About Brenden
Dr. Brenden Troster is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Minnesota with seven years of clinical experience. He combines years of coaching with therapy work to help people facing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship strain, and phobias.
He listens first and builds a plan that fits each person’s goals and pace. Before focusing on outpatient work, he spent time in school-based mental health, addiction treatment, and residential care for children and teens.
Background and approach
That range of settings shaped how he notices patterns in behavior and relationships. He brings practical skills learned across different roles rather than a single method. Sessions begin with the client’s story.
He treats clients as the expert on their life and offers a calm, respectful space to talk through problems. Together they set clear goals and try strategies that match the client’s values and daily routine. Dr.
Troster draws on approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Client-Centered Therapy, and the Gottman Method. He uses techniques to address unhelpful thoughts, increase emotional regulation, and improve communication in close relationships. People come to him for help with worry, stress, sleep problems, addiction concerns, parenting strain, grief, and coping with life changes.
He also supports those navigating attachment, abandonment, or caregiving stress. His work emphasizes practical tools clients can use between sessions. He speaks English and practices in Minnesota.
The first steps are a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a session so clients can begin shaping a plan that fits their needs.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Dr. Troster uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people spot and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; this approach is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and phobias. He also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on clarifying values and taking small, meaningful steps even when uncomfortable feelings are present. Client-Centered Therapy is part of his work too, offering a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the client’s experience guides the pace and focus of sessions.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. He will discuss options, try strategies, and adjust based on what a client finds helpful. Goals, preferences, and daily life shape which methods are emphasized so therapy fits the person rather than forcing a preset path.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which bring practical benefits. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation when that helps. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when a quick check-in fits the day. Live chat or messaging can work for shorter updates, real-time support, or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and varying needs.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Cancer
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sleeping disorders
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Gottman Method
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
- Systemic Therapy
- Experience
- 7 years
- Licensed
- Minnesota, Iowa, Massachusetts
- Languages
- English
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