- Strengths focused
- Direct and warm
- Practical tools
About Denise
Denise Stutes is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) practicing in Iowa. She brings five years of direct therapy experience and a long history in mental health work. Denise aims to help people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward.
She uses a warm, direct, and interactive style. Sessions often include gentle challenge, practical tools, and occasional humor. Denise focuses on helping clients notice strengths and build skills that fit real life. She emphasizes respect and a nonjudgmental stance in the room.
Her background includes work in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections. That range shaped her comfort addressing trauma, relationship problems, addiction concerns, grief, and stress. Denise has supported people coping with mood concerns such as depression and bipolar symptoms, and those navigating major life changes.
Therapeutic approaches in her work include client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, emotionally-focused ideas, existential questions, and mindfulness practices. She draws from these approaches to tailor steps clients can practice between sessions. Codependency and communication problems are among the specific issues she lists as additional focus areas.
Denise believes growth happens when people recognize their strengths. She aims to empower clients to set goals, try new behaviors, and track progress. Reaching out for help can feel hard; she offers steady support as people take those first steps.
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters most to the client. The therapist follows the client's lead and helps people find their own solutions, which can work well in conversation-based online sessions.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, teaches specific skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. This approach often uses short exercises and homework that are easy to review during remote meetings.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose methods that match goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean trying an exercise in session, adjusting homework, or blending approaches based on what helps.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, like scheduling around work or caregiving. It also lets people use short check-ins or longer sessions depending on what they need. Because the biography does not list specific session formats, confirm the current session options before booking so you know which format will be used.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Credentials
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Denise address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, relationship struggles, and codependency among other issues.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is compassionate, direct, and interactive, with some humor at times. She focuses on practical steps and empowering clients to use their strengths.
What kind of work experience informs her practice?
She has five years as a practicing therapist and earlier years working in community settings, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and corrections.
What credentials does she hold and where is she based?
She holds the LISW credential, which stands for Licensed Independent Social Worker, and she practices in Iowa.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and billing handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.