Courtney Christenson, MSW, LCSW (ND)

Courtney received her Undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University in 2012, then went on to get her Master’s degree in social work from Simmons College in 2017. In 2016, Courtney interned in outpatient with Solutions. She also interned at a residential childcare facility working with teens who were in foster care and experiencing mental health and/or behavioral concerns.

Courtney has worked with Solutions from 2013-2017 as a Mental Health Practitioner and School Liaison. In those positions, she worked primarily with children who were experiencing mental health concerns resulting in impaired functioning in school, home, or community. She also led Dina School during the summer and as part of her internship co-facilitated Incredible Years Parenting Group. She then worked 3 years as a foster care case manager with Burleigh County Human Service Zone (formerly social services). She worked to create permanency plans whether it was reunification, guardianship, or adoption. She returned to Solutions when the Bismarck location opened.

Courtney is trained and certified in a number of Evidence-Based Practices; she is certified in PCIT, TF-CBT with advanced training in TF-CBT for commercial sexual exploitation of children, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Incredible Years. Her specialties include foster care/child welfare, working with children with high behavioral needs, and trauma backgrounds.

Courtney finds her work the most meaningful when she is working with kids. She finds meaning in creating a stronger bond between parent and child and helping parents find new ways to support their kids who are struggling. When she works with foster care kids, she likes helping them find their strengths, acknowledging their worth, and building their self-esteem.