational patterns, believing each of her clients is worthy of healing after hardship.

While working as a child and family social worker and seeing firsthand the necessity for effective and compassionate youth mental health support in her community, Maura recognized an opportunity to help on an individual level as a youth therapist. With an understanding that many adults must work very hard later in life to address their own childhood traumas, Maura uses evidence-based therapies and integrates a wide array of tools, such as play-based, polyvagal, somatic and mindfulness, art and music therapy, to both disrupt and prevent youth clients from further developing unhealthy patterns.

Maura knows how difficult it can be for parents to do their best under great stress. Because of this, Maura takes a compassionate, judgment-free approach to collaborating and problem-solving with parents, guardians and other caregivers.

Clients consider Maura to be playful and often comment about how much fun they have in sessions together. Taking a light, energetic approach with hard work at the center, Maura welcomes her clients to come as they are and works to promote individual agency with wisdom, patience and play.

Education

BS Social Work, Minor Nonprofit Leadership and Women and Gender Studies, University of North Dakota

MS Social Work, University of North Dakota

Evidence-based therapies: TFCBT, CBT, play-based therapies, expressive therapies, solution-focused therapies, training in somatic work

Areas of focus: Youth ages 3+, Attachment Issues, Trauma, Neurodivergence, LGBTQIA+, Complex Trauma, Group-based interventions

Michael, LMSW

Curiosity

Play

Belief

Michael believes kids experiencing trauma or abuse can find healing if the road ahead is paved with patient curiosity, the right questions and lots of joy.

Initially called to spiritual leadership, Michael began his career as an ordained minister focused on youth and social mission where he counseled kids and families. Drawn to the social justice aspects of his ministry work but seeing the need for earlier intervention than he could provide at his church, Michael now serves children as a mental health counselor.

As a former pastor and now youth therapist, Michael recognizes that kids often subtly communicate when they’re dealing with difficult emotions. Employing both sage wisdom and spontaneous playroom energy, Michael practices a blend of evidence-based play therapy that helps kids slowly, comfortably open up while being simultaneously immersed in a favorite activity. This helps Michael identify the right tools to drive healing forward.

For Michael, the language of faith and therapy are ways for people to understand and learn how to live into a story that is bigger than themselves. His therapy style is filled with the opportunity to welcome deep curiosity and big questions using the simplicity of play that’s matched by joy in the moment.

Using the language and tools of therapy, Michael helps kids build, shape and nourish their worlds with abundant capacity to love each other, and ultimately themselves.

Education

MA Counseling Psychology, University of North Dakota

Masters of Social Work, Rutgers University

Masters of Divinity, Princeton Theological Seminary

BA Sociology, Eastern University

Evidence-based therapies: TF-CBT, play therapy

Areas of focus: LGBTQ+, trauma, faith-based healing

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about therapy at CVIC? Find answers to some of the most common questions below.

Mental health concerns can have a widespread impact on individuals, and when trauma or violence is part of the picture, trauma-informed therapy techniques are proven to improve survivors’ outcomes.
Each CVIC therapist is certified to practice effective trauma-specific interventions proven to work to help people heal. Trauma-informed techniques help our staff focus on client safety while identifying trauma symptoms, understanding the impact of trauma on individual empowerment and choice, and addressing underlying issues.

CPT
EMDR
PCIT
TF-CBT
CPP
PLAY THERAPY
HCMC
BRAINSPOTTING

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): A specialized therapy effective in reducing symptoms of post traumatic stress that develops after experiencing traumatic events including sexual assault or intimate partner violence.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A powerful technique for children/young adults (ages 12-18) and adults that helps to release emotional distress linked to traumatic experiences using stimulation and eye movement techniques to activate the natural healing process.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT): an evidence-based therapy for young children (ages 2.5 to 7 years old) who have disruptive and/or oppositional behaviors. Parents are coached by therapist on how to use effective relationship and behavior management skills with their young children.

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): For children and teens with emotional and behavioral difficulties (it also involves a supportive parent/caregiver).

Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is a type of therapy focused on strengthening the relationship between young children (ages 0-5) and their caregivers, particularly when the child has experienced trauma or has emotional or behavioral difficulties. It aims to improve the child’s development, reduce trauma symptoms, and foster a healthier parent-child relationship.

Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy that utilizes play as its primary mode of communication, particularly with children, to help them explore and resolve psychosocial difficulties. It is a structured, evidence-based approach that allows children to express themselves, process emotions, and develop coping mechanisms through play, as they may not always be able to articulate their feelings verbally.

Honoring Children, Mending the Circle (HCMC) is a cultural enhancement of Trauma Focus Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). The HCMC cultural enhancement does not change the basic tenets of TF-CBT; rather, the TF-CBT foundation is observed from a worldview that honors the teachings and practices that have been part of American Indian and Alaska Native understandings for generations. The effectiveness of TF-CBT as an evidenced based treatment is maintained in the structure and protocol while the framework, theory, and application are culturally driven.

Brainspotting: A therapeutic technique that helps people process and release trauma and emotional pain by using specific eye positions to access deep parts of the brain and body where distress is stored. It works within a safe, trusting relationship to promote healing that goes beyond what words alone can reach.

Billing for therapy services is something we have been exploring for years and something we’ve spent a lot of time considering how to implement to best serve our clients.

The key driver for this change is the sustainability of our therapy services. It has been our goal to grow our therapy program and continue to employ more therapists who can serve survivors of interpersonal violence. Up until now, therapy services have been fully grant funded. While grant funding is great, it has its own challenges and there is a lot of uncertainty that comes with grant funding where renewal of funding is not guaranteed from year to year.

We are hopeful that billing insurance for eligible individual therapy services will help increase stability of revenue and better sustain our therapy program.

It will not. We have worked diligently with legal and accounting consultants, other therapy providers, and our grant managers to develop policies and procedures that ensure we will still be able to provide services for survivors of violence at no cost to the survivor(s). We have established other funding sources to cover the fees for uninsured clients, and cost sharing amounts for clients who are billing their insurance to ensure they do not have any out-of-pocket costs associated with therapy services rendered at CVIC related to violence they experienced.

We are also continuing to apply for and utilize grant funds to ensure youth therapists can travel to/from schools within Grand Forks County to provide therapy services to youth at their school. We have seen and heard how beneficial this is to families so that they do not have to take time out of work/school to travel to CVIC’s offices for therapy.

CVIC will continue to provide evidence-based therapy services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the same way as we’ve previously done. However, therapists will be working with you to determine if we can bill your insurance for services. This will include conversations about your safety to ensure it’s safe to bill your insurance. A therapist will also be working with you to determine a potential diagnosis and treatment plan to help you work through your concerns.