Licensed Mental Health Therapist

Katherine is accepting new clients for daytime appointments.

People generally seek therapy because they want some aspect of their life to be different and change can be hard! I love working with people courageous enough to face whatever it is that’s in need of changing. I particularly love working with those brave souls trying out counseling for the first time.  Finding a good fit in a therapist is important. If you feel comfortable and at ease in the therapist’s presence, feel understood, even “click” on some level, you’re building a good foundation for getting what you want out of counseling. By nature, my personality style is genuine and straightforward, calming, supportive, and creative. I see the strengths in people and I’m hard pressed to find a client I don’t genuinely like and respect. I think hope and humor can be critically important tools in therapy. 

Before beginning private practice, I provided mental health services to college students at the University of Iowa’s Counseling Service. I’ve had the privilege of meeting amazing students from all walks of life, and they are a client population I truly love working with, along with faculty and staff. I’ve also been a trauma and emergency surgery social worker at the University of Iowa Hospital, a high school art teacher, a business owner, and professional artist. At one point in my life, I thought I was being called to join a monastery but chose to pursue a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies instead. I also have a Master’s Degree in Social Work with advanced licensure as an “LISW” or Licensed Independent Social Worker. I value my multidisciplinary degrees and career background as they provide  multiple lenses and methods to connect with, and approach, client concerns. 

Stress and anxiety, depression, negative self-talk/thoughts, perfectionism, life transitions, family of origin issues, recovering from trauma, grief or personal losses are issues I typically work with, providing individual therapy for adults only. I incorporate a variety of evidence-based approaches to fit each client’s needs, drawing primarily from Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, mind/body approaches, including Polyvagal Theory, and working with the central nervous system to achieve a greater felt sense of safety and connectedness.  I also use Compassion-Focused, Strengths-Based and Solution-Focused approaches to support effective and meaningful change. 

I accept Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance (but not Common Spirit, Mercy CHI Employees, or Value Plans) and most out of state Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. My self-pay rate is $185 for your first appointment and $160 after that.

If you’d like to schedule a therapy session, or have any questions, you are welcome to use the form on this page to contact me.