Elderly Persons Disorders Therapists in Ames, IA

My name is Emily M Johnson (she/her), and as a licensed social worker (LMSW), I have over ten years of experience working with adults and families in affordable housing and healthcare. I believe in the dignity of each person and treating others with kindness and compassion. I work to collaborate with clients and believe that every client is the expert on themselves and their needs and that I am here to support and guide you within your current experiences. Working from a strengths-based perspective, I value working with clients from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

“We do not grow by knowing all of the answers, but rather by living with the questions.” - Max De Pree. “Be curious, not judgmental.” -Ted Lasso These two quotes sum up my approach to therapy, and hopefully, to life. Our brains are naturally wired to make sense of things, to organize information into understandable experiences and thoughts. This relentless pursuit of understanding can lead to new discoveries, new technologies, new medicines. However, it can also lead to stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression. Balance between curiosity and living with the questions is necessary to a life of integrity.

Amber believes that the therapeutic process begins with building a trusting relationship while providing a safe and non judgmental space to share life challenges and stressors. Amber provides services with a high degree of empathy in a manner that is very down to earth and authentic. Amber utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) at this time. Amber is passionate about working with both teenagers and adults who have experienced complex and significant traumas in addition to those who struggle with anxiety and depressive disorders.

Currently accepting new clients. I have been a practicing licensed therapist for over 27 years. I work with adults, adolescents, families, and children. I possess a comprehensive expertise in many fields, namely; anxiety, depression, trauma and stress. My Goal is to work WITH you to create a therapeutic space that is supportive and safe. I am knowledgeable about the biological, emotional, and relational aspects of mental health and have both respect and compassion for the complexity of these factors in your life.

I believe that each of us has the power to achieve our goals and conquer our fears. I enjoy helping my clients identify their goals and the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving them. We then make a plan to break down these barriers and work toward realizing their best life. I have experience working with adults and the aging on a wide range of issues.

Ananda (pronounced Ah-nan-duh) is a new provider of mental wellness services (therapy) and yoga in Central Iowa. It is the mission of Ananda to create an inclusive environment that is supportive and welcoming of all who want to find their bliss. Amber Wilson, LISW, is the owner of and sole provider at Ananda. She has been a Licensed Independent Social Worker in Iowa since 2016 and a Registered Yoga Teacher - 200 since 2019. With over 17 years of experience, Amber has gained valuable experience working in Child Protective Services, Healthcare and most recently, the Veterans Administration.

Lets face it, deciding that we need help is not an easy thing to admit. It's even more difficult to reach out to get the help we know we deserve. No matter what you are dealing with in life, may it be daily anxiety and depression or transitioning through a phase in your life that turned out to be more difficult than you thought. I am here to listen and help you through these times. I hope that with my help you can live your life the way you have always wanted and feel proud for the work you have done to truly take care of yourself.

I have provided individual counseling and therapy services to children, adolescents, adults, marriage counseling, couples and families; serving all ages and working with diverse populations. Goals of building hope, optimism, and inspiring others to make the most of theirs and their families lives. Utilized various therapeutic techniques, and starting where the client is, to assist individuals with minimizing or resolving issues, associated with depression, grief and loss, anxiety, stress, adjustment, mood regulation, ADHD, ODD, relational problems, behavioral issues, and various other problem areas and issues that confront individuals of all ages on a daily basis. Focusing on the positives!

Aging can bring a host of new issues such as feelings of isolation after retirement, grief and loss due to deaths of friends and loved ones, and finding new meaning in life after old roles have disappeared. New roles such as being a caregiver for your parents, spouse, partner, adult child, or grandchild can also add stress at this time. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, bipolar, addiction, and schizophrenia can continue and sometimes new mental health issues can arise. Health concerns and family dynamics can also make life challenging. Learning how to cope with these challenges and enjoy life is paramount.

Life can be really hard. Whether you are dealing with emotions you have always had or new ones brought about by life changes or trauma, I welcome you to come work through them together. I am here to help you with whatever you are struggling with. I am a non-judgmental listener who can help you figure out the best way to sort through whatever you are dealing with. I believe that people are the experts in their own lives.

I work with ages 3 through adulthood: individuals, couples, and families. I have worked with individuals who have: depression, anxiety, Bipolar, grief from any type of loss, ADHD, Autism, stress, anger, divorce, and those who need a third party to talk to without judgement. I am trained in Adlerian Play Therapy for children and adults to reach beyond traditional talk therapy for self-expression/processing when words are hard to find. It is proven that children say much more in play than they have the words for.

Welcome to Heartland Counseling. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and sometimes we need support from professionals. Heartland is here to help. We offer individual, couple, family, and group counseling. You can choose between face-to-face and telehealth options to fit your needs.

Going to therapy is a challenging decision. I get it, vulnerability sucks. However, if you’ve come to the point in your life where you feel like you’re spinning your wheels and can’t quite get on the right track then therapy could be what you need. i strive to take a collaborative and compassionate approach.

"We are all broken.....that's how the light gets in" (Hemmingway). What works for us, works against us. Instead of these parts fighting each other, we need to understand and appreciate both to grow and prosper. Do you find yourself struggling with relationships, work, meaning of life events, grieving, general life stressors, or energy? My approach to psychotherapy includes empowering you to make decisions to help with movement in your journey through life.