Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
How Denise works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LISW
- Licensed in
- Iowa
- Years in practice
- 5
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Denise
Denise Stutes is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) based in Iowa who uses a warm, straightforward style. She focuses on anger, stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, relationship issues, and career or life transitions. Denise aims to help people notice their strengths and take practical steps forward.
She brings five years of direct practice as a therapist and more than two decades of broader mental health experience in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections work.
Background and approach
That background shaped her ability to recognize how trauma, loss, and complicated life events affect daily functioning. In sessions she is compassionate and direct. Conversations tend to be interactive and practical, with room for humor when appropriate.
She emphasizes helping people see their own strengths so they can try new ways of coping and communicating. Denise draws on a blend of approaches including client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, emotionally-focused ideas, existential elements, and mindfulness. Those methods are used to address concerns such as anger, codependency, abandonment issues, caregiver stress, and communication problems.
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time and costs vary with location and therapist availability. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.
What Denise works with
Everything Denise lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Denise's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Avoidant personality
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Impulsivity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Traumatic brain injury
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Denise lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Denise commonly uses client-centered work and cognitive behavioral therapy in sessions. Client-centered work focuses on listening, reflecting what matters to the person, and helping them identify their own goals and strengths. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors and introduces practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anger, anxiety, and low mood.She also brings emotionally-focused ideas that help people name and understand their emotional responses in relationship-related concerns. These approaches aim to make conversations clear and useful so clients can practice new ways of reacting and communicating between sessions. Choosing the right mix is a collaborative process; the therapist and client try methods, see what helps, and adjust together based on goals and preferences.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face discussion and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging can work well for brief updates, between-session coaching, or when typing feels more comfortable than speaking. These options give flexibility for busy schedules, varied energy levels, and different communication styles.
Questions people ask about Denise
What concerns does she address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, anger, grief, depression, addictions, relationship concerns, and work or life transitions.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is compassionate and direct. Sessions are interactive and often include practical tools, with space for empathy and occasional humor.
What experience does she bring?
She has five years as a practicing therapist and over 20 years in mental health roles across hospitals, community settings, domestic violence shelters, and corrections.
What are her credentials and location?
She holds an IA LISW, which stands for Licensed Independent Social Worker in Iowa, and practices in Iowa.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
How are sessions delivered?
Sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to allow for different preferences and schedules.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Services use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on therapist availability.