Denise Stutes, LISW

Iowa · 5 years in practice

Denise Stutes is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) based in Iowa who blends practical therapy with personal connection.

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) based in Iowa who blends practical therapy with personal connection. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship struggles, trauma, and life transitions. Her style is warm and straightforward, with a bit of humor when appropriate, and she aims to empower people to notice and use their strengths.

Denise draws on existential ideas to help clients find meaning and direction in difficult moments.

Background and approach

She pairs that with client-centered listening and cognitive behavioral techniques to address thought patterns and everyday coping. Mindfulness practices are used to build calm and present-moment awareness when emotions feel overwhelming. Her background includes community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections.

Over five years she has worked directly as a therapist, and she has additional experience across a longer career in mental health. That mix gives her familiarity with complicated trauma, substance issues, and intense life stressors. Sessions typically focus on clear goals and practical steps.

Denise aims to make therapy collaborative and actionable, helping people identify small changes that add up. She emphasizes building strengths, improving communication, and developing tools to manage mood and cravings. People who come to Denise often want an honest, compassionate guide who will challenge unhelpful patterns while also recognizing resilience.

She supports work on self-esteem, parenting stress, caregiving strain, codependency, and forgiveness among other concerns.

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 therapeutic approaches meet online care

Existential Therapy helps people look at meaning, choice, and personal values when life feels uncertain. It can be useful for grief, major life changes, and feelings of emptiness by encouraging reflection on what matters now.

Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening and empathy. The therapist offers support and acceptance while you set the pace, which can help with self-esteem, relationship concerns, and recovering from trauma.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is practical for anxiety, depression, addictions, and coping with stress by teaching concrete skills to test thoughts and change routines.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk through your goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then adapt techniques to fit your needs. That collaborative process helps shape a plan you can use between sessions.

Online therapy offers flexibility with several formats: live video calls for deeper conversation and visual connection, phone sessions when bandwidth or camera use is an issue, and live chat or text messaging for shorter check-ins or ongoing support. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, allow for regular check-ins, and offer different ways to practice skills between sessions.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of problems does this therapist address?

Denise works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and communication problems, trauma and abuse, addictions, and career issues.

What is the therapist's general approach and style?

She uses an approachable, direct style that mixes existential reflection with client-centered listening and cognitive behavioral techniques. Sessions aim to be collaborative and often include practical steps and mindfulness exercises.

What relevant background does she bring to sessions?

Denise has worked in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections, and has five years of experience specifically as a therapist within a longer mental health career.

What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

The therapist holds an Iowa Licensed Independent Social Worker credential, listed as LISW, and practices from Iowa.

Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.

In what formats are sessions offered?

Denise offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and preferences.

How is pricing structured for sessions?

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

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

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