Therapist Rodney Black Photo

Rodney Black, LISW, LIMHP

Addictions LGBTQ+ Trauma, Abuse Anger management Coping with life changes
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

I am currently licensed in Iowa and Nebraska with over 26 years of professional work experience. The bulk of my career has been in community-based settings as I felt this type of setting was where I could give back to those that have helped me and my family of origin. I had a mother that was bi-polar and had a significant borderline personality disorder. Her first major hospitalization occurred following my birth. I have grown up in the Midwest but have lived in California and South Carolina as well as serving in the US military with one deployment to Afghanistan in which I served as the highest-ranking enlisted member of the Human Intelligence component of a Brigade Combat Team. I have a grown gay son and feel that my own healing process in coming to terms with my feelings toward my mentally ill mother were greatly facilitated by friendships in the queer community and feel a great depth of gratitude and respect for this community. I have been divorced, struggled with my own addiction, co-dependency and mental health issues throughout my lifetime and have carried various mental health diagnoses at different times in my life as well. I don't look at myself as complete expert on life but to quote Brene' Brown: "I might just be a little further down the road in recovery is all".
I view therapy as more of an art form in that there are skills and techniques that can be learned and applied to the work of art that is being created, but it is the process involved that brings out the beauty of the final product. I understand the importance of being heard and feel that a person’s truth can emerge through a collective experience in the interaction and engagement with another human being. I hope to bring my experience in life and working with others to your life experience. I view it as a privilege to be able to be a part of the understanding of another person’s life and hope to be part of this journey with you.

Professional experience

31 yrs in practice
Addictions LGBTQ+ Trauma, Abuse Anger management Coping with life changes

Additional areas of focus: Self esteem, Career difficulties, Aging and geriatric issues, Codependency, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Drug and alcohol addiction, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Fatherhood issues, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Personality disorders, Self-harm, Self-love, Sexuality

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

License information

IA LISW 01073

NE LIMHP 3120

OR LCSW L14200

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Rodney Black. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

He's awesome

Written on Feb 10, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and coping with life changes

While my experience has been limited (only 2 sessions thus far), I must say that Rodney has been great. He has helped me navigate through some pretty difficult emotions and days. He understands what I'm going through and has helped me keep a level head. I'm very grateful.

Written on Feb 10, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, grief, self esteem, and coping with life changes

He’s a good guy with common sense.

Written on Feb 08, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and parenting issues

He is great! meets me on my level.

Written on Jan 28, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 1 year on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd

The therapist I work with brings a wealth of real-life experience to our sessions. He also recaps our previous sessions, which helps me solve my various problems effectively.

Written on Jan 23, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 1 year on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd

Very responsive and relates to my issues.

Written on Jan 06, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, career difficulties, and compassion fatigue