Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Dr. Brenden Troster

Therapist profile

Dr. Brenden Troster, LMFT

Minnesota

LMFT - Relationships and parenting support

Continue with Brenden

About

  • CBT techniques
  • Acceptance and commitment
  • Gottman method influences

About Brenden

Dr. Brenden Troster is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Minnesota with seven years of clinical experience and a PhD in Developmental Psychology. He has worked across school-based mental health, addiction treatment, residential care for children and teens, and outpatient settings, and supports adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, ADHD, parenting strain, grief, and related concerns.

He describes therapy as starting with the client's story. He listens, reflects what he hears, and helps set practical goals. Sessions focus on real problems at home and work - sleep trouble, anger, intimacy or parenting challenges, career stress, and coping with life changes.

His background includes work with people affected by abuse, self-harm, and persistent mental illness. He has experience in addiction settings, including concerns about pornography, and has supported people through adoption and foster care issues, caregiver stress, and blended family concerns.

Dr. Troster uses a mix of approaches when useful. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Client-Centered Therapy, and the Gottman Method. He aims to build practical skills clients can use between sessions.

In sessions he emphasizes collaboration and clear strategies. He helps people test small changes, practice new ways of communicating, and develop tools for daily life. People who want straightforward, skills-based support for family and parenting stresses may find his style direct and task-focused.

How sessions work

Therapeutic approaches and how they fit online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combines values-based work with practical exercises. It helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, choose actions that matter to them, and build consistent habits for family life and parenting. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that keep problems going and replacing them with actionable steps for change. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and anger management.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will listen to your goals and suggest which methods to try first. You and the therapist will review progress and adjust the plan together so it fits your needs and daily life.

Session logistics should be confirmed before booking because the biography does not list formats. When arranging online work, consider practical benefits: easier scheduling around parenting duties, the option for shorter check-ins when time is limited, and avoiding travel so sessions fit into work or family routines. Licensed professionals often pair talk with between-session exercises, worksheets, and skill practice so change continues outside scheduled meetings. Confirm which online formats are offered and how they match your practical needs before your first appointment.

Areas of focus

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Gottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

7+ years

Listed in

Minnesota, Iowa, Massachusetts

Languages

English

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does he help with?

He works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addiction, ADHD, grief, parenting strain, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, and related issues.

What is his therapy style like?

He uses practical, skills-based work and collaborative goal-setting. Sessions mix talking, problem-solving, and real-life practice.

How much experience does he have?

He has seven years of clinical therapy experience plus more than 25 years working as a coach in related areas.

What are his credentials and where is he based?

He is an LMFT with an MA and practices in Minnesota.

Can I see him if I live outside the United States?

Sessions are offered in English and he does not accept international clients at this time.

What session formats does he offer?

Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are offered.

How does payment work?

Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.

Back to all therapists

Dr. Brenden Troster

Continue with Brenden