Ann Ghabel, LISW - Therapist in Iowa

Client-centered care
Evidence-informed tools
Support for caregivers

About Ann

Ann Ghabel is a licensed independent social worker who brings a calm, practical approach to therapy. She emphasizes a warm, accepting space where people can speak freely about what worries them. Ann aims to help clients find clearer ways to cope with daily stress and difficult life events.

She draws on 11 years of clinical experience plus decades working in inpatient child psychiatry and teaching psychiatric nursing. That background informs how she listens for patterns and helps people make sense of painful experiences. Ann uses plain language to explain options so clients feel more in control of next steps.

Sessions typically focus on goals that matter to the client. She supports people dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting stress, trauma and abuse, and burnout from caregiving. Other common concerns include sleeping or eating problems, anger, self-esteem, career changes, bipolar mood concerns, and ADHD-related struggles.

Ann combines several approaches to match what each person needs. She may use client-centered conversations to build trust, cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity, and skills from dialectical behavior therapy to manage intense emotions.

People concerned about adoption and foster care, abandonment, attachment, blended family challenges, chronic illness, or communication problems may find her background relevant. To begin, she encourages a simple first step of describing current struggles so a practical plan can be made together.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person's experience without judgment; it helps people feel heard and supported while they make their own changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and offers practical exercises to change those patterns and reduce symptoms. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and tolerating distress in hard moments.

Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals and preferences, try different tools, and adjust the plan as needed. That collaborative selection helps make therapy feel relevant and doable for everyday life.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow more consistent check-ins during transitions. Because session formats are not specified here, confirm current options before booking so you know what is available. Many people find that short weekly sessions, longer periodic reviews, or a mix of regular check-ins and skills practice can work well when life is hectic.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression

Also works with

GriefEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Abandonment Adoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issues Caregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgiveness Guilt and shameImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / loneliness Life purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)HypnotherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

11+ years

Credentials

Iowa

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She helps with common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting stress, trauma and abuse, sleeping and eating problems, anger, self-esteem, career changes, bipolar concerns, and ADHD-related struggles.

What is her therapeutic style?

Her style is client-centered and practical. She listens without judgment and works with clients to set clear goals and try approaches that fit their needs.

What experience does she bring?

She has 11 years as a therapist plus many years working in inpatient child psychiatry and teaching psychiatric nursing, which inform her clinical perspective.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She holds an LISW credential and is licensed in Iowa.

Does she work in other languages or with international clients?

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

What session formats are offered?

Specific session formats are not listed here; please confirm current session options before booking.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

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