Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people become more psychologically adaptable. ACT encourages you to be more fully in the present. Accepting your deep emotions, traumas, or negative coping mechanisms is key in this therapeutic approach.
ACT maintains that to adapt and grow, a person must fully accept themselves as they are. Therapists practicing ACT believe that suppressing or ignoring painful emotions or experiences is counter-productive to growth and change.
You must investigate your current patterns of thinking to change. After examining these patterns, you can better understand the way your thinking impacts you. This acceptance of your patterns and habits helps you change your behaviors.
Trying to stop ways of thinking can be detrimental to ACT. Your therapist will help you understand how and why you think a certain way. Your ACT therapist will encourage you to accept yourself within a given moment. This acceptance is ultimately the catalyst for change.
After fostering the acceptance of the present moment, with all its thoughts, beliefs, and experiences, your ACT therapist will encourage you to develop a new, more compassionate relationship with your experience.
Individuals experiencing a wide range of psychological issues can benefit from ACT because it emphasizes their unique relationship with their problems.
Dr. Arger has experience in a variety of settings including primary care, outpatient counseling clinic, medical centers, state prison, community health center, state hospital, high school counseling center, and inpatient private hospital. Dr. Arger has received training and has experience utilizing several evidence-based therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),...
I have ONLINE evening and weekend appointments currently available. My passion is in helping people and those they love find peace as they navigate anxiety, depression, stress, and faith transitions. I enjoy working with LGBTQIA youth, individuals, couples and their families. I also have experience with compulsive eating, self-esteem struggles, and managing ADD. Additionally, I have training in...
You may be experiencing feelings of brokenness and suffering from devastating loss. You may have stories that need to be explored in search of healing and restoration. You may be ready to address these challenges with knowledgeable care, holistic engagement, and compassionate understanding. Finding the courage to share your stories of harm and pain is the beginning of your healing and inner pea...
* NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS * Vickie Gerber is an LPC and is a mental health therapist with Polaris Partners Counseling and Consulting. She earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University in 2015. Vickie specializes in working with adults and older adolescents (16+) dealing with chronic pain, addiction, self-esteem issues, anxiety and stress,...
My goal as a psychologist is to help individuals find their full potential. I strive to help clients discover their hidden strengths and areas for growth; thereby learning to more effectively face their concerns. I have extensive training and experience in psychological testing. I provide assessment for adult and child ADHD and Autism. I can help clarify or differentiate a diagnosis, provide...
*Not currently accepting new clients* I believe in the power of authenticity. To me, being authentic means showing up as 100% yourself, leaving behind the masks that we may wear to impress others or to protect ourselves. Being authentic requires bravery and vulnerability; it can be downright terrifying at times. However, authenticity also allows your unique light to shine. As a counselor, I str...
Our ideal client is one who struggles with hurts, habits, and hangups. One who does not know why they hurt but can feel it throughout their whole body. One who feels anxiety on a daily basis, has difficulty with any kind of emotion, or one who just needs to get their head on straight. Some people feel like there isn't help for them and we want those people. People who are willing to do what it...
I’m passionate about addressing issues associated with various forms of addictions, dual diagnosis, depression, anxiety and trauma. I utilize a client centered and solution focused approach to obtain the best results. The windmill is a universal symbol of life, serenity, resilience, self-sufficiency, and perseverance while harnessing the energy necessary to thrive in a sometimes harsh environme...
*TELETHERAPY IS NOW AVAILABLE* Are you an older adult feeling sad, anxious, worried, ashamed, lonely or experiencing other uncomfortable feelings? Has the COVID19 pandemic been stressful for you? Are you grieving a loss, or have relationships that are strained and are trying to sort things out? Have you had other changes in your life, your health or other stressors that have been hard to deal w...
Licensed Professional Counselor (MA, LPC, CAC II) I am a kind and genuine counselor, who offers a safe and validating environment for individuals to grow. I am very passionate about my work as a therapist and am excited about building a collaborative relationship with you in this transformative journey of self-discovery, healing and recovery. I see myself as non-judgmental, empathetic, and use ...
Lateacia strives to bring an effective blend of experiences, empowerment, education, encouragement and support in order to maximize outcomes and provide genuine healing and wholeness to individuals, marriages and families. Lateacia’s approach to counseling is centered on the therapeutic alliance. She places a strong value on co-creating an environment where individuals feel safe, connected,...
I believe that therapy should be driven by the individual. I work to empower individuals to create the change they want to see in their lives, promote healing, and strengthen relationships. I believe the most important indicator of success is a trusting and supportive relationship with the therapist. I know that finding a therapist that meets your needs can be overwhelming. I am happy to provid...
"Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional" ~Old Buddhist saying~ Pain is a part of life but it does not have to rule your life. Suffering is not a part of life. We do it to ourselves by allowing our pain to take over our lives. We may try to cope by ignoring, rejecting or holding onto our pain by addictive behaviors (e.g. drugs, obsessive thinking about the past and ourselves). Thus, we onl...
AMES | DES MOINES THERAPY clinical team provides therapy approaches and techniques which are evidenced based. DR. MOONEY, PHD, LMHC, NCC, ACS, 21 years’ experience and has been with Liberty University as an Associate Professor of Counseling Education. DR. AUGSPURGER, MD, DLFAPA has over 34 years’ experience in psychiatry. CALLIE LAWERENCE, MS, TLMHC, CRC, Lecturer for University of Iowa. VICENT...
Do you feel overwhelmed by the stress, emotions, or transitions of parenthood? Is pregnancy or parenthood nothing like what you expected? I am here to tell you are not alone. These major life transitions present us all with challenges that test our emotional well-being. My role as a therapist is to offer support, uncover your strengths, and help discover meaning to overcome challenges. I believ...
