Therapist profile
Denise Stutes, LISW
Iowa
Licensed Independent Social Worker - relationships and codependency
Continue with DeniseWhere Denise stands
- Credentials
- LISW
- License
- LISW, Iowa / 008035
- NPI
- 1497119994
- Experience
- 5 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Iowa
About
- Client-centered work
- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness tools
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 helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, addictions, and codependency concerns. Denise also works with issues like caregiver stress, abandonment, communication problems, and forgiveness.
She draws on client-centered approaches to keep conversations focused on what the client notices and wants. Denise uses cognitive behavioral strategies to spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. She also brings elements of emotionally-focused work and mindfulness to address feelings and increase emotional awareness.
Her background includes roles in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections. That range informs a practical way of working with people who have experienced severe physical or mental trauma. She tends to be direct and interactive in session and sometimes uses humor to make difficult topics easier to approach.
Denise aims to help people identify strengths and build on them. Sessions typically mix talking, skill-building, and simple exercises that can be tried between meetings. She encourages realistic, step-by-step changes rather than quick fixes.
Sessions are conducted in English and she does not take international clients. Costs vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, prospective clients use the site button to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How sessions work
How Denise’s approaches translate to online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on the client's perspective and goals. Online sessions using this approach prioritize the client's concerns and pace, with the therapist reflecting what the client says and helping clarify priorities. This style is useful for people who are unsure where to start and need someone to help sort through their own reactions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts influence feelings and actions. In an online setting CBT involves identifying unhelpful thought patterns, testing small behavior changes, and using short exercises between sessions to practice new skills. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people recognize and work with important emotions in relationships and personal life. Online use of EFT-style work can increase awareness of emotional patterns and improve how someone communicates their needs and feelings.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Denise will help figure out which methods fit the client's goals and preferences, and she adjusts techniques based on progress and feedback. This process is collaborative and revisited as needed.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-in meetings when needed, and remove travel time. These practical benefits can help someone keep momentum while working on boundaries, people-pleasing, or recovery from relationship stress.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Iowa
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, and relationship issues, including codependency and communication problems.
What is her approach in sessions?
She uses a mix of client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, emotionally-focused ideas, and mindfulness to help people notice feelings and change behavior.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Denise has five years as a practicing therapist and over 20 years of experience in the mental health field across community, hospital, shelter, and corrections settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an Iowa LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker) and is based in Iowa.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; confirm current online and in-person options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Use the site button to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session through the platform.
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 at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.