Working with a therapist can help you develop healthy coping skills and overcome many mental health challenges. If you’re looking for a therapist in Iowa, barriers to treatment can make it difficult to find in-person treatment.
With BetterHelp, you can work with a licensed marriage and family therapist, social worker, or other mental health professional from the comfort of your home at a time that suits your schedule. Your therapist will use a person-centered therapy approach to ensure you get support tailored to your unique needs and preferences, whether you’re having mental health issues related to past trauma like sexual abuse or are experiencing low self-esteem, relationship challenges, or work-related stress.
Note that while many of the licensed mental health professionals on the platform may have served children in their prior training and careers, BetterHelp does not currently provide services like play therapy to children or adolescents.
If you’re looking for an online therapist, IA has many qualified professionals licensed to provide therapy state-wide. Connect with one of the counselors below to learn more about how therapy can help you along your life journey.
Leah Pavela-Mullins
I am a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience in helping people find solutions to their problems. Over the years, I have been told by clients that they really feel that I am listening to them and trying to understand what is going on in their lives and how they feel. Clients have also told me that they do not feel any sense of judgment, but rather that I accept them for who they are and where they are in their life’s journey. My style is empathetic and solution focused. I will spend time asking you questions in order to get to know you and try to find out what is at the heart of your issue. Together, we will talk about possible avenues you may want to take, or changes you may want to consider. I may give you some “homework” assignments…things to write out or think about, worksheets to complete, or even techniques/exercises to practice in your own time so that some of what we discuss in our sessions is reinforced. Most of all, I will be an objective listener, helping you to gain insight into what is going on with you, so that you are able to make the choices and changes you want to, in your own time. I look forward to working with you!
Terry Chase
I am mental health therapist licensed in Iowa and Nebraska with over 25 years of experience in community based mental health, substance abuse and private practice. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, OCD and ADHD. I also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. I believe in treating anyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and believe that people should be heard and not judged. . My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic and rational-emotive counseling as well as person centered . I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek for a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!
Katherine (Katie) Strub
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Iowa with over 10 years of experience working with individuals and families. I have worked with individuals with a wide variety of concerns including trauma (abuse, neglect, domestic violence, first responders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder criteria, emotional abuse, grief and loss, abandonment, etc.), depression, anxiety, relationship issues, family of origin issues, emptiness, invisibility, LGBTQ+, and many many more. I am an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist and I utilize other methods in including solution-focused, strength-based, relaxation/stress management, and many others. No two clients are the same, so I do not believe in a "one size fits all" approach. I believe each person has potential for growth and healing, but each of us has encountered barriers to achieving our greatest potential through internal or external experiences. It can be very difficult to recognize those barriers and address them, and it can be very helpful to have a therapist partner accompany you on the healing journey. I like to illustrate therapy using the metaphor of bowling: my client is the bowler and has the power to choose the direction they throw the ball, the ball they select, and the power they use to throw the ball down the lane. I, as the therapist, am the bumpers - I respect my client's decisions in how they throw the ball, I guide us down the lane and keep us from going in the gutter :) The most frequent feedback I get from my colleagues and clients is that I am "real." That is, I do not pretend to be perfect and I do not expect perfection. I also am very honest because that is what I ask of my clients. I look forward to working with you and getting to know you better!
Tasha Lowman
I am a mental health counselor licensed in Iowa with over 5 years experience working with children, teens and adults. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, ADHD, ODD, anger management and trauma. My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating anyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach combines several therapy techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy and solution focused. I will tailor our conversations and create individualized treatment plan to meet your specific needs. It takes courage to take the first steps towards change in order to have a happier life. If you are ready to take that step I am here to give you support and help you along the way. I check my messages Monday through Friday, with the goal of responding in 48 hours or less. I do check messages on Saturday and Sunday in the mornings. I look forward to the possibility of working with you.
Cara Kelley
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot I have experience counseling people of all ages in both individual and group settings. I have ties to the military community and have been an advocate for veteran suicide awareness. I have my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and have completed courses in Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), Psychological First Aid (PFA), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and am a QPR Gatekeeper for education in suicide prevention. I believe counseling provides a safe, warm, supportive relationship where you can openly share your thoughts and feelings and learn new strategies for coping with situations and emotions. My desire is to work with you to develop new patterns in your life that can lead to healthier coping skills, increased confidence, and a greater sense of purpose and meaning in your life. I believe my role is to help you utilize what you already know and your strengths to help you overcome barriers in order to grow more fully into who you want to become. I believe in the strength of human resiliency, but sometimes we become stuck and need help to move forward. I believe that one must take a holistic approach to overall health. The mind, body and spirit are so intimately connected that one most certainly influences the others. As far as human nature is concerned, I believe you have a desire to do what is right, but often find you do the very things that might not be in your best interests. That desire to do what is right is what gives me hope for everyone. I believe you can never fall too far to benefit from counseling. I believe everyone can change – if they really want to. I want to be the person that helps you on your journey of hope. I think so many people keep everything bottled up and do not share their feelings and fears with anyone. This can lead them to believe they are the only one feeling this way and that can be a very dark place. I want you to know you are not alone and that there is hope!
Alyssa “Petersen” Domel
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” (Joshua J. Marine) Everybody struggles with the challenges of life and everyone deserves a full and fruitful life. I am committed to facing these challenges with you and walking along side you to create the life that you deserve. I am trained in working with adolescents, adults, and families who struggle with substance abuse and dependence, depression, anxiety, postpartum anxiety and depression and personality disorders. I also have specialized trauma training for individuals with PTSD, C-PTSD, or unspecified traumas. I am also certified to work with those individuals who follow the Medicine Wheel traditions. Together we can meet and overcome the challenges that are preventing you from being the best you! Please email or call to schedule your first step on your new journey!
Michelle Gossard
Are you feeling overwhelmed, withdrawn, or more irritable? Is it starting to affect your relationships? Or, do know something is just not right and you can’t quite put your finger on it? I’m here to listen and help. When working with clients, my goal is to create a safe environment for you to share your story and explore your challenges. You are the expert of you and I want to help you discover your skills and strengths. Along with teaching you to ways to manage your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. I strive to help clients be more accountable in their lives in order to better manage their challenges. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Iowa and have over 15 years’ experience working in a clinical and military setting. I am military wife and mother of four active children. My approach is cognitive behavioral, solution focused, and client-centered therapy based. I have worked with clients struggling with anger management, negative self-talk, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, stress, and pre/post deployment difficulties.
Dr. Emily Logan
I am licensed in Iowa with over 20 years of professional work in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & life changes. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seek a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
Kayla Reisinger
Life is difficult, unpredictable, and not always beautiful. As a therapist, I will support you in working through the feelings that accompany those difficult times and work towards developing healthy view of yourself. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed with the stresses of everyday life, parenthood or work, experienced trauma, want to mend a relationship, explore attachment, or just need support through a trying time, I am here to help you reach your goals. I have a passion for supporting those who have experienced a "mother wound", or disrupted attachment to the maternal figure in their lives; whether it be abuse or growing up around narcissistic caregivers. I practice several types of therapy and will work to utilize the one that will best fit your needs in this journey. People don't seek counseling when things are going well, so I will approach our sessions without judgement, but instead compassion and empathy and open ears. You will have a safe space to voice your concerns and struggles, knowing that we will work together to build the best plan for you.
Dr. James Ruby
Hello! I am James Ruby and I am grateful that you have taken a few minutes to look at my profile. I hope we have the opportunity to work together to help you reach your goals! I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). I did my MA at Northeastern IL University in Chicago, IL and my PhD at Loyola University in Chicago. I have been working with individuals, couples, and families since 1998. I would imagine that you might want to know a bit about how I work, what I believe about the counseling process, etc. Let me try and give you some information that will help you make the best decision for you, you and your partner, or you and your family... I believe that our past is important, but it doesn't define us. We are shaped by our past and we can learn from it, but we are the authors of our own lives. So, we can write a new chapter for ourselves that will better enable us to reach our goals. Sometimes, our ways of thinking can get in our way. We might have learned some things early in life that no longer seem to work for us. These thoughts and beliefs can feel like "the truth," but they really are only thoughts and beliefs. They can change. We can change. We can grow. We can thrive! I also believe that we humans are complex beings, with multiple dimensions to our lives - the cognitive, emotional, physical, and spiritual, to name a few. All of those dimensions can work for us, or against us, so I like to help my counseling clients look at all of those dimensions. Within each of us is a wealth of knowledge and strength that our problems can make us forget. I like to help my clients tap into that knowledge and activate those strengths. So, I occasionally ask my clients to complete questionnaires or do some "homework" between sessions that helps them move in the direction they would like to go. I would be privileged to have the opportunity to help you reach your goals. I know what it feels like to have the weight of sadness, anxiety, or frustration keep you down. I work in a judgment free atmosphere, so there is no need to feel excessive guilt or shame. In fact, those things can get in our way. I have helped many people get through their most difficult days and come out on the other side, ready to live the life they deserve. I'd love to have the chance to do the same for you. If you have any questions for me, I welcome them. I want you to find the best match for you and your counseling needs.
Roberta Hodge
I am licensed in Illinois, Iowa and Wyoming with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
Christopher Harper
I am licensed in Iowa with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with anger management, motivation, self esteem, confidence, career difficulties, & coping with life changes. I also have experience working with compassion fatigue. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!
How can therapists in Iowa support you?
Therapists in Iowa can practice many types of counseling, from marriage and family therapy to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). They may also assist you with symptoms of depression, stress, or anxiety.
Therapists may help you set and achieve career goals, work on current issues you may be facing, or address your past. Over 2,499,317 people live in Iowa, and one out of five Americans has a mental health condition. Searching for licensed professionals in Iowa may help you find mental health support for personal growth, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health concerns. You do not need a mental health diagnosis to seek support from one of BetterHelp's licensed providers above.
The mental health field can include psychiatric medication management, online therapy, marriage counseling, couples therapy, clinical social work, licensed counseling, and other mental health services in person and online. Seeing a licensed provider can help you navigate mental health conditions and life circumstances through mindfulness and other specialized techniques.
Please note that BetterHelp does not offer diagnostic or medication management services.
Why are many residents in the state of Iowa working with a licensed counselor?
People reach out for mental health support for a variety of reasons. Many individuals work with a counselor for general life advice, while others may attend therapy for a specific concern. Whether you live in a large city or a smaller county in Iowa, BetterHelp can match you with a licensed professional tailored to your preferences noted when you sign up.
Mental health counselors in Iowa support clients with varying issues, which can include:
- Challenging situations or life stressors
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression or depressive conditions
- Adjustment issues
- Emotional support for a terminal illness
- Chronic pain emotional support
- Grief
- Personality disorders
- Trauma
- Relationship conflicts and concerns
Finding a therapist that takes new clients in online therapy can be the first step in finding a treatment plan that works for you. Your therapist can provide a safe space for you to focus on self-care and well-being.
If you're interested in speaking to one of the therapists above or being matched with a counselor in 24 to 48 hours, consider signing up for BetterHelp. BetterHelp has over 35,000 providers, including those listed above.
Emergency services
If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, don't use this site's online services. If you are in life-threatening danger, call 911. If you require support for a crisis, reach out to the hotlines below:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Crisis Text Line:Text HOME to 741741
- Veterans Crisis Line<:Call 1-800-273-8255 (and press 1) or text 838255. For support for the deaf and hard of hearing community, please use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255.
- Trevor Lifeline(LGBTQ Lifeline): (866)488-7386
- SAMHSA National Helpline: (Substance Use): (800)662-4357
- National Eating Disorder Association Helpline:1-800-931-2237 (M-Th: 9 AM-9 PM EST, Fri 9 AM - 5 PM EST
- Child Help Hotline Call 1-800-422-4453 or use the online chat featur
- National Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293)
- Physician Crisis Support Line: Call 1-888-409-0141 if you are a first responder or medical provider experiencing crises related to Covid-1
- Sexual Assault Hotline: Call RAINN at 1-800-656-4673
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Some commonly asked questions can be found below.
How much does a therapist cost?
Mental health professionals can differ in price. Forbes found that the average cost of in-person therapy in the US is around $100 to $200 per hour. Pricing can also vary based on your location.
BetterHelp offers payment plans of $60 to $90 per session, charged monthly in a lump sum. You can also take advantage of this pricing on one of BetterHelp's sister platforms, like ReGain for couples or TeenCounseling for teens aged 13 to 19.
Many therapists may be upfront about their pricing and whether or not they take health insurance from the beginning. Additionally, some in your area may offer a sliding scale plan to allow those with lower incomes to pay less for therapy. However, services online can often save individuals a few hundred dollars per month.
How do I know if I should get a therapist?
Mental health services and mental health providers may help you navigate various concerns. You do not need a diagnosis or condition to attend therapy; You can discuss grief, relationship concerns, stress, or life changes and ask for general advice. A counselor may help you gain power over your life and emotions while you navigate day-to-day experiences.
Mental health issues don't always present as a crisis. Many professionals provide talk therapy and support for life transitions, skills learning, relationship problems, or life coaching. Online therapy sessions in Iowa can allow clients seeking therapy to experience professional help through video, phone, or live chat sessions without commuting to an office.
Does insurance cover therapy?
Different counseling services can vary in cost. Therapists must apply to accept insurance through insurance companies, which may take time and money, so not every therapist offers services through insurance. If you cannot find a therapist that accepts your plan, BetterHelp may be cheaper than visiting an in-person therapist.
Is online therapy safe?
Online therapy through BetterHelp and its sister platforms is safe. Therapists are licensed, experienced, and vetted before being contracted with the platform. If you experience any concerns with your therapist, you change your counselor through the platform or app at any time.
Popular cities in Iowa
- Des Moines, IA
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- Davenport, IA
- Sioux City, IA
- Iowa City, IA
- Waterloo, IA
- Ames, IA
- West Des Moines, IA
- Council Bluffs, IA
- Ankeny, IA
- Dubuque, IA
- Urbandale, IA
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