Our Providers are interactive and solution-focused. Our therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help you effectively address personal life changes and challenges. We integrate varied methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, we work with you to help you build on your strengths and attain the personal growth you are committed to accomplishing.
Shelly is the Clinical Supervisor of Therapy Group, Inc. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with an M.S. from Iowa State University in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Shelly provides virtual therapy to couples and individuals struggling with issues such as infidelity, sexual addiction, communication, co-parenting and personality disorders. Shelly is a Certified Personality Disorder Professional, meaning she is highly trained in effectively working with individuals and couples with personality disorders. Shelly is a direct and goal-focused therapist that uses strategic and solution focused approaches. She is an approved AAMFT Supervisor.
Stacie received her Master's degree in Social Work at Capella University in Minneapolis. She has a general practice and she is available both in the office and for virtual therapy. She sees individuals and couples age 16 and up for a wide variety of issues. She is a veteran with an area of interest in helping fellow veterans via therapy. Stacie will tailor a treatment plan using a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities especially for you.
Jacob received his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology from the University of Iowa. He received his Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand View University in Des Moines. Jacob practices Narrative Therapy and focuses on broadening perceptions to challenge fixative patterns that lead us to feel stuck and at impasse. Through examining trauma, depression, anxiety, emotion, and conflict that manifests in our lives, he believes that we can better understand ourselves and how we interact with the world around us. He likes to employ many forms of treatment including the use of psychoeducation surrounding health neuroscience, psychology, mindfulness, and intentionality through the initiation of agency and gratitude. Jacob works with individuals ages 14 and up, as well as Families, and offers Couples/Relationship counseling. He currently practices virtually and in person.
Alexis Davis, tLMHC
Alexis has a general mental health practice and she sees clients (age 14 and up) and couples to support clients in overcoming mental health challenges. She is committed to providing empathetic, client-centered care. After an initial assessment, she will tailor a treatment plan for you using a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities. She has had extra training and experience with Complex Trauma. Alexis earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Iowa Wesleyan University and her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri.
When you call, you can tell us who you would like to schedule with, or we can help you find the best therapeutic fit : )
What to Expect During Therapy / Types of Therapy
What happens in sessions can depend on the type of treatment. Many therapists combine elements of different approaches. Each of our therapists will create a treatment plan that is unique to each client, based on the client's needs and goals.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
One common type is CBT, which is one of the most research-backed treatments for anxiety disorders and depression. It's based partly on the idea that distorted thinking is a main cause of mental distress. Say you're in therapy for depression. If a friend didn't stop to chat at school drop-off, you might think, "She must hate me. I'm worthless." During CBT, a therapist would help you identify these unhelpful thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with more realistic ones. She might encourage you to instead think, "My friend was probably busy and had to dash out." For anxiety issues, CBT also usually involves "exposure," in which you gradually expose yourself to the things you're afraid of. So if you have an elevator phobia, you'll work with your therapist to feel more comfortable in and around elevators.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
If your therapist recommends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—which research suggests is effective for anxiety, depression, and even chronic pain and substance abuse—you'll likely learn various mindfulness techniques and exercises. (ACT is based on CBT but includes a strong focus on mindfulness and values.) ACT patients are taught to notice and accept challenging thoughts and feelings.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
There's also dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an in-depth treatment that combines CBT with other approaches and addresses suicidal and self-harm behaviors, borderline personality disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse problems, among other issues. Or you might try psychodynamic therapy, in which you learn to define your problems and understand how your history and past relationships may be influencing your current behavior.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy is a collaborative, non-blaming, and respectful approach to psychotherapy that helps people reframe their experiences and change their relationship with problems:
- Collaborative The therapist and client work together to re-author the client's problem story.
- Non-blaming Narrative therapy assumes that people have the skills and resources to change their relationship with problems.
- Respectful Narrative therapy centers people as the experts in their own lives.
- Reframing Narrative therapy helps people reframe their experiences in more positive and empowering ways.
- Based on multiple truths Narrative therapy is based on the idea that there are multiple truths that provide other possible interpretations for problems.
- Grounded in theories Narrative therapy is grounded in feminist, anthropological, and multicultural theories.
- Postmodern Narrative therapy is a postmodern approach that questions old paradigms and truths.
General Counseling / Psychotherapy
If you're having problems at work or in your relationships or are just feeling "meh", contacting a licensed mental health provider is a great way to start.
Your treatment depends on the type of mental illness you have, its severity and what works best for you. In many cases, a combination of treatments works best.
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, involves talking about your symptoms / condition and related issues with a mental health professional. During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods, feelings, thoughts and behavior. With the insights and knowledge you gain, you can learn coping skills and how to improve the way you handle the condition / symptoms that brought you to our office.
There are many types of psychotherapy, each with its own approach to improving your mental well-being.
When choosing a therapist, you should feel comfortable and be confident that he or she is capable of listening and hearing what you have to say. Also, it's important that your therapist understands the life journey that has helped shape who you are and how you live in the world.
