Counseling Center: North Dakota Counseling Services, Public Speaking, Therapy, Divorce Mediation, Codependency, Relationships

We believe that much of the pain and difficulty we experience in our lives and our relationships began in the past and stays active through the stories we tell ourselves and our habits. Our present day behavior and choices are influenced by the unspoken rules we learned in our family; unresolved grief; feelings of shame and inadequacy; and negative self-talk. Habits we learned, teaching that was not helpful, and needs that were not met often drive our present behavior. Thoughts, feelings and behaviors all can be changed through mindful awareness and compassionate choices.

Our approach to recovery and wellness is based on the belief that ineffective, shame motivated, or destructive behavior patterns can be changed through a gradual, compassionate relearning process that combines education, awareness, insight and choice-making.

As our identity and self esteem are restored, our choices become healthier, our self-compassion increases, and the quality of our lives and relationships improves. Change is possible!

All Licensed Professional Counselors associated with Counseling Center have achieved at least Masters level degrees and have extensive experience in individual and group therapy.

All therapy groups are structured; screening by staff counselor is required before group begins.

Group programs require Covid vaccination to participate.
Groups are scheduled as lists for the group develop.

Counseling Center 2025 Programming

We provide individual and couples counseling as a starting place for all interested clients. Group work is an important option for some clients.

People Pleasing and Self Care Group

People pleasing is a learned behavior, a habit, a way of being in the world that results in resentment and imbalance in our relationships.

If you find yourself taking care of others instead of yourself, saying yes when you’d rather say no, seeking approval, feeling resentful and guilty too much of the time:

Join us for a circle of learning and support.

Learn the dynamics of people pleasing
Identify the causes and fears that drive people pleasing
Learn strategies to set boundaries and limits
Identify your needs and feelings
Discover your authentic self

What if you do not have to keep being “nice” and taking care of others? Learn to value your needs and feelings as much as those of others, and deal with the guilt of saying no. People pleasing prevents us from having freedom to choose our own path, and create a life and relationships that are genuine and authentic.

6 weeks
Thursday 12:30-2:00
$50 per week
Deb Chambers, facilitator
Counseling Center

Beginning Mindfulness Group

We will meet for 90 minutes each week for 6 weeks. Mindfulness start dates are offered every quarter, call for next start date.

The essentials of mindfulness will be practiced and discussed. The group fee is $50 per week for 6 weeks, or $200 paid in full the first night. The group is led by Nadine Hillesheim.

This experience will assist attendees with establishing a mindfulness practice and give all an opportunity to practice and learn about mindfulness, meditation, and the value of being present in each moment of each day. Mindfulness helps us learn to recognize when we are caught up in our busy minds and step back to access fresh, more effective options. We can learn to take a different stance towards our thoughts and move to a more peaceful and effective way of dealing with life’s inevitable ups and downs.

Benefits of mindfulness include:

Greater sense of well being
Decreased anxiety
Improved pain management
Better focus
Decreased reactivity
Increased self awareness
Reducing stress
Improved coping with depression and anxiety

Healing My Relationship, Healing Myself

What we believe about ourselves, about love, and relationships impacts how we behave, what we share and what we expect from our relationships. Join this 8-week group to examine the dynamics of authentic connection, with oneself and others. Shame issues, self-love and compassion, as well as relationship patterns and skills will be explored.

The better we know and accept ourselves, the better we can be to and for others. Authentic connection and vulnerability require knowing and expressing our feelings and needs with one another. Love is more than a feeling; it is a way of being.

In this group we will invite you to focus on:

Identify and heal insecurities and beliefs we carry that block intimacy.
Practice using the language of feelings and needs.
Learn to value yourself as both a whole, lovable, worthy person and partner.
Give up people pleasing, caretaking, codependent ways of relating to others.
Identify and resist old patterns that do not promote intimacy.
Learn concepts of healthy love, let go of unhealthy beliefs.

This is an 8-week group, meeting 2 hours per week.
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Fee is $60 per week, totaling $480.
Discounted to $450 if all paid before first meeting.
Led by Deb Chambers
Counseling Center, Suite 201

Family of Origin, Codependency and Self Compassion Group

We will meet for 8 weeks and explore family history, communication patterns, shame, boundaries, grief and how our family patterns are shaping our current patterns. Self care and developing self compassion will also be explored. Cost is $70 per week; $500 if paid in total on the first night. Facilitated by Deb Chambers.

Family of Origin Group Self-Assessment

Answer yes or no to the following questions:

Are you concerned about repeating the parenting you received as a child?
Are you a caretaker of others but not yourself?
Do you say yes to requests when you’d like to say no?
Do you seek the approval of others more than yourself?
Are you afraid of being selfish if you take care of yourself?
Do you make decisions out of fear?
Is your self-esteem based on the happiness of those around you?
Do you feel unsure of your own needs and feelings?
Is your mood determined by how others feel?
Are others’ needs more important than your own?
Was there emotional, physical, or sexual abuse in your family system?
Did you grow up with the unwritten rules: don’t talk, don’t feel, don’t trust?

Answering yes to the above questions indicates that some form of family of origin work will be a helpful, healing thing for you to do.

Group programs require Covid vaccination to participate.
Groups are scheduled as lists for the group develop.

People Pleasing and Self Care Group

6 week group therapy program People pleasing is a learned behavior, a habit, a way of being in the world that results in resentment and imbalance in our relationships. If you find yourself taking care of others instead of yourself, saying yes when you’d rather say no, seeking approval, feeling resentful and guilty too much of the time: Join us for a circle of learning and support.

Family of Origin & Codependency & Self Compassion

8 week group therapy program Focus is on childhood, shame, boundary and grief issues. See the self-assessment questions below for more info on this program.

Relationship & Intimacy & Shame Group

8 week group therapy program Recognizing the influence of childhood, the focus is on relationships, shame, intimacy, anger, and current life problems.

After-care Group

Focus is on continued learning and practice of living in a recovery process, with the support of others on a similar path.

Mindfulness Group

6 week program Focus is on learning about the mechanics and benefits of mindfulness as well as practicing mindfulness.

Family of Origin Group Self-Assessment

Answer yes or no to the following questions:

Are you concerned about repeating the parenting you received as a child?
Are you a caretaker of others but not yourself?
Do you say yes to requests when you’d like to say no?
Do you seek the approval of others more than yourself?
Are you afraid of being selfish if you take care of yourself?
Do you make decisions out of fear?
Is your self-esteem based on the happiness of those around you?
Do you feel unsure of your own needs and feelings?
Is your mood determined by how others feel?
Are others’ needs more important than your own?
Was there emotional, physical, or sexual abuse in your family system?
Did you grow up with the unwritten rules: don’t talk, don’t feel, don’t trust?

Answering yes to the above questions indicates that some form of family of origin work will be a helpful, healing thing for you to do.

The Counseling Center group is a therapy experience designed to assist individuals identify the roots of self-esteem, shame, identity, and self compassion concerns. It helps connect the past with the present, and make lasting changes in identity and behaviors. It is not about blame, it is about uncovering what we learned about self (beliefs) in our growing up experience and taking responsibility for creating healthier messages and choices for the future. The best way to not repeat the past is to understand it!

Group meetings are for 2 hours, one day a week, for 9 consecutive weeks. Invest in yourself and your future!

Deb Chambers, MS, LPC

I am a Master's level professional counselor with more than 35 years of experience providing couple's, individual and group therapy. I enjoy my work and consider it a privilege to assist people in improving the quality of their lives and relationships. I work with people to change patterns and self defeating habits, improve self care and self compassion, develop mindfulness, live out their true nature and free themselves from shame, anxiety and depression. Topics frequently worked with in my office include grief, forgiveness, shame, letting go of control, co-dependency and approval seeking, intimacy, compassion and self-care, family of origin, and acceptance. I believe relationships are important and require maintenance to stay vital and healthy. At a very basic level, I have found knowing one's own self, having a sense of humor, asking a good question and taking a breath are all useful companions in the journey toward health and a meaningful life.

Nadine Hillesheim, MS, LPCC, LP

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Psychologist. I have more than 30 years of experience and I love my work as it allows me follow my passion of helping people find meaning and master whatever challenges they face with care and compassion. I work with individuals, groups, and couples. I see our internal relationship with ourselves to be central to our personal happiness and the health of any other relationship we may be in. My areas of experience include mindfulness training, anxiety, depression, couples therapy, trauma, EMDR, loss, emotional overeating, and self-value/self-compassion. While I often work with painful issues, I see the place for humor at times. I also believe mindfulness and acceptance can help us move through struggles with more ease.

I have found that resolving core issues is what helps make lasting change. My approach to counseling includes full presence and deep listening, exploring any unhelpful inner beliefs, identifying any contributing biological or medical issues, offering skills to use outside of sessions, and helping people to uncover their inner wisdom about what’s needed to heal and move forward on their journey. I take a holistic approach to mental health and draw from many sources. I believe in using what works for each individual.

Read more about me at Psychology Today.