Grief counselors and therapists in Des Moines, IA

I am a multi-state licensed therapist across California, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas, specializing in helping adults navigate deep-seated mental health challenges alongside intense personal and professional transitions.

With vast clinical experience, I have served as a university career counselor, a specialist for healthcare professionals, and a dedicated clinician within both the US Navy Family Advocacy Program and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

My practice provides a highly supportive, practical space for college students, working adults at all career stages, healthcare workers, service members, Veterans, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

I blend empathetic listening with deep clinical insight to help you manage and heal from:

Core Mental Health & Neurodivergence:

Anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, and identity exploration.

Trauma & Life Impact:

Trauma, grief, loss, and managing chronic medical conditions.

Daily Survival:

Severe career burnout, relationship problems, and navigating life's overlapping pressures.

Hello and welcome to my site. I have been licensed as a social worker since 1995 when I obtained my undergrad degree in social work. Since that time I have been licensed at the independent clinical level after obtaining my MSW degree and have been in practice independently since 2011. I work with a variety of clients with different issues, but I focus on trauma and how traumatic situations and life experiences impact how people see the world.

As a licensed therapist serving clients in Iowa, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex life challenges with compassion and understanding. My approach centers on helping people heal from trauma, manage grief, and build resilience through personalized, faith-informed counseling. I have extensive experience working with diverse populations, including veterans, young adults, and individuals facing significant life transitions. My therapeutic practice focuses on addressing issues like social anxiety, self-esteem, communication challenges, and personal growth. Drawing from a trauma-informed and holistic perspective, I create a supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences, develop healthy coping strategies, and rediscover their inner strength. Whether you're struggling with workplace stress, relationship dynamics, or personal healing, I'm committed to walking alongside you with empathy and professional guidance. My practice welcomes individuals seeking a compassionate, conservative approach to mental health support, with a particular sensitivity to Christian perspectives and values. Together, we can work towards meaningful personal transformation and emotional well-being. I am a parent of 4 adult children. As a therapist, it is my honor to help my clients achieve their life goals and get to a calmer and more peaceful place. These past four years, I have completed thousands of live sessions with clients from all walks of life, careers, ages, financial status., and backgrounds. You will find our sessions productive, respectful, non-judgmental, interactive, supportive, creative, and informative. My rule is to listen to understand not to reply. You will feel heard and understood.

Hi, I'm Brian. I specialize in helping with men's issues, anxiety, depression and relationships. I have experience working with individuals within the LGBTIQA+ community, Military/Veterans, and those who follow non-secular spiritual paths.

Life is a journey with many unexpected setbacks, life challenges and experiences. I am here to help you manage your journey. My practice is dedicated to providing quality mental health care to help people achieve goals or master skills aimed toward improving their quality of life. I've been practicing for 22 years.

If you've been told your anxiety, exhaustion, or emotional shifts are "just stress" or "just aging" — and something in you knows it's more than that — you're in the right place. I'm Kristal, a licensed therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting people through life's most challenging transitions. That career — rooted in crisis intervention, child welfare, and working alongside people experiencing homelessness — built in me a deep capacity to sit with complexity, pain, and change without flinching. That foundation now drives my specialized work with women navigating perimenopause and menopause. I bring both clinical expertise and lived experience to this work. I've walked this road myself — which means when you show up, you will be genuinely seen and heard, perhaps in a way you haven't been in a long time.

Check me out on the Grit to Growth Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTvAK4pRlkM

Hi there, my name’s Ephraim and I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 20+ years of experience. My specialties consist of relationships, men’s issues, career counseling, and psychosomatic illnesses.

Whether it's individuals or couples, I'm happy to get to work with whomever comes my way. I do my best to facilitate a warm, trusting environment. I received my Bachelors degree in Child Psychology, working initially with the adolescent population before transitioning over to adults. I then received my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Looking forward to meeting with you soon!

Emotional exhaustion can look like functioning.

You may be the person others depend on while quietly feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from yourself. At Milton’s Place Counseling, therapy offers a supportive space to slow down, process what you are carrying, and identify practical next steps. I work with clients navigating anxiety, depression, grief, stress, and major life transitions. You do not have to wait until you are in crisis to seek support.

If anxiety, depression, grief, or ongoing stress are making daily life feel harder, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I work with adolescents, adults, and families who feel overwhelmed, emotionally stuck, or unsure how to move forward. Many parents seek support when they notice changes in their teen’s mood, behavior, school functioning, or communication, while adults often come to therapy feeling exhausted, disconnected, or weighed down by life transitions and relationship stress.

I primarily work in grief and loss, relationships, parenting, and attachment, with special interest in non-death related losses. I hold a BGS from the University of West Florida, an MSW from the University of Alabama, and have completed extensive continuing education including the University of Vermont's End-of-Life doula program. I am a TBRI® Practitioner, WRAP® Facilitator, and am a Gottman Seven Principles Leader.

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.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stuck in painful relationship patterns, carrying the effects of trauma, or facing a life transition that feels hard to manage, therapy can be a place to exhale. I work with adults who want support making sense of what they’re going through and finding practical ways to feel more grounded, understood, and in control. I also support clients navigating family dynamics, including experiences related to autism, adoption, and complex relationships.