Shelly Stewart-Sandusky is the president and founder of SS Therapy and Consulting, Ltd. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who provides individual, couple and family therapy services. She actively works to create a comfortable, non-judgmental environment where all clients feel safe and heard by the therapist and/or family members.
Shelly has a M.S. from Iowa State University in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Michelle is a Clinical Fellow with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
SHelly is particularly interested in:
Individual Therapy: trauma related issues, depression, anxiety, oppositional defiance, conduct/behavior issues, LGBT related issues.
Couples Counseling: divorce and co-parenting, life change stressors, infidelity, sexual addiction, premarital counseling.
Family Therapy: parent/child issues, sibling discord, blended family issues, parenting issues, familial conflict.
Shelly is available in the Merle Hay office.
Shelly has a M.S. from Iowa State University in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Michelle is a Clinical Fellow with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
SHelly is particularly interested in:
Individual Therapy: trauma related issues, depression, anxiety, oppositional defiance, conduct/behavior issues, LGBT related issues.
Couples Counseling: divorce and co-parenting, life change stressors, infidelity, sexual addiction, premarital counseling.
Family Therapy: parent/child issues, sibling discord, blended family issues, parenting issues, familial conflict.
Shelly is available in the Merle Hay office.
Anne is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who works with individuals, couples and families who are struggling to manage life circumstances. She provides a non-judgmental, safe and supportive environment that offers guidance to help meet your goals through open and honest conversation. She works with children, adolescents and adults within an individual, couple and/or family setting to empower self-growth, healing, improvement of relationships and the reduction of emotional suffering while addressing areas of concern including: anxiety, depression, addictions and compulsions, relationships, trauma, adjustment to change/life transitions, self-esteem, grief and loss, and stress management.
Anne has a M.S. from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln in Child, Youth and Family Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Post-Degree Certification in Medical Family Therapy. She is a Clinical Fellow with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Anne has a particular interest in working with adolescents and their families who are struggling with defiant behaviors, conduct concerns and sexual boundary issues. Sessions focus on increasing one's empathy towards others, as well as identifying abusive behavioral cycles and learning healthy alternatives to these behaviors.
Anne is available in the Ankeny office.
Amanda Ackerman is a licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Amanda is certified in EMDR and working towards EMDRIA certification. Amanda enjoys providing therapy to individuals and families. Amanda encourages my clients to be comfortable, open, and honest. Amanda works with clients focusing on anxiety, depression, delinquent defiant behavior, conduct concerns, school or work issues, trauma, relationships, stress management, substance issues, or self-esteem.
Amanda is available in the Merle Hay office.
Paul is a Licensed Individual Social Worker who works with teens, adults, and families. Paul enjoys working both with adults going through difficult times as well as quiet/shy teenagers who have difficulty opening up to others. Paul believes in matching his therapy style to the goals and the pace that you feel comfortable with. Paul strives to make therapy a positive experience in which you feel heard, understood, and appreciated.
Paul has extensive experience working with teenagers, adults, and families who are dealing with difficult transitions, prior traumatic events, or individuals who have been involved with outside systems like Juvenile Court or the Department of Human Services.
Paul works both out of our Des Moines office and our Ankeny office to give clients options for both time and location. Paul's goal is to be the type of therapist that you brag about and recommend to your friends and family.
Paul is available in the Ankeny office.
Paul has extensive experience working with teenagers, adults, and families who are dealing with difficult transitions, prior traumatic events, or individuals who have been involved with outside systems like Juvenile Court or the Department of Human Services.
Paul works both out of our Des Moines office and our Ankeny office to give clients options for both time and location. Paul's goal is to be the type of therapist that you brag about and recommend to your friends and family.
Paul is available in the Ankeny office.
Tiffany is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). She enjoys providing therapy to individuals and families. She provides a safe supportive environment and encourage her clients to be comfortable, open, and honest. Together, in a casual and comfortable environment, Tiffany and her clients identify and approach life's challenges because only together are we able to make life-changing decisions. She has experience working with anxiety, depression, delinquent defiant behavior, conduct concerns, school or work issues, trauma, relationships, stress management, substance issues, and self-esteem.
Tiffany has obtained training and is working toward certification in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which enhances work with adverse life experiences to address how negative belief systems impact present functioning. Through EMDR these systems can be rewired to allow for room to grow and heal.
Tiffany holds an M.S. in Counseling from Drake University. She is a National Certified Counselor.
Tiffany is available in the Merle Hay office
Tiffany has obtained training and is working toward certification in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which enhances work with adverse life experiences to address how negative belief systems impact present functioning. Through EMDR these systems can be rewired to allow for room to grow and heal.
Tiffany holds an M.S. in Counseling from Drake University. She is a National Certified Counselor.
Tiffany is available in the Merle Hay office
Janet is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). She works with all ages, individuals as well as couples and families. She creates a warm invited atmosphere for people so you will feel safe and accepted as you work on the painful and difficult issues of life. She creates individual treatment plans with her client's and she uses the therapy approach that is right for each individual client. Some of the approaches to therapy I use most often are: thought processing (CBT), telling your life story, (Narrative), and looking at the family dynamics that impact life today (family systems). I am passionate about assisting people in finding their strengths and learning to use these strengths in their relationships and daily lives. I have experience treating people with anxiety, abusive relationships, parent/child attachment and bonding issues, broken relationships, chronic pain, depression, grief — including endings of many parts of life, trauma - including veterans and their families, self-care for those working in the helping professions, play therapy (children 4-8), infertility, families by way of adoption.
As well as a master’s degree in mental health counseling she also have a master’s degree in theology and pastoral care. This gives her knowledge helping people with spiritual matters effecting their mental health and spiritual topics which come up unexpectedly in the therapeutic journey and in life. She believe bridging emotions, thought patterns, and spiritual experiences can lead to a more holistic and fulfilled life. You decide the amount of spiritual work you want during therapy, including none if that is your preference. No matter if you are currently participating in a faith community or have in the past or are spiritually searching. Your faith background is a part of you, and I will honor and respect it.
Janet is full time in the Merle Hay office and sees people Monday - Friday from 9am - 7pm and Saturday from 10am-4pm.
Chewy is a Goldendoodle trained as a therapy dog. He loves attention, fetch, and making people feel a little bit better. He works in the Ankeny location most Mondays and Tuesdays. He is hypoallergenic. While he loves attending sessions and working to help people, he understands some people are not comfortable with dogs and he will wait in another office if his help in not wanted or needed. Chewy has worked in an adolescent inpatient setting, a children's hospital, a hospice center and now in private practice.
Chewy is able to contribute to sessions by helping people feel more comfortable and offering a distraction that can help making opening up feel a little easier. Chewy will offer comfort to people he sees in emotional distress by laying beside them, holding hands, sharing his tennis ball or just sitting close by. He responds well to verbal and hand commands. Chewy has been working as a therapy dog since 2015.
Chewy is able to contribute to sessions by helping people feel more comfortable and offering a distraction that can help making opening up feel a little easier. Chewy will offer comfort to people he sees in emotional distress by laying beside them, holding hands, sharing his tennis ball or just sitting close by. He responds well to verbal and hand commands. Chewy has been working as a therapy dog since 2015.