Elders (65+) Therapists in Ames, IA

I have been trained to help my clients in hospitals, community, and university counseling centers. As a generalist psychologist, I have been working with young adults and university students with concerns related to anxiety, depression, intimate relationship, anger, the family of origin, alcohol and other drugs, and career-related issues.

I enjoy working with families and children and have done so in one capacity or another for 25 years. It was while I was working in the field of addictions that I realized how the family system influences and shapes us. I joined the American Association of Christian Counselors in 1998 and like to incorporate my faith in the counseling process. I am a foster and adoptive parent, which lead to my interest in attachment and trauma issues. I provide therapy for anxiety, depression, co-dependency, sexual abuse and addictions, as well as play therapy for children with behavior problems.

We care about people and this is visible in the services we provide. The owner, Jocelyn Wilson, is a clinical social worker with 15+ years of experience. She holds Master of Social Work / Master of Divinity degrees from the University of Chicago. Francine Ybarra-Rojas is marriage and family counselor with 25+ years of experience in Europe, Central and South America. She holds a Master of Family Studies Degree from Iowa State University. Both clinicians have experience in rural / urban / suburban settings with ages 3+. They blend traditional & expressive methods to help people shift out of inertia toward something new.

I work with individuals of all ages to expand internal strengths and resources, and overcome stressors and barriers to life satisfaction. I have worked with college students, children, adolescents adults and families. I utilize a trauma sensitive approach in working with behavioral and emotional concerns. I strive to develop a positive and comfortable therapeutic relationship in a safe environment.

As you sit across from me, I want you to know that you are accepted as you are and that we will work collaboratively on your path forward. You will find that I am eager to get to know you fully, and that I am someone who values warmth, compassion, humor, and genuineness. My hope is to help you gain insight into your ways of being through deep emotional exploration and reflection, examination of interpersonal patterns, and exploration of familial and cultural influences, and to develop your sense of confidence and empowerment through the application of new strategies.

Ellyn Nitchals-Kellner is a licensed mental health counselor and a certified EMDR therapist. Ellyn believes that all people are capable of healing and growth, and is honored to work with you towards your goals. Ellyn’s clinical areas of interest include working with survivors of trauma including intergenerational trauma, violence and interpersonal trauma, and racial/ethnic trauma, as well as the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety, adjustment disorders, and personality disorders. She is experienced in helping clients work through sexuality and relationship issues, identity exploration, and chronic shame.

I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work from Walden University. Prior to starting with Compass Tree Counseling, I was employed as a police officer for 12 years. I have a deep sense of compassion for all people and I strive to make a positive impact and a difference in the lives of my clients so they can achieve their maximum potential and reach their personal goals. I do my best to create a safe and comfortable environment so my clients can explore, grow, and heal. I enjoy working with teenagers, college students, adults, couples, families, and first responders (Certified First Responder Counselor).

I enjoy working with college age and above through older adult. Depression, anxiety, trauma and loss issues, ADHD are all areas of concern of clients that we can focus on together. Solution focused therapy, brief therapy, cognitive therapy, family systems therapy are all important as therapy approaches, with the best being truly listening to my clients to determine what they believe is possible through therapy. I have experiences with DMACC students, parenting classes, anger management classes for thirteen years, as well as mediating parenting plans for divorcing couples. I am a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa.

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.

I feel grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside others on their journeys towards healing and growth. I take a collaborative, strengths-based, and empowering approach. I believe that the client is the expert in their life, and I view my role as being a guide as clients reflect on their experiences, identify areas that are causing distress, connect with their emotions, and work towards meaningful changes. I strongly believe that creating a therapeutic relationship that is safe, validating, and accepting is an essential component of the change process.

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.

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.

Life is hard, and none of us escape unscathed. We are all bruised and broken in some way. If we are fortunate, we have friends and family who walk beside us through the difficult times. Even so, we sometimes feel alone and at a loss as to how to move forward. We need further support from a trained professional who will walk beside us; offering support, empathy, insight, and encouragement. This is therapy. Counseling is one the great passions of my life. I have been counseling for almost 20 years and have wide and varied experience. I counsel all ages and use a variety of treatment methods tailored to each individual I see.

My goal as a therapist is to genuinely connect with and support clients in their journey. It is a privilege to walk with others on their path towards healing and knowing themselves. I strive to make sure my clients feel seen and heard as their true selves, experience warmth and security in the counseling room, and know that I unconditionally accept them. I believe therapy should be a true partnership between myself and my client; we are a team working toward your desired healing, growth, and change. I am committed to providing a safe and inviting atmosphere for all people, identities, and needs.

I developed Living Years Counseling as a private practice to address the mental and emotional health needs of older adults and adult children of aging parents. The symptoms and behaviors vary widely, but are often consistent with anxiety, depression, grief or difficulty adjusting to changes of aging.

Delphine Weiss works with clients to find new ways to look at challenges in life. Many of us live with strain that comes from difficult relationships, loss, trauma, chronic pain, anxiety, and low motivation, to name a few. Delphine brings a non-judgmental approach to her work with clients, considering their environmental factors, and accepting where they currently are in life while focusing on their strengths.

I offer teletherapy for Iowa residents- Schedule through my web site: www.michelleroling.com As a certified eating disorder specialist with fifteen years of experience in the field, I walk the healing journey with clients struggling with multiple disordered eating and body image struggles. I am skilled working with self-harming behaviors, relationship concerns, negative self-esteem, anxiety ,depression, OCD, PTSD, Truama, Identity, grief...

If you are having relationship problems or marital concerns, you will want a therapist who specializes in those issues. My expertise is marriage and I have helped thousands of couples heal from past hurts, get out of the "living as roommates" rut and improve their relationships. Both individuals and couples come to see me with their relationship issues, whether they are with each other, their children, parents, in-laws, step-family, careers, their future or their relationship with God. I've got a warm office, a listening ear and great ideas. Check out my hundreds of blogs at www.thrivingcouples.com.

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.