Bringing hope and healing to those in need.

After completing an undergraduate education at the University of Iowa with majors in psychology and social work, I was employed as a youth worker in a residential treatment facility for adolescent girls court-ordered to treatment. After five years of this work, I returned to the University of Iowa to pursue my Master's degree in social work. After earning my degree in May of 2007, I was hired as a clinician at the Adoption and Attachment Treatment Center of Iowa where I specialized in adoptive families for the following two years. I formed Creating Connections Counseling, PLLC in January 2010 to carry on the mission of helping adoptive families, and expanded to serve any person in distress from traumatic experiences and anxiety. My sessions focus on healing trauma, achieving secure attachment in relationships, and developing a positive self-identity. I was trained in an evidence-based intervention for trauma called EMDR in 2010. In 2011, I became a registered attachment clinician with ATTACH, the national Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in children. In addition to seeing clients, I began teaching an annual graduate class at the University of Iowa School of Social Work in 2016 titled "Social Work Practice with Children, Youth, and Families." I continue to pursue specialized training and consultation for my work. My direct practice is influenced by master therapists and researchers such as Bessel Van der Kolk, Stephen Porges, Daniel Siegel, Daniel Hughes, Allan Schore, Jaak Panksepp, Deborah Gray, Heather Forbes, Sandra Paulsen, Debra Wesselman, Eliana Gil, and Ana Gomez among many others. I enjoy collaborating with other service providers, caregivers, and schools to create supportive therapeutic environments for all to heal, grow, and eventually thrive.

SpecializationS:

PTSD and Complex PTSD

Grief and Loss

Depression and Mood Disorders

Anxiety and Panic Disorders

Insecure Attachment Patterns

Therapeutic Parenting

Stress Management

COMMON MODALITIES:

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

IFS – Internal Family Systems

DBT – Dialectical Behavior Therapy

CBT – Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Attachment Focused Therapy

Trauma Focused Therapy

Narrative Therapy

ACCEPTED INSURANCE:

Blue Cross & Blue Shield

Aetna

Midland’s Choice

Private Pay

AVAILABILITY:

Office and telehealth hours are available Monday through Friday. 

Please call or text 319 423-9068 to schedule an appointment or be added to the waiting list.

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