At a glance
- Credentials
- LISW
- License
- LISW, Iowa / 008035
- NPI
- 1497119994
- Experience
- 5 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Iowa
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Motivational Interviewing
- Strength building
- Practical strategies
About Denise
Denise Stutes is a licensed independent social worker who focuses on practical, down-to-earth support. She uses Motivational Interviewing alongside client-centered and cognitive behavioral methods to help people find motivation and build on strengths. Denise emphasizes a compassionate, direct style that aims to empower individuals. She brings five years of experience working as a therapist in Iowa.
Before becoming a therapist, Denise worked for many years in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections. That background shaped how she responds to trauma, crisis, and complex life stressors. She draws on that experience when helping people cope with grief, addiction, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges.
Sessions are collaborative and practical. Denise helps people notice what already works for them and then tries small, doable steps to change patterns. She uses clear feedback, mindfulness practices, and thought-focused strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.
Denise also addresses issues such as caregiver stress, codependency, abandonment, communication problems, and forgiveness. She describes her approach as compassionate, interactive, and occasionally light-hearted to ease difficult conversations. The goal is to help people recognize strengths and make meaningful progress.
Reaching out can feel hard, and Denise encourages those taking that step. To begin, prospective clients follow the site process to match and schedule an initial session with her according to availability.
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How Denise’s approaches shape online therapy
Denise often uses Motivational Interviewing to help people identify what matters to them and build personal motivation for change. This approach focuses on listening, asking helpful questions, and supporting small steps toward goals. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes understanding each person’s perspective and working at their pace to build trust and self-awareness.
She pairs these with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try different behaviors. CBT can be useful for anxiety, low mood, and everyday coping. Together these approaches let work be practical, goal-oriented, and respectful of each person’s values and readiness to change.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Denise will collaborate with the client to decide what methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors pacing and techniques during sessions so the work feels manageable and relevant.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, shorten check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Online sessions also allow people to use audio-only contact if they prefer less screen time. Talk with the therapist when scheduling to choose the approach and practical arrangements that suit everyday life. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueAdditional focus areas
AbandonmentAvoidant personalityCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesTherapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyExperience
5+ years
Listed in
Iowa
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Denise address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and many related areas such as caregiver stress and communication problems.
What is her therapeutic style like?
The style is compassionate, direct, and interactive. She aims to empower people, uses some humor when appropriate, and focuses on practical steps and strengths.
What experience does she bring?
She has five years working as a therapist and prior experience in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections that inform her work with trauma and complex needs.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an Iowa Licensed Independent Social Worker credential (LISW) and practices in Iowa.
Which languages are supported and can international clients work with her?
Sessions are offered in English, and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified in the biography; confirm current session options before booking to know which formats are offered.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers