Therapist profile
Rodney Black, LCSW, LISW
Iowa
Licensed social worker - Addictions and trauma
Continue with RodneyWhere Rodney stands
- Credentials
- LCSW, LISW
- License
- LIMHP, Nebraska / 3120; LISW, Iowa / 01073; LCSW, Oregon / L14200
- NPI
- 1295981645
- Experience
- 31 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Iowa
About
- Addictions
- Trauma
- Codependency
About Rodney
Rodney Black is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) with 31 years of experience, currently based in Iowa. He has long worked in community settings and draws on personal experience with addiction, codependency, and family mental illness when supporting people through life challenges. Rodney lists addictions, trauma, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, and LGBT issues among the areas he addresses.
Rodney grew up in the Midwest and later lived in California and South Carolina. He served in the U.S. military with a deployment to Afghanistan and held a senior enlisted role in Human Intelligence. Those experiences shape how he listens and responds to stress, loss, and the aftermath of difficult events.
He speaks plainly about recovery and personal struggle, noting his own history with addiction, co-dependency, and mental health diagnoses. That background informs his approach rather than defining it. He says he is further down the road in recovery and prefers to work alongside people rather than stand apart from them.
In sessions he uses practical therapeutic methods and straightforward conversation. He leans on approaches such as cognitive behavioral techniques and attachment-focused ideas to help people notice patterns, practice different behaviors, and test small changes in daily life. He also draws on acceptance and commitment and skills from dialectical behavior therapy when appropriate.
People who have lived through difficult family dynamics, relationship enmeshment, or substance-related problems may find his perspective relatable. He aims to help people identify what keeps them stuck and try tools that fit everyday life. To begin, callers are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How sessions work
How Rodney uses therapeutic approaches in remote sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choosing actions that match personal values. This helps people who feel trapped by guilt, shame, or drifting through life to take small steps toward what matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks big problems into smaller parts by identifying thoughts and behaviors that keep a pattern going and then trying new behaviors to test different outcomes. That approach is useful for anger, low self-esteem, and habits tied to substance use. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape expectations in current relationships and supports practicing different ways of connecting and setting boundaries.Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. Rodney will work with each person to figure out which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and he may combine techniques from different schools to address specific problems. He frames therapy as a shared effort to notice patterns and try practical changes.
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by reducing travel time and allowing shorter check-ins or flexible scheduling. It also lets people continue a course of work while living in a different region. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework to remote sessions so people can practice skills between meetings.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
31+ years
Listed in
Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he help with?
Rodney works with addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, career challenges, and LGBT concerns, among other issues such as codependency and family of origin problems.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He uses direct, conversational work and practical techniques. His style blends client-centered listening with methods from CBT, ACT, DBT, and attachment-based therapy.
How much experience does he have?
He has 31 years of professional experience, much of it in community-based settings and influenced by his personal recovery journey and military service.
What credentials and location should I know?
He holds LCSW and LISW credentials and practices in Iowa.
Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?
He accepts international clients. Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Confirm current session options before booking to know whether video, phone, or other formats are offered.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your 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 at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.