Parenting Therapists in Hiawatha, IA

Hello. Do you feel overwhelmed and underappreciated? Does your life feel out of control or unbearable? Having a person who listens without judgement is instrumental to the healing process. No one should go through life alone. A therapist can be an advocate, a cheerleader or even a coach for your life. I welcome you to come and share your burdens with me and we will work out a solution together.

Do you have increasing concerns about your child’s mood and behavior? Perhaps your child has experienced a change, loss, traumatic experience or is struggling with peer relationships. As a parent, when your child is hurting, you hurt with them. While it can be difficult to ask for help, you don’t have to face these struggles alone. Many children experience mental and behavioral health challenges that are treatable. Through therapy, your child can develop healthy coping tools, improve emotional regulation, and learn positive and appropriate ways to get their needs met.

Sometimes we are just at a loss. Life can be overwhelming and we all need validation that we have the strength to carry on. You might wish that you were more confident as a parent, in your relationships, career, or in yourself. Maybe you would like to regain your identity after having a child, be less worried about everything in life, or establish boundaries with others. Sometimes you just need someone to say “you’re not alone” and that “you can do this.” Our work is to embrace these challenges and fears, and to find the strength within to move forward.

As a therapist, I believe that a person is more than just the sum of their experiences. Each one of us is made up of our unique thoughts, emotions and ideas. I have devoted my career to finding ways of honoring who you are, as well as who you want to become. My clients range from children to adults, and my special interests are with teens, parents and families. I am clinically trained to help individuals and families experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, impulsivity, conflicts and grief. My style is direct, non-judgmental and supportive, as we work together to create a treatment plan that uniquely fits your needs.

Overwhelmed, it's hard to breathe, tears well in your eyes, and you are fatigued with worry. Maybe the flood of emotions started recently or years ago. Perhaps someone hurt you, you saw something terrible happen, or you always felt down, scared and alone. You want nothing more then to feel confident again to move forward; free from hurt. My focus is on helping others resolve what is most troubling for them.

I am a licensed independent social worker with over 15 years experience. I have provide therapy services to toddlers with their parents, children, adolescents, teens. I am a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) trained in Adlerian Play Therapy and have specialized training in the evidenced based treatment of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). My office provides a PCIT suite to offer PCIT services effectively. I am also trained in trauma informed Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).

New client availability for Summer 2024. Life has a way of being overwhelming, confusing, and challenging- no judgement, this is tricky stuff. If you have found that you’ve been ignoring, dismissing, or arguing more often than you'd like, please know that I see you and you are simply, wonderfully, thoroughly human. Therapy can be a space where you create movement towards your goals, develop new strategies for coping, and explore the joy available to you. I'm looking forward to sharing this space with you.

I work primarily with children and teens; I use both play therapy and talk therapy techniques with clients as appropriate as we work together in therapy. I have a passion for experiential therapy. I believe the most important element of therapy is the therapist's unconditional positive regard for the client. A client's capacity for growth increases according to how much they believe others believe in them. As a therapist, I am sometimes the first person a child/teen will trust besides their parent(s) who says, "You are good. You are capable of growth and change. I believe in you."

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.

Throughout my past professional experiences working with victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and other types of violent traumas, I walked alongside clients as they lived through some of the most difficult chapters in their stories. Being trusted with someone's story is an honor and a privilege, and should never be taken lightly. When a client walks into my office, my goal is to ensure that they feel safe, supported, valued, and empowered. There are numerous systems that people interact with that can have major impacts on their lives.

It's not always easy taking the first step to seek out counseling, but chances are, if you are here, you are recognize that something isn't working for you and you are ready to make some changes in your life. Working collaboratively, counseling can address these issues to help you achieve your personal wellness goals.

I am accepting New Clients! I treat Individuals, Couples, and Adolescents. I strive to meet each client where they are authentically with empathy, curiosity, and compassion to foster connected relationships. I work to empower clients to feel comfortable with who they are and who they want to be. Everyone deserves a place to feel safe, understood, and to belong. Many of us can feel overwhelmed, rejected, and alone but don't know where to turn. Whether you are depressed, anxious, have experienced significant trauma, or just need someone to understand you and your lived experience. Everyone has the right to be at peace.

Usually when someone asks me why they should go to therapy, I ask them if they think they could benefit from having a non-judgmental third party whose only motive in therapy is to help them get what they want in life. Having someone who can help identify the obstacles and then walk beside you to find healing and the solutions to the presenting struggles can be life changing. I want to be that person for you. The safe soul Sherpa. To be for you at times a guide, to be someone you can feel safe with, to feel safe enough to feel and heal, to be someone to challenge you to grow and find the light that is always shining within you.

Your health and well-being are important, and when you make the decision to care for your mental health, MWR is here to partner with you. MWR Counseling provides outpatient mental health counseling to individuals, couples, and families. Our providers specialize in multiple areas, including perinatal mental health, EMDR and somatic trauma treatment, OCD, and chronic pain. When you contact MWR, you will be connected with a therapist who is trained and experienced in providing treatment for your specific needs.

There comes a time in people’s lives when they aren’t comfortable where they are and want a change. I believe people deserve to live happier lives with renewed hope whether they are experiencing uncomfortable adjustments or have been enduring painful moments in life. It is my hope to meet clients where they are and provide a supportive and accepting environment, while collaboratively working towards the client’s goals. By encouraging individuals, couples, and families to be experts in their own lives, we can create lasting positive change to increase quality of life.

Are you queer? Do you have a queer family member, partner, or kid? I provide queer and gender-affirming, neurodiverse-validating mental healthcare; WPATH-informed psychosocial assessments & letters of support; and mental health support for individuals, couples and partners, parents, and families like yours who may be struggling with trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, or adjustments and often must navigate confusing & less than accepting social and care scenarios. Have you experienced trauma? Unfortunately, LGBTQIA2S+ people are more likely to experience trauma. I help clients like you manage and process trauma and move forward.

Beginning psychotherapy is a very significant step in a person's life. I understand, and very much appreciate the trust that needs to be built to share thoughts, experiences, and pain that have brought you to this point. I also understand how difficult it is to share these kinds of things with someone you don't know. I realize that trust and this process takes time, and I believe and respect that the patient knows when they are ready to reveal and talk about their experiences and their emotions. I commit to providing you with a safe environment where you will feel comfortable to share and to achieve your treatment goals.

From time to time everyone faces obstacles, changes, and challenges. When these experiences arise, no one should have to face them alone. Maybe you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, alone, or at the end of your rope. Maybe you want to understand more about yourself, want support and guidance for your child, or need a place to process impactful life experiences. Whatever it is that brings you to therapy, I am committed to helping you meet your unique goals.

As a therapist, it is my goal to provide you a safe and comfortable space to process through difficult experiences and emotions. I want to collaborate with you to address any areas of growth that you are hoping to address. YOU, as the client, are the driving force behind our therapy work together. I work with teens aged 14-17, as well as adults 18 and older, focusing on addressing concerns related to self-esteem, anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. Throughout my career, I have gained extensive experience working with individuals across various age groups in schools, homes, and the community.