Bipolar disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Des Moines, IA

Hi, I'm Joanie! If you're feeling weighed down by trauma, anxiety, or painful life experiences, you don't have to navigate them alone. Trauma can leave you feeling stuck in the past, constantly on edge, or wondering why certain emotions and reactions seem so difficult to control. My approach is warm, compassionate, and nonjudgmental. I work with adults to better understand how past experiences continue to shape their lives today while helping them build the insight, confidence, and tools needed to move forward in a way that feels authentic and empowering.

You may be trying to keep things together while feeling anxious, down, emotionally exhausted, or unsure how to get back to feeling like yourself. Maybe past experiences are still affecting you, relationships have become difficult to navigate, or you're struggling to understand why you keep reacting in ways you don't want to. For teens, this can look like withdrawing, feeling misunderstood, struggling at school, or having emotions that feel difficult to manage. For parents, it may mean trying to support your child while also feeling unsure of what to do next. I work with teens, parents, and adults navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship challenges, and I strive to make therapy feel warm, genuine, and easy to talk about.

I believe mental health care works best when people feel truly known, respected, and safe. My approach combines evidence-based psychiatric care and medication management with compassionate, whole-person support. I work with children, teens, and adults, and I strive to create a space where clients feel comfortable being honest without fear of judgment.

For clients who desire it, I also offer Catholic-integrated care that honors the role faith can play in healing, identity, relationships, suffering, purpose, and hope. My goal is never to pressure or preach, but to thoughtfully integrate Catholic values, spirituality, prayer, or faith-based perspectives into treatment in a clinically appropriate and supportive way. I especially enjoy helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, postpartum mental health, motherhood transitions, trauma, relationship stress, life changes, and struggles related to self-worth or burnout.

As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I provide medication management while also taking time to understand the deeper emotional, relational, lifestyle, and spiritual factors affecting mental health. Clients often tell me they appreciate that I am warm, approachable, thorough, and collaborative rather than rushed or impersonal.

Whether you are looking for practical symptom relief, deeper healing, or a provider who understands and respects your faith, my hope is that you feel supported, heard, and encouraged throughout the process.

I provide compassionate, confidential psychiatric care designed to help you feel supported and understood. Each treatment plan is personalized, using evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique needs and goals. My goal is to create a safe, judgment-free space where we can work together to manage challenges such as anxiety, depression, mood changes, or sleep issues. Appointments are available virtually for your convenience.

I have helped individuals sort through hectic times. If you need someone to talk to with and empathetic ear, then feel free to reach out. I am accepting new clients evening hours after 8:30pm cst for clients in Texas, New Jersey, Utah, and Iowa. I have an additional focus on Men's Issues related to Infidelity, sexual dysfunction, and sex/porn addiction. I provide a safe space to work through these issues.

I enjoy working with individuals through the journey of achieving the goals they have with counseling or even just helping them figure out their goals. I feel like individuals are who they are based on their experiences and that when we give them time to view experiences from a holistic view point, they will recognize that they are powerful.

Counseling is not something that is necessarily a quick fix, but you will hopefully walk away with some insight on how you can move forward in a positive and healthy manner.

I recognize the impact being a member of a marginalized group can have on someone and respect the needs of all of these populations. I look forward to answering any of your questions and assisting you on your journey.