Therapists in Story County, IA

NOW OFFERING MEDICATION MANAGEMENT IN ANKENY AND AMES. At Clear Brook Counseling Professionals, we work together to provide you the therapy - family, couples, or individual that will deliver the best results for your unique needs. We believe life has meaning, and every moment is worth living. That's the end goal. At Clear Brook you'll experience a team of counselors, proven treatment, and techniques that work. The process is about finding clarity in the situation, and seeing change. Clear Brook Counseling Professionals weave proven practices and life-exercises into your therapy to help foster results.

Stress comes in many forms in our daily lives. When we get bogged down with memories from our past, or worries about our future, we become unable to fully participate in the present. My goal is to empower you to live as your most authentic self by creating a collaborative therapeutic atmosphere where you are the expert on your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I utilize a cognitive-behavioral, strength-based, and solution-focused approach to help you explore and identify what's working, what you would like to change, and potential strategies to achieve your goals.

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.

I am a compassionate and collaborative mental health counselor who will help you focus on your experience to formulate and achieve your individual or family goals. I believe you are the expert in your life and should be in the driver’s seat of your therapy experience. I am dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment and committed to helping you build the skill and insight you need to heal. I am skilled in helping you identify your strengths and work through your challenges to achieve your goals.

I am a faith based Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I graduated in May of 2001 (Colorado Christian University) with a Masters of Arts in Counseling. I am a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. I have been in private practice since 2001. My passions are Individuals, Marriage and Family, Eating Disorders/Body Image, Adolescents, Grief, Hope, Anxiety, and Soul Care.

Sometimes it is hard to navigate life's challenges. These challenges are often related to the connections we have with ourselves, others, and how we make sense of life events. As a therapist/counselor, my goal is to develop a safe environment where we partner to improve those connections and create healing. I believe in using warmth, honesty, humor, and current research-based methods to achieve this goal.

Making the decision to reach out to a counselor for the first time is a challenging step to take. I provide a safe environment for my clients to explore their reasoning for seeking mental health counseling services by actively listening to their concerns and needs in order to assist them in the process of sorting through various life challenges. I enjoy listening to each individual's story and encourage them to use their strengths as a tool for overcoming these life challenges and building a safe environment for client's to meet their goals and to make a treatment plan tailored specifically to them.

I have private practice dedicated to working with people to help them identify, clarify and resolve their issues. Adolescents through adults are treated. I also provide services to veterans and do divorce mediation. Most insurances are accepted. Appointments are available in 2-3 business days.

I believe that childhood interactions play a huge part in the development of psychological pain, wounds, and hurts. I am sensitive to the process of therapy and work hard to make it a safe and trusting space for you and myself to work together. The here and now interactions in the room are important and I intentionally use them to foster the healing process. Your strengths and goals are important to the way I work because my aim is to free up the energy that has been suppressed by pain so that you can focus on the things that are important to you.

Counseling doesn’t have to be so uptight, am I right? I approach therapy in an informal, nonthreatening way. I’m happy to inspire a laugh—or to just lend an ear. I accept my clients as they are, but I also help them find the courage to transform into who they want to be. Life is too short to be anything but authentic. I spent 23 years as a newspaper feature writer before changing careers. I fully recognize that I’m no longer the author of someone else’s story. Rather, I want my clients to look at the narrative of their lives and decide, for themselves, the direction their own story takes. I only hope to facilitate the process.

If you are looking for support, then you have already taken the first steps to a better you. Whatever the reason you are considering therapy, it would be my pleasure to aid you through your journey. I utilize a client-centered and a strength-based approach to support clients with reaching their goals.

Each person is unique and as we walk through the journey of life there are bound to be occasional bumps in the road. With an emphasis on trauma-informed care I utilize EMDR, ACT, CBT, mindfulness and meditation to best fit your therapy goals. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, trauma related disorders, attachment, and sports performance issues. I work with teens, college students and adults. As a former school counselor, I enjoy assisting students struggling with college and career decisions.

I believe in a strengths based approach and challenge clients to seek new perspectives for success. I enjoy working with people and being a part of the process of self discovery and renewed confidence. I provide a trauma sensitive approach in working with children who struggle with behavioral and emotional concerns. I also work with adults to better manage daily stressors and relational issues as well as to foster self empowerment.

I believe that creating a safe environment for my client and developing a caring relationship is critical to successful therapy. I work adolescents and adults who have experienced abuse and trauma to expand internal resources, heal from past experiences, and explore new directions. I work with an emphasis on using Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I work with individuals on problems related to school, family communication, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, conflict with peers, self- harm, and abuse. I am certified in Prepare/Enrich for pre-marital or married couples.

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.

We all have a self that we present to the world, and then we have our authentic self. I am passionate about helping my clients find and become more of their truest, authentic selves. I want to get to know who you really are; your strengths, struggles, and everything in between. Your story is important and worthy of being shared. And by doing so, you can start to heal and find clarity in it.