Denise Stutes , LISW

Denise Stutes is a licensed social worker in Iowa with extensive experience across the mental health field and five years practicing as a therapist. As an LISW - Licensed Independent Social Worker - she has worked in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and correctional environments, supporting people facing a wide range of challenges including severe physical and mental trauma.

Her approach to counseling blends compassion with direct, interactive guidance, and she often uses gentle humor to build rapport. She emphasizes empowerment and strength-based work, helping individuals recognize their existing resources as the foundation for growth. Her therapeutic blend draws on family systems thinking, cognitive behavioral strategies, client-centered principles, and mindfulness practices to tailor care to each person’s needs.

Denise sees common concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief and depression, addiction, and issues related to identity and parenting. She also focuses on areas like abandonment, codependency, caregiver stress, communication and control problems, and forgiveness. Her style is grounded in respect for each person’s uniqueness, and she aims to support and empower others through meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Denise Stutes draws from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches to guide online work. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy and unconditional positive regard, helping people explore their values and build self-awareness while addressing relationship and identity concerns. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be effective for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-moment awareness and acceptance skills that can reduce reactivity and support emotional regulation in the face of stress and trauma.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Denise works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and adapts techniques from these approaches to fit the individual. That collaboration helps determine which methods will best support progress over time.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility: sessions can occur by video call or phone, and options such as live chat and text-based messaging allow ongoing connection between scheduled appointments. These modalities can make therapy more accessible for people managing busy schedules, caregiving demands, or mobility constraints while maintaining consistent therapeutic support.