Grief Therapists in Iowa City, IA

I am a licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience working with a diverse background of clients. I have a warm and positive approach that focuses on you. I strive to create a safe space by building a trusting relationship where we can work as a team. I am passionate about providing holistic care that is personalized to each individual’s unique needs. I have experiencing working with neurodiversity, grief and loss, chronic illness, depression, anxiety, the LBGTQ community, and trauma. I use an approach that examines factors of injustice and oppression on feelings of self-worth and personal development.

Now accepting new clients (UI Gradcare, SHIP, UIChoice) - near campus in Northside of Iowa City & on bus routes > For so many of us, life can be overwhelming, disorienting, and difficult. In working with you, my hope is to have an opportunity to slow down, to be curious, and to uncover deeper meaning and connections within ourselves and in relating to others. Your particular knowledge, challenges, experiences, and expertise will be listened to carefully and sensitively responded to with transparency, kindness, and compassion. It is my commitment to greet you in each session with trust, a calm presence, and unconditional hospitality.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Iowa, and I work with adults (18 and up) in both individual and couples therapy. I have experience working with diverse clients on a wide-range of concerns, that include grief and loss, anxiety, depression, substance use, family-of-origin concerns, interpersonal functioning, trauma, identity-based concerns, and sex/intimacy concerns. I work best with individuals who are motivated and interested in change, and in engaging with deep exploration of their own behaviors and experiences.

My ideal client is commited to personal growth. I believe we are all fragile creatures, yet capable of resilience. We experience painful thought/feeling states and then we weave stories to explain them. Narrative Therapy has been a natural fit for me: the client defines the goals, we examine the details of self-limiting stories, including family and cultural "scripts." We work to co-create stories about identity that have more space for possibilities and emotional resilience.

I work well with clients whose concerns are related to anxiety, eating disorders, OCD, grief/loss, trauma, mood disorders, depression, perfectionism, and concerns related to identity. I enjoy helping people build skills to more effectively respond to their distress, and to engage in their lives with an increased sense of purpose and awareness of their values. I worked in a college counseling center for 10 years before co-founding a private practice, and work well with people who are making a life transition.

My direct phone is 319-364-5106. My areas of special interest are grief counseling and helping those coping with anxiety, depression, life transitions, spirituality , relationship issues, existential struggles, and recovery from domestic violence. I have years of experience doing individual, premarital, and couple therapy. I am especially sensitive to those who've had losses and are coping with sadness, sorrow, or grief. My clients tell me I have exceptional listening skills and the ability to make each person feel valued. I value each person's story and honor it as I help people find meaningful, healthy, and productive lives.

Currently accepting new clients in Iowa via Telehealth. I specialize in helping individuals and couples who seek to enhance, repair or save a relationship, prepare for marriage, discern the best path for a relationship in crisis, end a relationship (if decided), recover from a relationship that has ended, or grieve the passing of a partner or other loved one. If you and your partner would like to learn new relationship skills, please reach out for information about my next Gottman 7 Principles for Couples Workshop.

Are you overcome with grief and wondering how you will (ever) recover from the death of a loved one; the loss of a job; a divorce; or your own decline in health? Are you finding that time does not heal all wounds? I am sorry you are going through a difficult time and I commend you for reaching out for support along your journey. It is my hope that my extensive clinical experience, coupled with your resiliency and resolve, will enable us to uncover the tools necessary to reinvest in your life. I am accepting new clients for virtual meetings. I am licensed in Georgia, Illinois and Iowa.

“Before you assist others, put your oxygen mask on first." Prioritizing your wellness is essential. Perhaps you feel pulled in a million directions or you have suffered a loss. Perhaps you are stuck in an unhealthy relationship or you constantly compare yourself to others. Breaking unhealthy cycles of thought can be life-changing.

Feeling lost, alone, and misunderstood? Life and relationships aren't turning out quite like you thought? Maybe you never quite fit in or were able figure things out like others. You might be going through changes such as: shift in your work or career due to burnout or distress; transitioning from a religion; late diagnosis related to neurodivergence (autism, ADHD, etc.); exploring identity; realizing your coping strategies have become addictive or harmful; re-examining relationships, intimacy, roles, experiencing conflict or time of reckoning; feeling disconnected from self, others, spirituality; or experiencing grief or loss

Hi there! I am a LMSW with a Certificate in Aging and Longevity Studies. I offer individual psychotherapy to those 15+. In my practice, I work with clients who are adopted and may be experiencing challenges in life transitions, relationships, identity, and self-esteem. I work with clients experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one or change (work, life, relationship). I work with clients of color and how their identity affects them here in Iowa. My clients come wanting to share their lived experiences with someone who is safe, warm, and can offer a different perspective with tools to cope and understand the self better.

It can be very challenging and difficult to talk to someone about your mental health. Reaching out to a therapist is a brave first step towards healing. I aim to provide a warm, safe, and non-judgmental environment where I assist my client in constructing a treatment plan that works best for their current needs and lifestyle. In session, I utilize a combination of Person-Centered, Narrative, Cognitive-behavioral, and Solution Focused approaches to meet my client’s individualistic or holistic needs. I also specialize in the technique of brain-spotting and am currently working to earn certification.

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.

All of us have some hard and difficult times in life and we need some help. Although this can be humbling, it usually pays off in the end. I am a very flexible and laid back person and am here to help you with whatever it is you are struggling with. There will be no judgment and we will work on what only you want to work on. I believe there is no magic answer to everything and not everything works for everybody, so it is you and I trying to figure out what works best for you.

As a holistic psychotherapist, my practice focuses on the whole person- mind, body, and spirit. Together, we will navigate the labyrinth of your life’s journey, through the constant flow of ups and downs that often feels unpredictable & overwhelming. I will offer you a safe and grounded space to work on the challenges that may be encircling you. In addition to my LMSW, I also have extensive training in earth-based spirituality. Areas of focus: trauma, PTSD, stress, anxiety, grief, medically unexplained pain, & spirituality. I use an integrated therapeutic approach: Narrative, Somatic, EMDR, ACT, Solution-Focused, & Experiential.

I work best with those who are interested in and motivated to deeply explore and understand themselves in the service of lasting growth. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, grief, OCD, relationship concerns, family-of-origin difficulties, and feelings of isolation and disconnection. I also have a strong interest in working with individuals with marginalized identities who present with identity-related challenges, especially when living in a context that doesn't support- or actively works to oppress- those identities.

My clients describe me as laid back and non-judgmental, and I aim to provide an atmosphere where anyone can feel safe to explore feelings and experiences they may never have shared before. I’m also a strong believer in the importance of humor to a productive therapeutic relationship.

I am a licensed clinical therapist with more than 20 years experience working with clients with a broad range of concerns. I received my initial clinical training at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, where I trained in psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and experiential therapies. Psychotherapy as a highly effective way to relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression and the aftereffects of trauma and loss. It can help you increase your understanding of yourself; change behaviors that might be interfering with your goals; improve your relationships and help you experience more meaning and joy in your life.

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.