Female Therapists in Iowa City, IA

**Accepting new clients in Fall 2021** I enjoy working with adult students and professionals who are experiencing psychological conditions including PTSD, depression, sleep concerns, obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders, and with those who are coping with loss and grief, role, identity, and career concerns, and relational conflicts. As motherhood can be challenging, I have specialty training in providing care for women throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery and facilitate a psychotherapy group for moms to further increase support during this important time.

As a psychologist, Barbara works collaboratively with individuals to help them explore what has led to current suffering and how to approach their suffering in ways that can lead to a more fulfilling life. She considers herself a generalist in that she works with many different presenting issues from anxiety, depression and grief to issues of life transition such as adjustment to collegiate life and retirement. Within that quest, Barbara's nursing background has helped her to be mindful of biological and health issues as they may relate to emotional and spiritual wellness.

I have worked in a variety of mental health settings over a period of 20+ years including residential treatment for children and adults, supported living services for adults with mental illness, chemical dependency treatment, emergency/crisis counseling, biblical counseling in church settings, hospital programs for adults with chronic mental illness and vocational counseling. My areas of specialty include depression and anxiety in women . I offer individual counseling for women , children and teens. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Iowa.

Experience matters. I have over 25 years of experience and a record of success in working with adults. I specialize in working with women who are struggling with anxiety, depression, mood difficulties, challenging circumstances or loss due to a difficult history. I also work in conjunction with 12 step groups. My focus is on your thought processes, feelings, actions, stress responses and coping as they relate to current circumstances and past history. I work to help you decrease your anxiety or sadness by processing emotional events, increasing your observational skills and sense of clarity as they pertain to taking healthy action.

Are you feeling stuck and not sure what to do? Do you have a desire to look inward and explore possibilities for further future growth? Life can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to find a balance on your own. Deciding to seek additional support is the first step on a new path of growth, balance, and self-discovery. I acknowledge that everyone is an individual, and I use approaches that are the best fit for you. It is my highest priority to provide a safe, nonjudgmental, and comfortable space so that you feel confident taking an active role in this journey.

Limited availability on Mondays and Tuesdays starting May 1, 2022. I am a licensed counselor specializing in anxiety-related issues. I can also help you find ways to better cope with depression, self-worth, eco-anxiety/climate grief, life transitions, relationships, and other concerns. You can anticipate an accepting, open, and non-judgmental relationship that holds the heaviness of life's challenges and encourages change.

Susan G Schmitz, MSW, LISW and Sarah K Anderson, MSW, LISW work with adults, adolescents and some older elementary school-aged children along with their families. Common presenting issues include anxiety, depression, trauma, difficulty with life transitions such as divorce, grief and loss, and relationship issues. We employ a strengths-based approach within a non-judgmental, eclectic framework. We will work together to tailor treatment plans to your needs. Each of us offers a unique, yet similar approach, having been trained a generation apart, but within the same theories and modalities.

I provide psychotherapy and psychoanalysis for people suffering from depression, stress and anxiety, trauma, identity and relationship issues, GLBTQ concerns, immigration, racial, cross-cultural and acculturation concerns, grief and loss, parenting, marital and premarital concerns, women ’s issues, self-esteem concerns, personality disorders, mood regulation and self-injurious behaviors, end of life issues, and career and life discontentment problems.

I will provide you a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental, confidential environment in which to explore your issues, determine an appropriate treatment plan based upon your goals, help you reach solutions to your problems and refer you to collateral resources when and if necessary. I can be directive but prefer to support you in your right to self-determination. I feel it is important to look at you in your environment and how this impacts mental and emotional issues. Family systems therapy, solution focused therapy, structural therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, feminist therapy all inform my work with you.

Welcome! Working through depression, anxiety, relationship issues, life transitions, and other mental health concerns can be difficult and intimidating to do alone. Therapy can be a helpful tool if you are feeling stuck and looking for a change. I work to provide non-judgmental insight, while recognizing that each client is their expert of their own experiences.

Are you struggling with low self esteem and doubt? Do you feel anxious, trapped and "get in your head" a lot? Do you often feel sad? These feelings can seem overwhelming. The good news is you deserve to feel better and I can help you do this. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Iowa and Kansas. I'm also a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. My practice supports those who want to create a richer more meaningful life by reducing stress, anxiety and fear and create a greater sense of self confidence and purpose. You can manifest the things you want in life! Offer telehealth video sessions.

I am a clinical social worker in Iowa with over 10 years of experience in the field and 3 in counseling. I have worked with clients on many issues, including anxiety and depression, addiction, family conflict, and grief. My therapeutic style is casual and based on a mutual exchange of ideas, knowledge, and understanding. I believe all people have the capacity for growth and learning. My approach combines multiple therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioral, dialectical, trauma-informed, and mindfulness based treatment which I will adapt to fit your specific needs and concerns.

The therapeutic relationship can be a very important one and, like any other healthy relationship, it is based on mutual respect, trust and commitment. I approach our work together with a nonjudgmental stance. I will meet you wherever you are in your life's journey and honor your unique strengths. I support clients in creating their most fulfilling lives, in line with their values and goals. I incorporate mindfulness into a collaborative and client-centered process and employ an honest, direct communication.

As a mother, grandmother, teacher and former family and divorce mediator, I am sensitive to finding the right words to soothe, comfort and connect with others so that each person feels heard, understood and valued. In therapy I will help you recognize, accept, investigate and nurture your feelings. From this connected place your interactions with others will reflect your heart instead of your threatened brain. My approach is based on the science of neurobiology, the wisdom of Buddhist philosophy, a dose of humor, and the warmth we generate together.

I enjoy working with people who are reluctant about or new to the therapeutic process. My clients would tell you that I am very laid-back, non-judgmental, and authentic. I welcome humor and enjoy working with people to shift their perspectives when things get rough. I am passionate about self-discovery, empowerment, and personal growth. I view anxiety, depression, and addiction as maladaptive coping skills that can offer insight and serve as a catalyst for positive change.

WEEKEND APPOINTMENTS in Iowa City and in Fairfield, IA on the weekdays. If you are someone who could use help with a life transition, a difficult situation, or other challenges in your life, I would love to work with you. I have over twenty-five years of professional experience providing therapy. My client's range from professionals to college students to stay-at-home parents anywhere from late teens through retirement. My approach to emotional healing is caring and supportive. I offer guidance to create personal empowerment.I use evidence based techniques to bring whatever amount of transformation you want to your life.

My goal as your therapist is to help you address the issues that have kept you feeling "stuck" in life. I use an individualized approach when working with each client, and together we will facilitate the changes you desire. My role as therapist is to create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment, one that inspires growth and change. I have completed trainings in EMDR (Trauma Work), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Therapies. Call today... and discover your greatest self.

My goal is to help you obtain your goals and to address the issues that are getting in your way. I create a safe and supportive environment that encourages growth and change. We may utilize traditional verbal therapy or tap into the healing power of Art Therapy. Art Therapy requires no special skills as the focus is on the process of art making and the verbal communication included in that process, not the art product itself. My 28 years of experience includes a wide variety of issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, victims issues, marital and family conflict.

I enjoy helping individuals, couples, and families build resilience and thrive through the challenges and changes and losses that life inevitably brings. I offer an empathetic listening ear and a hopeful solutions-focused approach, developing my client's strengths and coping skills to help them meet their therapy goals. I believe that human connection through healthy relationships makes all the difference when we are struggling, and I love working with people to strengthen relationships with those closest to them.

*Not currently enrolling new clients* Trauma happens when stressful experiences deplete our physical, mental, or emotional resources. Unresolved traumas can persist as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and a variety of other distressing symptoms that wreak havoc on our daily lives. I do not believe that we "get over" our traumas, but rather that we find a way through them. As your therapist, I will walk beside you in your journey through trauma as you regain control over your personal story.