Therapists in 50010

Hello! My name is Carol. I enjoy meeting new people, and I would love to meet you. I have been working with people to improve their lives for over 20 years. Many people I meet are struggling with feeling anxious, sad, and feeling overwhelmed. Often there are struggles with relationships, not feeling loved, not knowing how to connect, feeling lonely. Grief over many small losses or just one big one, it can be hard to adjust. These are common issues that I can help you work through. Making better decisions, becoming happier and more confident, and better understanding yourself are often achieved along the way.

I believe that therapy is a partnership and I seek to gain a trusting and caring relationship with all my clients. I received my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. I have experience working in community mental health with at-risk populations and in a residential setting. I enjoy working with adolescents, adult individuals, and families with issues such as: Depression, Anxiety, Trauma/PTSD, substance use, and family of origin issues.

Building a strong therapist - client relationship is the basis of my therapeutic approach. I'm interested in working clients who are struggling in their current life stage or circumstances. Therapy is hard work, but through challenging dysfunctional thought processes and behaviors, change is possible.

My approach to therapy is a collaboration with clients. Each client is an equal and valuable participant in the therapy relationship. It is in this relationship where growth and healing take place. I attempt to meet new clients where they are by providing acceptance, kindness and support, while challenging ideas, thoughts, behaviors or actions that have not been working in the client's life. I also strive to offer a fair bit of humor and grace in my sessions because we are all human and life can be hard.

Sometimes it is hard to navigate life's challenges. These challenges are often related to the connections we have with ourselves, others, and how we make sense of life events. As a therapist/counselor, my goal is to develop a safe environment where we partner to improve those connections and create healing. I believe in using warmth, honesty, humor, and current research-based methods to achieve this goal.

I often think of my role as one who guides clients through their experience of being 'lost in the woods' of their psychological space. Symptoms of being lost in this way are various sorts of anxiety, depression, a sense of meaninglessness, and a feeling of paralysis or just simply being stuck. I help clients minimize their needless suffering, interpret the valuable information the symptoms are presenting, with the ultimate goal of helping them reorient themselves to a more valued, purposeful experience in the world.

Counseling doesn’t have to be so uptight, am I right? I approach therapy in an informal, nonthreatening way. I’m happy to inspire a laugh—or to just lend an ear. I accept my clients as they are, but I also help them find the courage to transform into who they want to be. Life is too short to be anything but authentic. I spent 23 years as a newspaper feature writer before changing careers. I fully recognize that I’m no longer the author of someone else’s story. Rather, I want my clients to look at the narrative of their lives and decide, for themselves, the direction their own story takes. I only hope to facilitate the process.

"If you don't know where you're going, you may never get there." My work supports clients in getting clear with where they want to be going in life, and in learning and applying skills to take meaningful steps aligned with guiding values. I offer clients practical tools and techniques to create more flow and vitality in life. Come away from therapy with more flexibility, humor and confidence to meet life's challenges and see them as opportunities.

Searching for help is a courageous first step to change. You may be feeling anxious or depressed. Are you looking for support in changing addictive behaviors from a non-judgmental approach? Perhaps you have experienced traumatic events that have left you feeling "stuck." Or maybe you have relationship issues and aren't sure where to go from here. Many of my clients have experienced grief and loss and simply need support working through the stages of grief. I have also served children and families. Whatever your needs, there IS hope.

Are you seeking compassionate therapy for yourself or your child? Look no further! I'm a Registered Play Therapist passionate about helping young children and adults find healing and growth. My journey in social work has taken me through diverse and impactful experiences. With a background that includes domestic violence, sexual assault advocacy, and the child welfare system, I bring a deep understanding of the complex issues individuals and families may face. My commitment to helping others thrive and find healing drives my private practice in Ames.

Stress comes in many forms in our daily lives. When we get bogged down with memories from our past, or worries about our future, we become unable to fully participate in the present. My goal is to empower you to live as your most authentic self by creating a collaborative therapeutic atmosphere where you are the expert on your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I utilize a cognitive-behavioral, strength-based, and solution-focused approach to help you explore and identify what's working, what you would like to change, and potential strategies to achieve your goals.

I am a compassionate and collaborative mental health counselor who will help you focus on your experience to formulate and achieve your individual or family goals. I believe you are the expert in your life and should be in the driver’s seat of your therapy experience. I am dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment and committed to helping you build the skill and insight you need to heal. I am skilled in helping you identify your strengths and work through your challenges to achieve your goals.

As a retired Marine, a licensed pilot, a scuba diver, and a linguist, I have a varied and multicultural background and am able to connect well with people of different cultures. In addition to a Masters in Professional Counseling, I have a Seminary degree in Pastoral Counseling. After serving as an Arabic and Persian Farsi linguist in the Marine Corps, I decided to continue a life of service by helping people find healing and personal growth. As a Veteran who served in Iraq and in Combat, I have special insight to help fellow Service Members.

I have over 20 years of experience as a counselor. I do my best to develop a warm, safe environment for you to explore and grow. I work with all ages to expand internal resources, heal from past negative experience and explore new directions. I feel it is an honor to with clients, connecting the pieces of each person's unique experiencial puzzle and exploring ways to have more freedom to form the future.

We all have a self that we present to the world, and then we have our authentic self. I am passionate about helping my clients find and become more of their truest, authentic selves. I want to get to know who you really are; your strengths, struggles, and everything in between. Your story is important and worthy of being shared. And by doing so, you can start to heal and find clarity in it.

As an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment) therapist, I emphasize the importance of acceptance, mindfulness, and commitment to values-driven actions. I support clients in working through difficult experiences, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic pain, procrastination, indecision and moving forward during transitional stages of life including high-school, college, graduate school, sports, retirement and more and guide them in embracing these experiences while moving forward with their lives. I have expertise with people ranging in ages from 15-70. Extensive background working with college students.

Welcome to Ames Therapy where your mental well-being is our utmost priority. We understand that life's journey can be challenging, and at times, we all need a helping hand to navigate the ups and downs. Our dedicated team of compassionate professionals is here to provide you with the support and guidance you need to achieve mental and emotional wellness. You are not alone on this path, and we are here to walk it with you. We bring a wealth of experience and expertise to help you on your journey . Our team of highly qualified and compassionate counselors has collectively spent decades working in the field of mental health.