Iowa Counseling Center • Ames, Iowa
Counseling in Ames, Iowa for Individuals, Couples & Families
Therapy should be more than a place to talk.
Our Ames therapists combine genuine understanding with practical guidance, honest feedback, and tools for meaningful change—so therapy can help you understand what is happening and move forward in ways that matter outside the therapy room.
Want to choose a therapist first? Find your therapist • 515.233.8473
Individuals • Couples • Families • Children & Teens • Ames • Online Available
When something needs to change
You don’t need to have it all figured out before you come to therapy.
Maybe anxiety or depression is wearing you down. Maybe you and your partner keep ending up in the same painful argument. Maybe your child or teenager is struggling, your family feels disconnected, or life has changed in a way you weren’t prepared for.
Whatever brought you here, you are probably looking for more than a place to vent. You want to understand what is happening, feel genuinely understood, and have someone help you find a meaningful way forward.
That is where good therapy begins: with understanding—and then helping something actually change.
Therapy at Iowa Counseling Center • Ames
Feeling understood matters. So does actually moving forward.
We believe the best therapy combines genuine compassion with an active process for change. That means your therapist will work to understand what is happening beneath the surface—and then help you do something useful with that understanding.
Look Beneath the Surface
Anxiety, depression, conflict, trauma, and family problems rarely happen in isolation. We help you understand the deeper emotional and relational patterns that can keep the same problems repeating.
A Therapist Who Participates
You deserve more than nodding and vague reassurance. Our therapists ask questions, offer perspective, teach practical tools, and provide honest feedback when it can help.
Turn Insight Into Change
The goal is not simply to understand yourself better. It is to use that understanding to communicate differently, respond with more freedom, repair relationships, and make changes that matter outside the therapy room.
Book an appointment
Take the first step. We’ll help with the next one.
Tell us a little about what you’re looking for. You do not need to choose a therapist before reaching out—our team can help with scheduling, therapist fit, and the next step.
In-person counseling at our Ames office, plus online therapy throughout Iowa.
515.233.8473
Book an Appointment
Complete the form below and our team will follow up with you.
Prefer to explore your options first?
Browse our Ames therapists.
Choose who counseling is for and we’ll narrow our Ames team to therapists who may be a good fit. You can also book first and let our team help with the match.
Courtney Anderson, LMHC
Ames
Courtney employs an extensive range of techniques, placing a significant emphasis on the vital mind-body connection, as she works closely with each client to develop personalized strategies that address their individual needs and aspirations.
Bethanie Langloss, LISW
Ames
Bethanie is deeply committed to guiding individuals on their unique paths, whether that means discovering new perspectives, healing from past wounds, leading a life aligned with personal values, or simply finding acceptance in a world that often feels unsteady.
Austin Cross, LISW
Ames
Austin is dedicated to assisting individuals in discovering ways to overcome the obstacles that hold them back. He offers both in-office and telehealth sessions to accommodate your needs.
Abby Jones, LISW
Ames
Abby fosters a supportive space where clients can find emotional relief as they navigate personal difficulties. She engages with teens, adults, and couples who are eager to embark on a journey of self-love and acceptance, particularly those who feel trapped in survival mode or burdened by negative thoughts.
Andi Prihoda, LMSW
Ames
Andi creates a nurturing environment where clients find the emotional support they need to tackle their personal challenges. She works with children aged 8 and older and individual adults, helping them to cultivate self-love and acceptance—especially those who feel emotionally exhausted, stuck in constant overwhelm, or burdened by self-critical thinking.
Carol Caskey, M.S.Ed., LMSW
Ames
Carol is an exceptionally talented therapist with a wealth of experience spanning many years, during which she has worked effectively with individuals, adolescents, couples, and families alike. Her compassionate approach and understanding nature create a safe environment for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings.
Our story
A practice built around one simple idea: therapy should help people experience real, lasting change.
I’m Brandon Wall, LMFT and CEO of Iowa Counseling Center. Together with my father, Dr. Bing Wall, our mission has always been simple: to help as many people as possible experience real, lasting change.
That mission shapes how we build and train our team. We want therapy here to go beyond simply listening. Our therapists work to understand the core issues that keep individuals, couples, and families stuck—and to provide the guidance and tools that can help people move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Whether you meet with us in person at our Ames office or online anywhere in Iowa, the goal is the same: thoughtful, compassionate therapy that helps make meaningful change possible.
Brandon Wall, LMFT
CEO, Iowa Counseling Center
How we think about therapy
Go beneath the symptom. Understand the system. Create room for something new.
Our goal is not to decide which part of you is broken. It is to understand how emotions, relationships, history, beliefs, and patterns have organized around survival, connection, protection, and meaning—and then help create room for something different.
Understand What the Pattern Is Doing
Behaviors and emotions that seem irrational often make more sense once we understand the job they learned to do, the experiences that shaped them, and what they are trying to prevent, protect, or preserve.
See the Whole System
We look beyond symptoms to the larger system: your inner world, relationships, family history, beliefs, environment, identity, and the patterns that connect them.
Turn Insight Into Lived Change
Insight matters, but therapy also needs movement. We work toward greater freedom, emotional flexibility, honesty, connection, and the ability to live more consistently with what matters to you.
Our therapists bring different specialties, personalities, and clinical approaches to the work. What connects them is a commitment to understanding the whole person, participating actively in therapy, and helping insight become change.
Our Ames Office
A welcoming place to do meaningful work.
Our Ames office offers in-person counseling for individuals, couples, families, children, and teens in a warm, comfortable setting. The goal is simple: create a place where you can feel understood while also receiving the insight, feedback, and practical help needed to move forward.
2515 University Blvd, Suite 106
Ames, IA 50010
Prefer the flexibility of telehealth? Many of our therapists also offer secure online counseling throughout Iowa.
Areas of Support
Whatever brought you here, there’s a place to start.
Our therapists work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families facing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, family conflict, and many other concerns. You do not need to know exactly what kind of therapy you need before reaching out.
Individual Support
Anxiety & Stress
Help for persistent worry, overwhelm, panic, tension, and stress that make daily life harder.
Individual Support
Depression
Support when low mood, hopelessness, isolation, or loss of motivation makes it difficult to feel like yourself.
Trauma Support
Trauma & PTSD
Therapy for painful experiences, trauma reactions, and patterns that continue to affect the present.
Relationships
Couples & Marriage Counseling
Help for couples who feel disconnected, stuck in repeating conflict, or unsure how to move forward together.
Family Support
Family Conflict
A place to understand difficult family patterns, improve communication, and create healthier ways of relating.
Children & Teens
Children & Adolescents
Age-appropriate support for young people navigating emotions, behavior, relationships, school, and family stress.
Life Changes
Grief & Loss
Compassionate support through death, separation, major transitions, and the many forms loss can take.
Relationships
Infidelity, Trust & Communication
Help rebuilding trust, addressing betrayal, and changing communication patterns that keep relationships stuck.
Specialized Support
Eating Disorders
Support for eating-related concerns and the emotional, relational, and behavioral patterns surrounding them.
Not sure which category fits? That’s completely fine. Start with the person, not the label.
Therapist specialties, ages served, and availability vary.
What People Are Saying
People notice when therapy feels different.
Across publicly posted Google reviews, several themes come up again and again: people describe feeling understood, thoughtfully challenged, and supported by a team that helps make therapy practical and meaningful.
★★★★★ Themes from publicly posted 5-star Google reviews
Compassionate + Practical
Reviewers frequently describe a counseling experience that combines genuine understanding with realistic, practical guidance they can use outside the therapy room.
More Than Just Listening
People often mention therapists who ask meaningful questions, offer perspective, provide healthy challenge, and help turn insight into meaningful change.
Warm From the First Contact
Reviews regularly mention kind staff, a comfortable environment, and an easy experience from scheduling through the counseling process.
Based on recurring themes in publicly posted Google reviews. To protect privacy, Iowa Counseling Center does not identify reviewers or confirm whether any reviewer has received services.
Practical Details
Getting started should feel straightforward.
Reaching out is the first step. From there, our Ames team can help with therapist fit, scheduling, and the practical details that make getting started easier.
Ways to meet: In person at 2515 University Blvd, Suite 106 in Ames, or online anywhere in Iowa.
Who we serve: Individuals, couples, and families. Ages served, specialties, and availability vary by therapist.
Insurance: If you plan to use insurance, Iowa Counseling Center is currently in-network only with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa. Your deductible, copay, and coinsurance depend on your individual plan, so we recommend confirming your mental health benefits with Wellmark before your first appointment.
Questions before booking? Call 515.233.8473.
What Happens Next
From appointment request to first session.
Send us an appointment request
Use the appointment form above to get started. If you already have a therapist in mind, let us know. If not, our team can help you find a fit.
Narrow down the right fit
Your needs, schedule, therapist specialties, and current availability can all help narrow the options.
Begin therapy
Your first session is a chance to talk about what brought you in, what you hope will change, and whether the therapist feels like a good fit.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few things you may want to know before getting started.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions people have before scheduling.
How do I choose the right therapist?
If you are ready to begin, submit the appointment form above and our team can help with therapist fit. If you prefer to browse first, use the therapist matcher above to narrow our Ames team by who counseling is for, then read individual profiles to learn about each therapist’s specialties and style.
What if I don’t know what kind of therapy I need?
You do not need to choose a therapy approach or have a diagnosis before scheduling. Tell us what is bringing you in and what you hope will be different. Your therapist can help determine a useful direction once you meet.
Do you offer online counseling?
Yes. We offer secure online therapy for clients throughout Iowa. Availability varies by therapist, so use the matcher above or the appointment form to find someone who offers telehealth.
What insurance do you accept?
Iowa Counseling Center is currently in-network only with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa. Deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and other benefits vary by plan, so we recommend confirming your mental health benefits directly with Wellmark before your first appointment.
Do you work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families?
Yes. Our team works with a wide range of ages and needs, including individuals, couples, and families. Ages served and specialties vary by therapist, so the matcher and individual profiles are the best place to see who may be a fit.
What should I expect at the first session?
Your first session is primarily about understanding what brought you in, the context around it, what you hope will change, and whether the therapist feels like a good fit. You do not need to arrive with a polished story or a complete plan.
What happens after I submit the appointment form?
Our team will review your request and follow up to help with scheduling and therapist fit based on your preferences, needs, and current availability.
What if the first therapist does not feel like the right fit?
A good therapeutic fit matters. If the match does not feel right, contact our team and we can discuss other available options.
Ready when you are
You don’t have to know exactly what you need to get started.
Tell us a little about what brings you here. Our team can help you find the right Ames therapist and next step—whether you want to meet in person or online.
Prefer to talk with someone? 515.233.8473