Profile / United States
Denise Stutes, LISW
Iowa
LISW in Iowa - anxiety and trauma
See online therapy options- CBT methods
- Mindfulness practice
- Relationship focus
About Denise
Denise Stutes is an LISW - Licensed Independent Social Worker practicing in Iowa with five years as a therapist. She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, LGBT concerns, family and parenting issues, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.
She previously worked across community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections. That background means she has experience with people who have faced severe physical and mental trauma and complex life circumstances. She brings practical experience rather than abstract theory.
Denise uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside client-centered and emotionally-focused approaches. She also draws on mindfulness and existential ideas. In sessions she is direct and interactive and will sometimes use light humor to keep conversations grounded.
Her style emphasizes noticing thought patterns and changing unhelpful habits. Sessions include talking through problems, identifying small experiments to try between meetings, and practicing new ways of responding to stress and relationships. She highlights strengths people already have and helps them apply those strengths to current problems.
Denise describes herself as straightforward and supportive. She asks for active participation and collaboration so people can test changes in everyday life. To start, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session via the site.
How her approaches translate to online work
Denise commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered work in her practice. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing different behaviors to see what changes. It is practical and often involves steps to try between sessions to reduce anxiety, depression, or problematic habits. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and responding to the person’s concerns so they can use their own strengths to solve problems.She also draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy when relationship patterns are central. EFT helps people map emotional responses and experiment with different ways of relating to improve communication and reduce conflict. Deciding which approach to emphasize is a collaborative process. Denise will discuss goals and preferences and adapt methods as sessions progress so the plan fits what a person wants to work on.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Many people find that having sessions remotely helps them apply new skills directly to daily life without rearranging their whole schedule.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, LGBT concerns, family and parenting issues, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar, and coping with life changes.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She applies CBT to help notice unhelpful thoughts and test new responses. Sessions often include practical exercises and small experiments between meetings.
What is her professional background?
She has five years as a practicing therapist and earlier experience in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is an LISW - Licensed Independent Social Worker and practices in Iowa.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.