Ann Ghabel , LISW

Ann Ghabel is a licensed Iowa clinician (LISW) who brings decades of mental health experience to her therapy work. She spent 40 years working in an inpatient child psychiatry unit as a nurse and also taught psychiatric nursing, later moving into clinical therapy where she has accumulated professional experience over a number of years.

As a Licensed Independent Social Worker - a credential that indicates advanced training and the ability to provide independent clinical services - she focuses on helping people manage stress and anxiety, navigate family conflicts, address trauma and abuse, and work through parenting challenges. She aims to create an open, nonjudgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be shared honestly and explored together.

Ann integrates tools such as Brainspotting to help clients gain insight into sources of distress. Brainspotting can be used to deepen understanding and to support recovery from emotional trauma. Taking the first step toward a more fulfilling and happier life can be difficult, and Ann offers steady support for people as they begin and continue that process.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Ann uses client-centered therapy to build a respectful, collaborative relationship that centers the client's own goals and perspectives - an approach that helps people feel heard and supported while working through life challenges. She also employs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and provides practical strategies for reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. When appropriate, elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) may be used to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills useful for intense emotions and relationship struggles.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Ann works with clients to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and personal preferences, adapting techniques collaboratively as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people with busy schedules or geographic constraints. Through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, clients can access regular, consistent care without the need to travel, making it easier to maintain momentum between sessions and to fit therapy into daily life.