Ask an Expert

Ask an Expert is a special section of the Behavioral Health Bridge website that provides answers to common behavioral health questions from our community. A single question will be highlighted in each entry, followed by feedback from a local expert on the topic. The goal is to share clear and reliable information about topics that are important to our community.

Community Questions and Responses


Self-harm

Kathryn Gordon, Ph.D., LP

Psychologist, Sanford Women’s Health and 
Assistant Scientist, Sanford Center for Biobehavioral Research

(Article Date: 10/29/2021)


Accessing Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents

Jennifer Faul, LCSW

Program Director - 
Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program, 
Head of Special Projects 
Sanford Health

(Article Date: 10/15/2021)


Suicide Risk

Kathryn Gordon, Ph.D., LP

Psychologist, Sanford Women’s Health

Assistant Scientist, Sanford Center for Biobehavioral Research

(Article Date: 10/01/2021)


Building Mental Health Resilience for Healthcare Providers

Jenn Faul, LCSW

Head of Special Projects

Sanford Health

(Article Date: 09/17/2021)


Seeking Help for an Eating Disorder – For You and Your Loved Ones

Stephen Wonderlich, Ph.D.

Vice-President for Research, Sanford Research

Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

(Article Date: 09/03/2021)


Behavioral Health for Healthcare Professionals

Shawnda Schroeder, Ph.D., M.A. Associate Director of Research and Evaluation, Research Associate Professor, Center for Rural Health, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences



(Article Date: 08/20/2021)


Rising Cases of Eating Disorders

Stephen Wonderlich, Ph.D. Vice-President for Research, Sanford Research Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (Article Date: 08/06/2021)


Managing Extracurricular Activities for Children

Carrie Brower-Breitwieser, Ph.D., LP, BCBA-D Pediatric Psychologist, Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program, Director, Sanford Health (Article Date: 07/23/2021)


Child Mental Health

Stefanie Hanisch, M.D. Psychiatrist
Child Psychiatry
Sanford Health (Article Date: 07/09/2021)


Alcohol Misuse

Melissa J. Henke, M.D. Psychiatrist, Medical Director
North Dakota Professional Health Program & Heartview Foundation (Article Date: 06/25/2021)


Adjusting to the “New Normal” in College

Marlys K. Borkhuis, M.S., LPC Counselor
Counseling Center
North Dakota State University (Article Date: 06/11/2021)


Children's Access to "Screen Time"

Stefanie Hanisch, M.D. Psychiatrist
Child Psychiatry
Sanford Health

 (Article Date: 05/28/2021)


Illicit Drug Use

Melissa J. Henke, M.D. Psychiatrist, Medical Director
North Dakota Professional Health Program & Heartview Foundation (Article Date: 05/14/2021)


Pandemic-related Weight Gain in Children

Carrie Brower-Breitwieser, Ph.D., LP, BCBA-D Pediatric Psychologist
Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program, Director
Sanford Health (Article Date: 04/30/2021)


Access to Mental Health Counseling in College

Marlys K. Borkhuis, M.S., LPC Counselor
Counseling Center
North Dakota State University (Article Date: 04/16/2021)


Emotional Stress in Children

Stefanie Hanisch, M.D. Psychiatrist
Child Psychiatry
Sanford Health (Article Date: 04/02/2021)


COVID-19 Behavioral health and Older Adults

Robert Olson, M.D. Geriatric Psychiatry, Sanford Health; Residency Program Director, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences (Article Date: 03/19/2021)


Coping with Urges to Drink Alcohol

Melissa J. Henke, M.D. Psychiatrist Medical Director North Dakota Professional Health Program & Heartview Foundation (Article Date: 03/05/2021)


When to seek help

Andrew J. McLean, MD, MPH Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science School of Medicine & Health Sciences University of North Dakota (Article Date: 02/12/2021)