Denise Stutes, LISW

Iowa · 5 years in practice

Denise Stutes is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) practicing in Iowa.

License and registration

LISW, Iowa: 008035 · expires December 2026
NPI: 1497119994 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 5
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Denise

Denise Stutes is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) practicing in Iowa. She brings five years of clinical therapy experience and a long background in mental health work to each conversation. Her manner is compassionate and direct, and she aims to help people notice their own strengths as they move through change.

Denise has worked in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and correctional settings. That range shaped how she responds to people who have faced severe physical or mental trauma.

Background and approach

She draws on that experience when supporting people dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, and complicated life changes. Her approach centers on listening and building a strong therapeutic connection. She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people understand and shift the patterns that keep them stuck.

She also uses client-centered techniques to follow a person’s lead and cognitive behavioral tools to address unhelpful thinking and behaviors. Denise describes her style as interactive and sometimes lightly humorous. She aims to be empowering and nonjudgmental, helping people spot practical strengths and develop new coping skills.

People who struggle with relationship problems, communication issues, or feelings of emptiness often find this practical focus helpful. Sessions can include mindfulness practices, goal-focused conversations, and coaching around life transitions. The first steps are simple: talk about what matters most now, set a small goal, and plan the next steps together.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Denise lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Depression
Addictions
LGBT
Family conflicts
Parenting issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Coaching
Compassion fatigue
Abandonment
Avoidant personality
Caregiver issues and stress
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Dependent personality
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Emptiness
Family problems
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Hoarding
Impulsivity
Intellectual disability
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Money and financial issues
Mood disorders
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Paranoia
Personality disorders
Phobias
Postpartum depression
Post-traumatic stress
Self-love
Traumatic brain injury
Women's issues
Workplace issues

Approaches Denise names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How emotion-focused and practical methods work online

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying how emotions shape relationship and behavioral patterns and helps people change those patterns by working through emotional responses. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's experience, with the therapist following the client's pace and priorities to build trust and self-awareness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets specific thoughts and behaviors and offers concrete exercises to reduce symptoms like anxiety or depressive thinking.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose or blend methods based on each person’s needs, goals, and preferences. This means trying strategies, checking how they feel, and adjusting the plan together rather than committing to a single method up front.

Online therapy sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to give flexibility. Video works well for face-to-face conversation and deeper emotional work. Phone sessions can fit a break at work or when lower bandwidth is needed. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, step-by-step coaching, or when writing feels easier than talking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life and to continue work between sessions.

We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.

Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?

She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and communication problems, career strain, parenting and caregiver stress, and other life changes listed in her specialties.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is compassionate, direct, and interactive, with an emphasis on empowerment and practical skills. She may use gentle humor while helping people identify strengths.

What experience does she bring to sessions?

She has five years as a practicing therapist and additional prior work in community programs, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections, which informs her clinical perspective.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She holds the LISW credential as an Iowa LISW and practices from Iowa.

In which languages are sessions offered?

Sessions are offered in English.

Which session formats are available?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How does billing and cost work for sessions?

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

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Is this your profile?

Ask us to correct details or take the page down.