Dr. Brenden Troster, LMFT

Dr. Brenden Troster is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with seven years of clinical experience and a PhD in Developmental Psychology. He has worked in school-based mental health, addiction treatment, residential care for young people, and outpatient settings. He draws on long experience as a coach to guide practical change in therapy. He listens first and helps clients name their goals. Sessions focus on what matters to the person and on small, workable steps toward change. He emphasizes respect, compassion, and dignity so people can speak openly about difficult topics. His background includes supporting people with depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, ADHD, addiction, self-harm, anger, and recovery after abusive experiences. He also addresses concerns like grief, sleep problems, intimacy issues, parenting stress, career strain, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include abandonment, attachment issues, caregiver stress, and blended family challenges. Dr. Troster uses a mix of approaches to match each person’s needs. He works with methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and the Gottman Method. Therapy is presented as a collaboration where the plan is shaped around the client’s values and pace. He aims to help people build practical strategies and tools they can use day to day. The emphasis is on steady progress, increased resilience, and clearer choices about the future.

How his approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take action toward those values despite difficult thoughts or feelings. It often helps with anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce distress and improve daily functioning; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s experience by offering empathic listening and support so clients can explore their own solutions and build self-understanding.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. The therapist works together with each person to decide which methods fit best based on goals, needs, and personal preferences. That collaborative decision can be adjusted as therapy continues to match progress and changing priorities.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the available session options before booking. Online work can make regular contact easier to fit into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people use techniques in real-life settings and practice skills between meetings. Ask about the specific formats offered when you sign up so you know what will work for your routine.