Online therapist for Des Moines and central Iowa

Therapy that fits a metro schedule

Many families in the Des Moines metro are working long hours at demanding jobs while raising young kids, often with grandparents a couple of hours away.

Video sessions fit around that: a lunch hour, an early evening, or a slot from a parked car between practice and pickup.

You might be looking for help with

• burnout and work stress
• anxiety and overthinking
• low mood or feeling flat
• parenting stress and the mental load
• a new baby
• an aging parent in a small town who needs more help

This is individual psychotherapy with a licensed clinician. It isn’t coaching. Couples and family sessions are a different format that insurance may treat differently, so ask before you book if you’re interested in a joint session.

What we might work on

• Boundaries at work: hours, email, and the project that lands at 5 p.m.
• Anxiety that spikes on Sunday night or before big meetings
• Rebuilding energy when mood is low
• Splitting the load at home when both parents work full time
• The postpartum months and the return to work
• Helping a parent in a small town from an hour or two away

How sessions work

Sessions combine a standard clinical assessment with the Care Map Method™, the framework I use to look at your sleep and health, your feelings, your relationships and your daily demands, then build one practical change at a time. More about therapy in Iowa.

A shutdown ritual

At the end of the workday, take five minutes to write tomorrow’s top three tasks, close every work tab, and say a set phrase, even “Done for today.” Then change something physical: your clothes, your room or a short walk. The ritual tells your brain the workday is over.

Sessions, licenses and insurance

Sessions are online by video for adults who are physically located in Iowa, or another state where I’m licensed, during each session. I’m licensed in Iowa (LISW #141693), and also in California, New Jersey, Oregon and Maine.

Through Alma, I’m in network with Aetna, Cigna, Carelon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Optum plans including UnitedHealthcare, Oscar and Oxford. Coverage depends on your specific plan, not only the insurance company’s name. Alma checks it before your first session, including any copay or deductible, and handles the billing. How using insurance works.

Check Insurance and Availability on Alma →

Questions people ask

Do you have an office in Des Moines?

No. Sessions are by video, so you can meet from anywhere in Iowa.

Can I do sessions from work?

Yes, if you have a private space. Many people use a closed office, a booked conference room or a parked car.

What does LISW mean?

It’s Iowa’s license for independent-level clinical social work, comparable to the LCSW I hold in California, New Jersey, Oregon and Maine.

What happens in the first session?

We talk about what brings you in, your history, your support and your safety. You leave with one small, specific thing to try.

Do you take my insurance?

I see clients through Alma, and through Alma I’m in network with Aetna, Cigna, Carelon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Optum plans including UnitedHealthcare, Oscar and Oxford. Coverage still depends on your specific plan. Alma checks it before your first appointment, including any copay or deductible. Please share plan and health details through Alma’s secure intake, not by text or email.

Do I need to be in Iowa for sessions?

Yes, or in another state where I’m licensed. Sessions are online by video, and you need to be physically in Iowa, California, New Jersey, Oregon or Maine during each one. If you’ll be traveling, tell me ahead of time so we can plan around it.

More for Iowa