Family Counseling Therapists in Cedar Rapids, IA

I have had many different occupational experiences that have allowed me to be comfortable with all ages. I have worked with adolescents and young adults on the middle school, high school, and college levels. I have also worked with women of all ages as well as families and couples. My goal is to counsel individuals to assist them in overcoming challenges, adjusting to life, and making changes. Some topics worked on in session include trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, divorce, bullying, decision-making, sexual assault, relationship problems, and planning for the future.

We all experience stressful events, but if these have started to affect daily life functioning, it is time to get help! I am trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and have successfully used these approaches to help teens, adults and families suffering from depression, anxiety, abuse, conflict and PTSD.

*Accepting new clients* It can be hard to make it these days! With responsibilities continuing to pile up, work, kids, now a pandemic to worry about, it's understandable to feel overwhelmed. Reaching out for help can make a big difference in how you manage these and other life stresses though. Whether you need help working issues out with a partner, stresses with kids, stepkids, or grandkids, or just need someone to talk to about what's happening in your story, I'd be honored to hear it.

**Currently Accepting New Clients** I firmly believe that no one should have to walk their journey alone and that together we can find the results you are hoping to gain. I work with individuals, kids, teens, and families to find solutions to their problems by looking at the larger systems at play. I focus on utilizing the strengths within my clients to instill hope that change is around the corner.

As a therapist, I am committed to honoring your autonomy, perspective, and experience in order to collaborate with you to reach your therapy goals. I view each person through a non-pathologizing lens and am committed to using my skills and resources to facilitate healing experiences during our time together. I strive to foster authentic relationships, offer challenges to facilitate growth, and empower individuals, couples, and families to actively engage in the process of healing. Please visit www.waxwingpsych.com for more information regarding my services.

As a clinician trained in Generalist Practice as well as Adlerian Play Therapy, I enjoy working with many different ages. I have over 15 years experience working with children, teens, adults, and families facing a multitude of issues as a social work professional. Contact me to discuss how I might help you, your child, or your family .

My passion in life is to help you thrive. My approach to marriage, family , and relationships is unique because I am keenly aware of how your view of the world, yourself, and how you view others affects all aspects of your life and your relationships. I'm a compassionate straight shooter who will help you reshape your past and set a firm foundation for the future. I focus less on diagnosing you and more on helping you to connect deeply with others and discover solutions to move forward. My desire is for you not to have to come back.

I work with children, teens, adults, & families experiencing a wide variety of issues. I work with depression, anxiety, ADHD, ODD, trauma , behavioral issues, and other diagnoses. My history includes working with children and families who have experienced trauma along with extensive knowledge of working with foster and adoptive children.

I believe that everyone's capable of experiencing an emotionally healthy and fulfilling life regardless of their unique circumstance. With therapy to find insight into past pain and trauma, wounds old and new can be healed, and tools can be discovered to deal with present and future challenges. My clients are ready to be the agents of change in their lives through their personal growth instead of waiting for the world around them to change. I believe that through therapy with me, individuals have the innate wisdom and courage that can be discovered to find their best paths forward with compassion for self and others.

I am a creative out-of-the-box thinker who embraces her rural roots and mental health care's evolving and changing nature. My focus is on addressing the issues the client feels ready to work on with evidence-based treatment. I believe empathy, education, and honesty to be the key to the successful treatment of mental health disorders. I combine my skills as a therapist, experiences as a mother of three neurodivergent children, and wife of a construction worker to create connections with clients and achieve positive outcomes.

Now Accepting new clients! It is my passion to witness the growth of others towards a self-defined meaningful life. The world can feel chaotic; through life transitions, traumatic experiences, and relationship issues we can begin to feel disconnected and overwhelmed. Asking for help often feels uncomfortable and vulnerable. I believe this is a sign of strength, and I feel grateful that you are here considering my services as a means to heal. I strive to use my skills to empower individuals, couples, and families to share their truth, and facilitate growth. I fully accept who you are just as you are each time you walk in the door.

Sometimes putting yourself first is one of the most challenging things to do, asking for help taking care of your mental health feels overwhelming these days. Add in daily stressors of managing schoolwork, job stress, family drama, peer conflict and just struggling to function normally can be too much for children and adults. As adults we may worry about how we look and seem to others, or have some other underlying issue we aren't comfortable sharing with others or may struggle to build deeper meaningful relationships to build our support network. Counseling can offer an outlet to process your concerns outside of that network.

Person-centered. Trauma-informed. Solution-focused. These are the words I choose most frequently to describe my work in the therapy room. My greatest desire is to hold space for every individual that enters space with me, and support each of them as they learn to hold space for themselves. It is my goal to create a counter-cultural environment that allows us to work together to support you, your partner and your family to work to create a healthier framework for your relationships with each other and with yourself.

I believe everyone deserves to move away from feelings of distress towards a happier, more balanced life. My focus is supporting clients, ranging from those who have experienced trauma, couples facing relationship difficulties, to families with a rebellious teen, in dealing with negative feelings, improving coping and developing meaningful relationships. My style is supportive, non-judgmental and respectful, but also practical and goal-oriented. Together we will explore what you want from therapy and customize an approach that’s best for you and supports your wellbeing and happiness.

Everyone deserves a safe place to express their emotions, find the inner strength needed to make fulfilling change and be their best self. I believe that no two people experience life the same way and I will work with you to develop a treatment plan that works best for your needs and goals in a compassionate and judgment-free space. Change can be difficult. It is my hope that therapy can help you feel empowered to meet that difficulty with the strength and resources necessary for living a balanced and mentally well life.

In my extensive experience, I guide clients in developing their inner strength, awareness, and wisdom in a non-judgemental manner. Often, fear leads us to produce what we fear most, which results in an unhappy and vicious cycle. In working together, the aim is to uncover dysfunctional patterns that are contributing to, or even perpetuating, your challenges. As part of the treatment process, it is imperative to remove both internal and external barriers. We believe that this will allow clients to cope with their extreme anxiety, and foster an environment that allows them to engage and function as their authentic selves.

Now accepting new clients - Therapy can be overwhelming and it is important to me to create a place where you can feel safe to be vulnerable. I provide a calm and laid-back environment to offer an inviting atmosphere for you to discuss your feelings, thoughts, and experiences. This is especially important to me because I know that growth happens outside of our comfort zone. We aren’t always aware of what we can achieve, and I enjoy assisting others in opening their eyes to their full potential. I have a strong belief that being willing to explore the challenging pieces of ourselves will allow us to grow.

I believe one of the bravest things you can do is to understand your own story and break free from the traps that hold us back from change. You are brave because you are here. One quote that resonates with me is from Carl Whitaker, who once wrote, “Until you break with your patterns, the rut continues to deepen. Life goes on, but living dies”. Throughout my career, I have witnessed how being unheard and misunderstood creates a sense of feeling judgment and shame. I want to help by creating a space for healing and advancement by honoring that those experiences are a source of pain.

I take trust very seriously. I have always been the person others can confide in and know there is not a risk of judgment. I am proud of that and will understand the gravity of your vulnerability and fear of trust. I'm here to listen to your story, and feel it is important that my clients get an education on the therapeutic process, skill building, training, and accountability. As a former Army combat medic with a tour in Bosnia, I hope veterans with will feel they can get relief knowing that I am a battle buddy that can help them get unstuck. Like many veterans I bring a wealth of knowledge of other cultures life experiences.