LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Buena Vista County, IA
Blue Anchor Counseling & Support
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, LISW, LICSW
1 Endorsed
Online Only
Therapy is a space to slow down, feel supported, and make sense of what you’re experiencing—without judgment or pressure. I take a collaborative, client-centered approach, meeting you where you are and honoring your pace. Together, we’ll explore patterns that may be keeping you stuck, build practical coping tools, and reconnect with your strengths. You don’t have to have everything figured out to begin—just a willingness to start.
Therapy is a space to slow down, feel supported, and make sense of what you’re experiencing—without judgment or pressure. I take a collaborative, client-centered approach, meeting you where you are and honoring your pace. Together, we’ll explore patterns that may be keeping you stuck, build practical coping tools, and reconnect with your strengths. You don’t have to have everything figured out to begin—just a willingness to start.
What would your ideal life look and feel like? It’s different from your current life, isn’t it? Sometimes its hard to imagine how life can ever be different... I’ll bet what you dream about in your ideal life are basic things: sleeping better, setting healthy boundaries, getting away from toxic people. Not feeling anxious or depressed. You dream about feeling strong, confident, and at peace. Most of all you long to feel safe and at home in your own skin. So what is keeping you from making your life into that ideal?
What would your ideal life look and feel like? It’s different from your current life, isn’t it? Sometimes its hard to imagine how life can ever be different... I’ll bet what you dream about in your ideal life are basic things: sleeping better, setting healthy boundaries, getting away from toxic people. Not feeling anxious or depressed. You dream about feeling strong, confident, and at peace. Most of all you long to feel safe and at home in your own skin. So what is keeping you from making your life into that ideal?
I am a temporary licensed Mental Health Counselor with experience supporting individuals across a range of emotional and behavioral challenges. I provide in person therapy for children, adolescents and adults in the Spencer and Storm Lake area. Offering telehealth counseling across Iowa with a focus on mindfulness, emotional regulation, and personal growth.
I am a temporary licensed Mental Health Counselor with experience supporting individuals across a range of emotional and behavioral challenges. I provide in person therapy for children, adolescents and adults in the Spencer and Storm Lake area. Offering telehealth counseling across Iowa with a focus on mindfulness, emotional regulation, and personal growth.
If you’ve ever thought about starting therapy, now is a great time and I am ready to work with you wherever you are on your journey. My therapy sessions are provided in a warm and welcoming environment, where you will be accepted no matter what. I serve clients of all ages and I am able to meet you in person or through virtual therapy.
If you’ve ever thought about starting therapy, now is a great time and I am ready to work with you wherever you are on your journey. My therapy sessions are provided in a warm and welcoming environment, where you will be accepted no matter what. I serve clients of all ages and I am able to meet you in person or through virtual therapy.
Childhood is filled with fun and challenge. I have been helping kids and their families find happier, more functional lives for many years. Treatment at Child Glow Therapy is person centered, trauma informed as well as gently and effectively experienced.
Childhood is filled with fun and challenge. I have been helping kids and their families find happier, more functional lives for many years. Treatment at Child Glow Therapy is person centered, trauma informed as well as gently and effectively experienced.
As a clinician, I believe that my clients know themselves best and I am here to support them in their journey of self-exploration. My passion is to assist individuals in creating positive change in their life. I primarily assist clients in creating goals from a Cognitive Behavior Therapy perspective while pulling from Person-Centered and Solution-Focused techniques. Creating awareness in the mind-body connection is incredibly important to me as a clinician. I encourage this by creating the space for my clients to gain emotional and physical awareness in their minds and bodies.
As a clinician, I believe that my clients know themselves best and I am here to support them in their journey of self-exploration. My passion is to assist individuals in creating positive change in their life. I primarily assist clients in creating goals from a Cognitive Behavior Therapy perspective while pulling from Person-Centered and Solution-Focused techniques. Creating awareness in the mind-body connection is incredibly important to me as a clinician. I encourage this by creating the space for my clients to gain emotional and physical awareness in their minds and bodies.
Online Therapists
I am experienced with LGBTQ populations.
How would it feel to finally have an explanation that fits? To understand why therapy or medication haven’t fully helped? I specialize in adult Autism and ADHD evaluations for people who have spent years feeling misread or incorrectly diagnosed. A thorough diagnosis can replace self-doubt with clarity. Stop trying to push yourself into neurotypical expectations. Recognize your energy limits, masking patterns, and burnout cycles. You receive a clear, easy-to-follow report outlining your characteristics and therapy focus areas. We review resources together so you can move into treatment prepared. Results may support work accomodations
I am experienced with LGBTQ populations.
How would it feel to finally have an explanation that fits? To understand why therapy or medication haven’t fully helped? I specialize in adult Autism and ADHD evaluations for people who have spent years feeling misread or incorrectly diagnosed. A thorough diagnosis can replace self-doubt with clarity. Stop trying to push yourself into neurotypical expectations. Recognize your energy limits, masking patterns, and burnout cycles. You receive a clear, easy-to-follow report outlining your characteristics and therapy focus areas. We review resources together so you can move into treatment prepared. Results may support work accomodations
Cassandra Dickerson
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, MS, LMHC
Sioux City, IA 51104
Waitlist for new clients
I address focus areas such as: Trauma - LGBTQ Affirming Therapy - Anxiety, Overwhelm, Burnout - Life Transitions & Identity.
Life can feel overwhelming when you’ve lost touch with your own needs, intuition, or sense of direction. Whether you're processing trauma, navigating transitions, or asking deeper questions about who you are and what you want, therapy can offer a grounded place to slow down and come home to yourself. I offer holistic, relational therapy that supports you in untangling old patterns, building emotional resilience, and making space for more ease, trust, and self-understanding.
I address focus areas such as: Trauma - LGBTQ Affirming Therapy - Anxiety, Overwhelm, Burnout - Life Transitions & Identity.
Life can feel overwhelming when you’ve lost touch with your own needs, intuition, or sense of direction. Whether you're processing trauma, navigating transitions, or asking deeper questions about who you are and what you want, therapy can offer a grounded place to slow down and come home to yourself. I offer holistic, relational therapy that supports you in untangling old patterns, building emotional resilience, and making space for more ease, trust, and self-understanding.
I offer a structured two-session therapy intensive for neurodivergent adults in Iowa who feel high-functioning on the outside but overwhelmed on the inside. You may suspect ADHD or autism, be self-identified, or already have a diagnosis and still feel stuck or burned out. This is a structured two-session model with a clear purpose and outcome.
In your three hours with me, we will examine how your brain functions under stress, where energy gets drained, what patterns keep repeating, and which tools are most likely to help. You receive a written roadmap summarizing how you function, what to prioritize, and what to stop forcing.
I offer a structured two-session therapy intensive for neurodivergent adults in Iowa who feel high-functioning on the outside but overwhelmed on the inside. You may suspect ADHD or autism, be self-identified, or already have a diagnosis and still feel stuck or burned out. This is a structured two-session model with a clear purpose and outcome.
In your three hours with me, we will examine how your brain functions under stress, where energy gets drained, what patterns keep repeating, and which tools are most likely to help. You receive a written roadmap summarizing how you function, what to prioritize, and what to stop forcing.
I am a licensed psychologist accepting new clients for psychotherapy and comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological assessments for adults and older adults (65+). I serve clients in West Des Moines and Ames, with a treatment focus on anxiety, depression, OCD, identity concerns, and men's issues.
In my psychological assessment work, I aim to provide clear, accurate evaluations to help individuals understand their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. I also conduct assessments to address questions related to medication management, elective surgery, driving, activities of daily living, and level-of-care needs.
I am a licensed psychologist accepting new clients for psychotherapy and comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological assessments for adults and older adults (65+). I serve clients in West Des Moines and Ames, with a treatment focus on anxiety, depression, OCD, identity concerns, and men's issues.
In my psychological assessment work, I aim to provide clear, accurate evaluations to help individuals understand their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. I also conduct assessments to address questions related to medication management, elective surgery, driving, activities of daily living, and level-of-care needs.
Do you feel like you have a hundred “tabs” open in your brain but are struggling to focus on a single one? You might feel overwhelmed by daily tasks, forgetful or scattered, and paralyzed when it’s time to act. Perhaps you struggle with making decisions and this turns into a spiral of overthinking. Social situations may feel draining and overstimulating. You may find yourself exhausted by the mental effort it takes just to “keep up,” and frustrated by how hard it is to explain what you're going through to others.
Do you feel like you have a hundred “tabs” open in your brain but are struggling to focus on a single one? You might feel overwhelmed by daily tasks, forgetful or scattered, and paralyzed when it’s time to act. Perhaps you struggle with making decisions and this turns into a spiral of overthinking. Social situations may feel draining and overstimulating. You may find yourself exhausted by the mental effort it takes just to “keep up,” and frustrated by how hard it is to explain what you're going through to others.
I enjoy serving LGBTQ+ (especially transgender) clients and their loved ones.
I'm trained in TF-CBT, TBRI, Motivational Interviewing, and several DEI topics. I am especially interested in mindfulness, compassion, self-compassion, and self-care. I have taken Compassion Cultivation Training, a mindfulness and compassion educator course, five Jungian courses and am currently in a polyvagal course for anxiety, depression & trauma.
I enjoy serving LGBTQ+ (especially transgender) clients and their loved ones.
I'm trained in TF-CBT, TBRI, Motivational Interviewing, and several DEI topics. I am especially interested in mindfulness, compassion, self-compassion, and self-care. I have taken Compassion Cultivation Training, a mindfulness and compassion educator course, five Jungian courses and am currently in a polyvagal course for anxiety, depression & trauma.
We all just want to live our best lives, have meaningful relationships, and take care of the people and things important to us. In my 31 years of practice, I’ve worked with individuals of all ages and from all walks of life. We all find ourselves struggling or in conflict from time to time. Managing these is difficult and can lead to lack of self worth, feeling unseen or unheard, mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, sleep disturbances, eating disorders, and relationship losses. I am here to support you as you explore doing the work necessary to become True to You!
We all just want to live our best lives, have meaningful relationships, and take care of the people and things important to us. In my 31 years of practice, I’ve worked with individuals of all ages and from all walks of life. We all find ourselves struggling or in conflict from time to time. Managing these is difficult and can lead to lack of self worth, feeling unseen or unheard, mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, sleep disturbances, eating disorders, and relationship losses. I am here to support you as you explore doing the work necessary to become True to You!
I see therapy as a place to receive support, gain insight, and learn how to make long lasting and meaningful change in your life, in your self, and in your relationships.
I see therapy as a place to receive support, gain insight, and learn how to make long lasting and meaningful change in your life, in your self, and in your relationships.
I help clients' health through a blend of evidence-based counseling and creative expression. I specialize in supporting individuals navigating trauma, emotional regulation, and life transitions, offering a compassionate, grounded space where insight and creativity come together.
I help clients' health through a blend of evidence-based counseling and creative expression. I specialize in supporting individuals navigating trauma, emotional regulation, and life transitions, offering a compassionate, grounded space where insight and creativity come together.
Have past experiences continued to impact how you feel, think, or show up in your relationships today? Healing is possible. For more than 13 years, I have helped children, teens, and adults navigate trauma, PTSD, addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship challenges. Together, we'll create a space where you can feel understood, process difficult experiences, and develop tools to move forward with confidence.
As a mother of four and a therapist trained in EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), CBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy, I bring both professional expertise and genuine compassion to my work.
Have past experiences continued to impact how you feel, think, or show up in your relationships today? Healing is possible. For more than 13 years, I have helped children, teens, and adults navigate trauma, PTSD, addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship challenges. Together, we'll create a space where you can feel understood, process difficult experiences, and develop tools to move forward with confidence.
As a mother of four and a therapist trained in EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), CBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy, I bring both professional expertise and genuine compassion to my work.
I am passionate about helping individuals who are dealing with symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, life-changes, and trauma. I believe that I create a space where you can feel heard, seen, comfortable, and supported. I want to help guide you in healing and becoming the best version of yourself.
I am passionate about helping individuals who are dealing with symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, life-changes, and trauma. I believe that I create a space where you can feel heard, seen, comfortable, and supported. I want to help guide you in healing and becoming the best version of yourself.
The mission of Mental Health Associates is to provide the highest quality mental health services, with a commitment to each individual at any stage of their life, and to provide research-based therapeutic services by highly trained and independently licensed professionals.
The mission of Mental Health Associates is to provide the highest quality mental health services, with a commitment to each individual at any stage of their life, and to provide research-based therapeutic services by highly trained and independently licensed professionals.
Stuck in a loop of stress and anxiety? I help adults navigarte tough transitions using fast, focused support. This includes people who are overwhelmed by challenges such as life transitions, anxiety, stress, depression and relationship issues. I use a client centered, focused approach.
Together we face transition issues, stress, relationship struggles, low self-esteem or low motivation. This offers a safe space to reflect and grow. Together we move toward clarity and lasing change. Let's work together!
Stuck in a loop of stress and anxiety? I help adults navigarte tough transitions using fast, focused support. This includes people who are overwhelmed by challenges such as life transitions, anxiety, stress, depression and relationship issues. I use a client centered, focused approach.
Together we face transition issues, stress, relationship struggles, low self-esteem or low motivation. This offers a safe space to reflect and grow. Together we move toward clarity and lasing change. Let's work together!
I have been providing therapy for children (age 12 and up), adolescents and adults since 1995 in a variety of therapeutic settings. I specialize in the area of trauma and other forms of abuse causing emotional distress/negative impact on the person and their families.
I have been providing therapy for children (age 12 and up), adolescents and adults since 1995 in a variety of therapeutic settings. I specialize in the area of trauma and other forms of abuse causing emotional distress/negative impact on the person and their families.
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LGBTQ+ Therapists
Do LGBTQ-affirmative therapists receive special training?
Yes. Many therapists who practice LGBTQ-affirmative therapy have completed specialized training, either during their degree program or as continuing education, to learn the core principles of affirmative therapy and how to best support their LGBTQ clients; some have received certifications in LGBTQ-affirmative therapy. Prospective clients should inquire as to a clinician’s background and training to ensure a good fit.
Why might I want to see an LGBTQ-affirming or LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
Queer and gender-non-conforming individuals frequently experience bias and marginalization in day-to-day life. Working with a therapist who understands these unique challenges, as well as accepts and affirms their identity, can help LGBTQ clients feel safe and supported during therapy—allowing them to better navigate their relationships, mental health, and anything else that they wish to explore during therapy. It is important to note that many therapists can be effective in their work with LGBTQ+ individuals, even in the absence of specific training or background knowledge. The most important component in therapy is the alliance between therapist and client, and this alliance can exist between individuals with very different backgrounds.
How can I find an LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
You may wish to inquire about a therapist’s expertise with your specific challenges or concerns—depression, for example, or relationship strife—as well as their past experiences treating LGBTQ+ clients. Prospective clients may also ask whether a therapist has obtained additional training and/or certification in LGBTQ-affirmative techniques.
How can I inquire about a therapist’s experience with LGBTQ issues?
Prospective clients should feel empowered to directly ask therapists whether they have received training or been certified in LGBTQ-affirming therapy; competent therapists will be happy to explain their educational background and preferred approach(es) to help a client find the best match for them. Clients may also wish to ask how a therapist has treated clients with their particular challenges in the past and what they expect treatment to look like.
Are all the therapists listed in the LGBTQ directory themselves members of the LGBTQ community?
While therapists may choose to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity in their profiles, the LGBTQ directory features not only those who have shared this information but also those who assert specialized training or experience in providing support to queer individuals, couples or families.