
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!

Giovanni Demezier
Hi my name is Giovanni Demezier and I have been a mental health counselor for 3 years. My main philosophy is rooted in self awareness. My role is to help you have a better understanding of yourself as we work together to meet your goals. My counseling style is cognitive-behavioral therapy. In conjunction with various other areas, I specialize in behavioral change. We work to establishing values , implementing positive self-talk, and reinforcing new positive behaviors. 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!

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!

Tonya Randolph
I am currently a certified school counselor and I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana for the last 3 years. I have over 12 years of experience working with children and families as a school counselor. I have had specialized training in play therapy, bully prevention, applied suicide intervention training (ASIST), and currently hold a tele-mental health certification. I have previously operated a domestic violence crisis line, provided anger management classes for students and parents, and was the coordinator of an afterschool program for middle school students. My counseling style is meeting my clients where they are at present and providing unconditional positive regard. My approach to therapy is client centered, solution focused and cognitive behavioral. I am not adverse to trying new approaches if I feel that it will help my client achieve their goals for counseling. I believe even the strongest people sometimes need extra support. It takes wisdom and courage to ask for help. If you are ready to take the next steps, I will be your partner in building a strong healthy future.

Jennifer Ruden
I am licensed in Iowa with over10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialogue 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!

Jonathan Winston
I am licensed in Mississippi with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

James Judkins
I am licensed in Iowa with over 37 years of professional social work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger management, motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

Lance Lashley
I am licensed in Iowa and New Mexico and have 5 years of professional work experience. I like helping clients who are dealing with anxiety, depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, lgbtq+ related issues, relationship issues, and/or Bipolar Disorder. 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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.

Dr. Heidi Duong
Have you ever felt that something was missing from your life, as though you were attempting to reach a destination; however, it could not be reached? We will be looking at ways to fill up our lives that provide feelings of purpose. Sometimes it's easy to look for the next quick fix only to discover we are right where we started. Back to square one! Together, we will discover what areas of life feel unfulfilling and identify barriers and approaches to overcome the obstacles to bring more life satisfaction and self-congruency. I provide hypnotherapy, spiritual counseling as a Kvantum Energy Facilitator and mental health therapy. Through holistic and integrative therapy, we will examine the areas of life that may feel unfulfilling and develop strategies to build more meaning and consistency. By examining our current behaviors, we can develop interventions that focus on self-direction and self-autonomy. I provide mental health counseling, energy healing strategies including fitness. By reaching out to me as your mental health counselor, various resources and tools can be discovered to build more life satisfaction and congruency. This time is your time. Let's work together to find real potential and bring more life purpose and identify strategies to conquer any negative self-doubt and address any feelings of uncertainty.
Find a therapist serving clients in Iowa
Types of therapists available to clients in Blue Grass
Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in Blue Grass that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.
Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform
Mental health therapists in Blue Grass available through BetterHelp are accredited to help individuals and couples. Blue Grass therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, Blue Grass therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the Blue Grass region and in the state of Iowa.
How a therapist can help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want
Therapists in Blue Grass can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in Blue Grass may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment.