Teletherapy for Des Moines, IA

Are you looking for ways to improve your quality of life? I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor that is dedicated to helping others create positive outcomes for their lives. Through 24 years of experience in private practice, I have demonstrated my dedication to the empowerment of men, women, adolescents, couples, and families. My goal is to provide a safe and comfortable environment that promotes positive outcomes for the clients that I serve. Virtual therapy appointments available for Iowa clients. Do you have Aetna, Cigna, or Optum (Optum EAP) insurance? Please click my website link to request a consultation.

I use 35+ years of DIRECT clinical experience to help in addressing issues that have become obstacles in your life and help you meet your goals in the context of an honest, caring, and direct professional relationship. Individuals, couples/relationships, addictions/substance abuse, depression, anxiety, grief, aging, sexuality, and sexual 'orientation' issues, as well as family matters are among the range of aspects of people's lives with which I effectively work. Counseling may be brief/problem-oriented, or extended/depth psychotherapy depending on your needs. I enjoy individuals, couples, and seniors. Psychotherapy is my calling!

To those around you, you may look like you have it all together. But on the inside, you are screaming. You're hiding the obsessive thoughts and "crazy" compulsions you engage in so you can maybe lower your level of anxiety. You can't sleep due to your anxiety. You've tried to make changes, but it never gets better. These are secrets that you think no one will understand.

When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed to the point it is impacting your day-to-day life, it helps to talk with someone who is both kind and practical — offering hope and nonjudgmental support, but also collaborating with you on finding real solutions. We all need a guide sometimes when life is hard. I am the type of therapist who will provide validation when you need it but also encourage you to take charge of the things within your control. I work with adults who are experiencing anxiety, stress, trouble communicating with a partner or family, and job burnout. In particular, I enjoy working with educators at all levels.

My counseling experience includes providing interventions to positively address stress, life adjustments, marital issues, and psychological issues like addictions, depression, and anxiety. As a traumatic illness counselor, I help people overcome the obstacles associated with their illness. In addition to HIV/AIDS, Huntington's Disease, and Hepatitis, I have extensive experience working with people, couples, and families impacted by illness. A license from the State of Iowa authorizes me to practice as an independent clinical social worker.

No matter where you are on your journey to a brighter future, I’m ready to walk alongside you. I have been trained in providing trauma-focused therapy, and I specialize in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). However, I pull from many other practices as well, so we can work together to find what works best for you.

Full until Oct 24'. I work with adolescents, adults and couples. As a former high school educator, I'm passionate about helping adolescents who are experiencing anxiety, stress, and self-esteem issues. I have special interests in working with student athletes, LGBTQ clients, and those in faith transitions. I am also passionate about helping couples reconnect, stop ineffective communication patterns, heal emotional wounds and navigate mismatched values and desires. I use my background as a yoga teacher to incorporate mindfulness and meditation techniques (tantra, metta, spiritual, moving) when these approaches serve the client.

I support people seeking more meaningful and connected relationships with themselves and others. Experienced in areas of anxiety, depression, developmental/relational trauma, life transitions, academic/career related concerns and interpersonal relationships, I help my clients deepen their understanding of themselves, navigate difficult life experiences and develop helpful strategies in order to lead more fulfilling lives. I assist my clients in learning about how the past informs the present in order to establish a new future for themselves. I welcome you and affirm all your identities.

Working with mamas on their unique journeys to and through motherhood is what I'm here for. While we use the term mama, we are an LGBQTIA+ affirming clinic and welcome ALL who are on a parenting journey.

As your therapist, it is vital for me to see the world through your eyes and lived experiences. I offer integrative treatment modalities based on your personal preferences, often incorporating feminist and multicultural theoretical orientations. Safety is key when working with a new therapist, and it is my job to ensure every client feels supported in the therapy space. My specializations include perinatal mental health, trauma, parenting, recovery, sexuality, perimenopause, and gender. I am a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and I am an open and affirming therapist who believes in equality, equanimity, and body autonomy.

Life can be hard. From daily stressors to past trauma to life changes and more, I know that you are dealing with a lot! I am here to partner with you to help you get through the hard things in life and help you find joy.

Taking new clients. I offer telehealth and in person sessions. Feeling stuck in same unhealthy situations and relationships which produce anxiety, anger, depression and broken trust? We can explore communication patterns, attachment styles, and past traumas affecting relationships. I provide a nonjudgmental environment to work on your issues. I am experienced in areas of anxiety, depression, grief, chronic pain, spirituality, and family issues of parenting, caretaking, LGBTQA issues, adoption, infertility. First I listen to your life situation, then give homework, and then build on your strengths so you can reach your life goals.

Your life is amazing in so many areas, yet you can’t seem to get your anxiety to step aside and let you live your life to the fullest. You worry, your mind races with directionless thoughts, you’re distracted, and you’re too often irritable. Those awkward moments replay in your head and endless fears play and replay in your head. Then this presents challenges for you and your relationships. Maybe the anxiety is even coming from your relationships. Either way, let me help you come up for air. I know there is a lot on your plate, and these constant struggles with your thoughts, feelings, and moods are the last thing you need.

Are you an adult who is living with anxiety or depression? Are you seeking to find common ground in your relationships? There is hope, there are solutions, you can make it through this, and I'm here to help. I help clients: improve their communication skills, overcome their anger issues, overcome trauma, unresolved family conflict, improve the connection and intimacy between their partners, and overcome challenges related to substance abuse. Offering a wide range of support for adults, or families who have concerns about their emotional, behavioral, or adjustment problems.

When you make a decision to begin therapy for yourself or a loved one, you are making a decision to be brave. I believe that for a person to heal and move beyond their internal struggle, they must first have a sense of safety and connection. Together, we will develop a path of treatment that leads you too feeling more balanced.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMHC) that provides therapy suited to fit individual needs. My clinical experience includes; child, adolescent, adult, Trauma/PTSD life transition, depression/anxiety, and general life issues. I specialize in sexual issues and mental health, across the life span, with an emphasis on healing from sexual trauma. I provide a safe place to discuss concerns within the realm of sex, such as concerns over intimacy, concerns about sexual desire or arousal, sexual anxieties, sexual interests, or orientation.

I believe therapy is a way to develop a secure connection that can be rare in everyday life. Developing this connection allows one a space to express authentically what may have been hidden or not heard. Within the safety of this space, real change can begin to occur. So often we believe that it is by applying willpower to an issue that we can instigate change, and are left feeling defeated in the end. In therapy, we get the chance to take these moments of defeat and transform them. We can reorganize, reorient, gain hope, and live more satisfying lives.

Maybe your parenthood journey has been harder than you anticipated. Or you are struggling with feeling good enough. Perhaps you’re ending a relationship or starting a new career. You might be feeling disconnected from your partner or children, feeling touched out and overwhelmed. Life is full of change and transitions that can at times leave us feeling alone, anxious and exhausted. Therapy is a safe and accepting space where we can work together for you to boldly live as your authentic self. Imagine being able to focus on your healing and self and turn off the worry.

You’ve been feeling “off” for a while now. Your life isn’t necessarily falling apart but you’re not happy. You’ve thought about going to therapy many times but then you end up procrastinating. You tell yourself you should be able to figure this out on your own and that therapy is for people with problems worse than yours. But lately something has tipped the scales. Most of the time you handle your emotions pretty well but now it’s too much with everything you have going on. You’re stressed, anxious or depressed. Some days you’re not even sure how you feel.