About Bloom Women’s Wellness

Education & Experience

I’m certified through Postpartum Support International (PSI) to treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and hold specialized training in child-parent psychotherapy (CPP) and cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Additionally, I’ve completed perinatal EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) training through the Institute of Creative Mindfulness with Dr. Mara Stein. I am also a licensed independent social worker (LISW) in Iowa. Before opening Bloom Women’s Wellness, I worked with children and families at a large non-profit organization before working primarily with women and birthing parents while at a private practice in the Des Moines metro area. 

What My Support Looks Like

My approach to therapy is eclectic and my style is client-centered, collaborative, and trauma-focused. As your counselor, I know that you are the expert of your life and I’m honored to create a safe space for you as we navigate a path to wellness. This may include working through past trauma, working through a specific difficult experience, or simply supporting you as you build a healthier version of yourself.

Education & Experience

I received my bachelor’s degree in biology and mathematics from Hamline University with a premedical emphasis. While in school, I worked as a support staff member at a local addiction treatment center for women. This was where I first cultivated an interest in women’s mental health. I was eventually promoted to Program Manager and over the five years of my time there, became familiar with a growing need for gender-specific mental healthcare as well as the various barriers to its access. In an effort to make more of an impact and increase the availability of trauma-aware female providers, I committed to furthering my education and becoming a psychiatrist. 

My medical degree is from A.T. Still University and my clinical focus throughout my medical and post-graduate training was in obstetrics and gynecology, neuroendocrinology, acute inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, correctional and forensic psychiatry, complex PTSD, and addiction medicine. I completed my psychiatric residency as chief resident at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines with clinical research experience in interventional psychiatry including ketamine-assisted therapy and transcranial stimulation for treatment-resistant depression. I’m also certified in Medication-Assisted Treatment for opioid addiction.

After residency, I assumed a faculty position where I’ve continued to practice and teach resident physicians as an emergency psychiatrist, psychiatric hospitalist, and outpatient doctor. Regardless of role or station in life, I have always prioritized and enjoyed working with women seeking all levels of care.

Education Background

After receiving my Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I went on to the University of Minnesota, where I completed my Master of Social Work degree. I also have training in postpartum mood and anxiety disorders through Postpartum Support International (PSI). I have 20 years of professional experience working with individuals and families in human service organizations, education, and healthcare. I work with clients experiencing life transitions, complicated relationships, personal and professional growth, anxiety, depression, family planning, loss & grief, religious trauma, and more.  

Working with Me

When we work together toward enhancing your mental wellness, we’ll do so in a safe and respectful space. You know what you’re experiencing better than anyone else and it’s my role to help you navigate the thoughts and emotions that come with these experiences. My role is to help guide you through life’s difficult moments, address ongoing concerns, and support you along the way. My therapeutic style is trauma-informed, sex-positive, client-centered, and nonjudgmental. I draw from a variety of therapeutic modalities including CBT, ACT, and EMDR, but tend to lean most heavily on somatic (body-based) practices like breathwork and mindfulness. I tend to talk through which therapies I’m using (and why), as I find that most clients like to understand the purpose behind the work.  

Education Background

After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa with my Bachelor of Social Work, I moved on to Aurora University, where I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work. I worked for several years in hospital settings as a medical social worker, helping patients and families navigate the difficulties of health concerns and the decisions those hardships can bring. Because I felt such a strong calling to help empower individuals to care for their own emotional well-being while navigating life transitions, I made the decision to become a therapist. I started working in community counseling, then at a university counseling center, where I gained experience in crisis counseling. I’ve also had specific training in mood and anxiety disorders through Postpartum Support International (PSI).

Working with Me

I consider walking along with a client during their life’s journey a sincere privilege. My approach is client-centered and holistic, and I consider my clients the experts of their own experiences. I use an eclectic mix of therapeutic methods when it comes to care, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based strategies, and trauma-informed care. Not only will we process the concerns leading you to seek counseling, but we’ll work together to help you find the solutions that work best for you. Currently, I’m working toward my certification in perinatal mental health so that I may offer women experiencing symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders the support they need. I also have special interests in grief counseling, relationship issues, and life transitions. 

Taking the first step into beginning therapy can be a difficult one. I hope to create a safe space where everyone feels comfortable as we start on the therapy journey together.

Education Background

I graduated from Iowa State University in 1997, earning bachelor’s degrees in psychology and child & family services. While in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, I worked with pregnant and parenting teens in a residential setting, and later on a crisis phone line for teens and adults. In 2003 I completed my MSW at the University of Iowa and worked for 19 years as a School Social Worker, serving kids and families from birth to 21 years of age. I have completed training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders through Postpartum Support International (PSI), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).  

Working with Me

Difficult situations that involve our families, our bodies, and our abilities to care for ourselves or others may cause us to feel anxious, irritable, or lonely. Losses and pain can be overwhelming and make daily activities seem insurmountable. I believe that everyone is capable of healing and we sometimes get stuck when we try to work through experiences on our own. Talking with someone can be the first step in sorting through your thoughts and making meaningful progress toward personal well-being. 

Everyone has their own unique perspective, so I use individualized approaches that best support you. I believe in providing an open, accepting environment where we can build a therapeutic relationship and explore things that may be holding you back in your daily activities, work, or personal interactions. I look forward to helping empower you along the way.

Education and Experience 

I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Dubuque. After graduating, I moved to Des Moines, where I began working for Orchard Place as a Campus Treatment Counselor. It was in this role that I decided I wanted to pursue my Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW). I completed my MSW through the University of Iowa. While working on my MSW, I worked as a Family, Safety, Risk, and Permanency Worker with Children and Families of Iowa. Upon graduation and obtaining my Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) license, I worked as a school-based therapist through Orchard Place. I have training and experience in the following disciplines: trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and eye movement desensitization & reprocessing (EMDR).

Working with Me

When we work together on your mental health journey, we’ll begin by focusing on truly building our therapeutic relationship. I believe that feeling safe and comfortable is at the forefront of the path to healing. It’s important for us to enter this together. We will work through your experiences from the past and gather your goals for the future so we can begin working more on the present. I also have vast clinical experience with children and families, so we have an opportunity to work at the individual level as well as the family systems level. Creating change in the family system can create positive growth and change for all family members. I am also in the process of completing my perinatal training through Postpartum Support International.

Education and Experience

My expertise is in nervous system regulation and post-traumatic growth. I hold advanced certifications from Organic Intelligence’s Human Empowerment and Resiliency Training, a somatic institute rooted in the latest research in body psychotherapy, complex systems, contemplative practice, and neuroscience. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Iowa and a proud alumnus of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. I’m also experienced in mindfulness, ecotherapy, expressive art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Currently, I’m continuing my education with Organic Intelligence and Postpartum Support International (PSI). My longing for a more just, peaceful, and compassionate world has been my guiding compass to specialize in the field of body psychotherapy and support clients in living meaningful and well-balanced lives.

Working with Me 

As your therapist, I support a healing environment that leads to personal growth, resilience, and empowerment. I am committed to creating a relationship that allows you to safely explore your feelings and experiences. During sessions, I use a compassionate and holistic approach to help you reconnect with your natural ability to heal. I hope that over the course of working together, you will feel increasingly secure in your body and mind so that you can navigate the complexities of life with ease and confidence.

Education & Experience

I grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I received my Bachelor of Education, specializing in early childhood development and elementary-aged learners. I taught the first grade for five years, while also developing curriculum as the grade lead. Ready for a break from teaching without taking a break from working with children, I moved to the US, where I became a live-in nanny for a family in Redmond, Washington. In 2022, my husband’s job brought us to Iowa and I found my way to this team. While not directly working with children in this position, I’m happy to play a role in their lives by helping parents find support from the amazing therapists at Bloom Women’s Wellness. 

In My Free Time

My favorite way to spend my weekends is with my husband and fur child, Benji, at the dog park, playing board games, catching up with my family back in South Africa, and taking road trips to new places in the US. I love traveling and getting to learn about new cultures and buildings, or simply wandering the streets of new cities.

Education and Experience

For the past five years, I’ve had the beautiful opportunity to work one-on-one with families in the Des Moines area, being welcomed into their homes. I have honed my skills through countless hours of research and gaining new experiences with an open perspective. I began my higher education at Iowa State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Human Development and Family Studies degree, and worked with Healthy Start and Empowerment, a nonprofit organization designed to support new mothers and their babies. I’ve spent time working in child development centers, mentoring at-risk youth at a residential treatment facility, and mentoring with the Iowa State Athletic Department. Additionally, I have been trained as a family life educator (through the National Council of Family Relations or NFCR), a postpartum doula (through Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Associaton or CAPPA), and as a health and life coach (through the Health & Life Coach Institution). I also hold certifications in trauma-informed care, in-home care visiting, early childhood development, and as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA). I’m excited to continue my education at the University of Iowa’s Master of Social Work program.

Working with Me

I am fascinated by the effects habits have on the identities we develop and believe that these habits have the power to shape our stories, ignite change, and build bridges from where we are now and where we want to be tomorrow. Through my services, I am to contribute to a world where understanding, empathy, and personal development thrive. Ultimately, my philosophy revolves around the notion that we are capable of creating a positive and meaningful impact in the world, starting from within ourselves.

Benefits of Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs can help decrease anxiety, stress, and depression. They’re ready to offer silent comfort during counseling sessions and their presence may make it easier for you to open up more during your session. Our sweet girl, Maggie, is currently undergoing extensive training to become a certified therapy dog through Dog Training Elite. When she graduates, she’ll be ready to join us for sessions and we’re looking forward to watching her build trust and help put our clients at ease.

Billing Questions

For questions about billing, please reach out to our billing coordinator, Mitch at (515)443-4512 or email him at mitch@bloomwomenswellness.org.