Behavioral health, addiction services available from Empowered Therapy

Empowered Therapy, a private practice based in Watford City, N.D., is spreading its wings and taking flight. Just 8 months after opening its doors, the practice is expanding its services statewide.

Founder Tara Lorenz, LCSW and her team offer mental health and behavioral counseling, drug and alcohol evaluations, couples therapy, substance abuse, addictions counseling, court-ordered evaluations and anger management.

By offering flexible scheduling and options for telemedicine, Lorenz and her team have the potential to extend their services to rural communities. Not only are telemedicine appointments available from the comfort of home, they are also available in the evenings. Lorenz says, "We believe that everyone should have access to quality services for behavioral health and addiction services. Expanding Empowered Therapy brings options to folks in rural areas who often struggle to access the needed care."

The lack of access to mental health services has been well documented in Eddy County and reported on in the "New Rockford Transcript," noting that transportation remains a significant barrier. Not only does telemedicine virtually eliminate the issue of long-distance transportation, but it also puts the patient at ease, limiting common anxieties associated with office visits. Best of all, all a person needs is a computer or a smartphone to connect to the HIPAA-certified video app.

For those who might be hesitant about the idea therapy, it may be helpful to know a bit about the practice. Therapy has come a long way since the days of having a patient recline on a couch and recall their childhood. Therapy in the 21st century focuses on helping patients learn to manage emotions, solve complex problems and communicate in difficult situations. Patients gain an understanding of concepts such as implementing boundaries and practicing compassionate listening, leading to lifelong skills and emotional resiliency.

The idea to expand services statewide came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when federal restrictions on telemedicine were lifted to facilitate social distancing. With this new technology and a willing team, Empowered Therapy can open its doors to so many more people in need.

Lorenz holds a master's degree in social work and has been working in the field of behavioral health since 2004. She speaks fluent Spanish, making bilingual therapy a possibility.

Carrie Thompson-Widmer, LMSW is a licensed social worker with more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health. A resident of Eddy County, Thompson-Widmer is spending her summer at her family's farm and will be available for appointments via telemedicine. She offers flexible scheduling and evening appointments.

Kathy Reichenberg, LPC/LAC is a licensed professional counselor and an addiction counselor licensed for Substance Abuse Treatment including DUI seminars, addiction counseling and adult outpatient services.

Empowered Therapy accepts insurance including Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. They also accept private payments.

For more information on how you might benefit from Empowered Therapy, call (701) 444-3979.