Guiding you to your own answers without judgment- through listening, reframing, and compassion. It is my honor to bear witness to your life.
Life is challenging.
Therapy is one way to heal and help find your own answers to your own life. You know your own answers and sometimes it helps to have a steward, a listener, an objective human to bear witness and assist you to the path of healing.
If you are looking to improve your relationship with yourself or others, change patterns in your life, learn how to connect with your emotions, cope with life’s frustrations and transitions, process difficult memories and trauma, know yourself better, heal, or to be heard in a safe space, please reach out. I’d be honored to start this journey with YOU!
I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in Iowa. I am credentialed with many insurance companies.
I see adolescents, young adults, and adults. I am a certified mediator and have many years of experience in co-parent counseling and navigating separation and divorce. The focus of my work with separation and divorce is always the best interest of your child(ren).
Youth Mental Health First Aid:
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. YMHFA is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
This life changing class is eight hours; please reach out with questions and to schedule.
Shine the Light on Depression: State of Iowa Ambassador
https://www.erikaslighthouse.org/blog/shine-a-light-on-mental-health/
You have the power to help address the serious and increasing mental health challenges affecting teens today. Our evidence-informed, depression awareness education programs are spreading around the world.
From Tragedy to Hope-Erika’s Lighthouse: A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression was founded in 2004 by Virginia and Thomas Neuckranz after their daughter Erika lost her life to depression. In order to avoid another loss in the community, they founded Erika’s Lighthouse with the goal of creating educational materials to Get Depression Out of the Dark. With help from the community, and from donors nationwide, we’ve grown and expanded our mission across the country. We know that working together, we can save lives.
Erika’s Lighthouse is determined to make sure no young person feels alone in their depression. We are dedicated to creating a community of empathy and education. We invite you to join our community of caring, compassionate individuals working to make a difference. The Shine a Light process is really easy for you and we are here to support you along the way.
Our four pillars work together to give educators the tools to promote inclusive school cultures around mental health. Adolescent depression lives in the shadows. Young people facing it feel isolated and dangerously alone. We help schools provide their students with the skills needed to talk to each other, to their parents, to their teachers and to counselors. Our resources raise awareness, reduce stigma, educate students, promote good mental health and encourage help-seeking.
Reach out today to learn more about implementing Erika’s lighthouse curriculum in your school or community based organization. There is no fee for this service,.