- Stress and anxiety
- Relationships and grief
- Mindfulness and CBT
About Denise
Denise Stutes is an Iowa LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker) with five years as a practicing therapist and over two decades in the mental health field. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, addictions, career questions, and life changes, alongside concerns like parenting strain, compassion fatigue, and LGBTQ issues.
Before moving into her current therapy practice Denise spent many years in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and correctional environments. That background informs how she responds to trauma, crisis, and complex life stressors. She brings directness and practicality to sessions, and sometimes uses light humor to ease difficult conversations.
Her approach combines client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, emotionally-focused ideas, existential perspectives, and mindfulness practices. In practice this means helping people notice patterns of thinking and behavior, identify feelings in relationships, and try small experiments to test new ways of coping.
Denise emphasizes strengths work and straightforward feedback. She helps people name what matters, clarify values, and set manageable steps for change. Sessions tend to focus on useful skills people can apply between meetings and on understanding how past experiences shape current reactions.
People who contact her are often looking for help with big transitions, repeated relationship difficulties, or the fallout from trauma. To begin they follow the site process to match and schedule a first session, and can discuss goals and practical next steps in that initial meeting.
How her therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so people can consider their own values and choices; it helps when someone feels stuck and is trying to figure out what matters next. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) examines thinking and behavior patterns and teaches concrete tools to reduce anxiety or change unhelpful habits. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) looks at how emotions show up inside relationships and helps people identify needs and responses that strengthen connection.Deciding which approach to use is part of the collaborative process. Denise will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before, and then try methods that match those needs. She checks in and adapts techniques as the work unfolds rather than prescribing a single path from the start.
This listing does not specify session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Many people appreciate online sessions because they can fit appointments into busy days, reduce travel time, or choose a shorter check-in when needed. When format details are confirmed, practical matters like scheduling, pacing, and homework between sessions are discussed to make therapy fit everyday life.
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 concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship problems, parenting strain, career questions, and life changes among other concerns.
How would she describe her therapy style?
Her style is direct and interactive, with practical skills, reflections on relationship patterns, and occasional use of gentle humor.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years as a practicing therapist and more than 20 years of work experience in the mental health field across several settings.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She holds the LISW credential (Licensed Independent Social Worker) in Iowa and practices from that state.
What languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.