Kelsey Stender

Hi! I’m glad you are here! A little about me, before getting to the therapy stuff! I graduated from Central College (Pella, IA) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology. I went on the receive my Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of St. Thomas – St. Catherine University School of Social Work (St. Paul, MN).

My past work experiences include correctional settings, residential settings, and a partial hospitalization program. In each setting, I provided group services, family therapy, and individual therapy to individuals with a broad range of mental health diagnoses.

As a therapist I walk side-by-side with individuals. I strongly believe in meeting you where you are at and that YOU are the expert of your life. My goal as a therapist is to take the journey with you to find your definition of a life worth living. Finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with can be difficult, but having good rapport is a large part of what makes therapy work! I’m more than happy to meet with you to see if I’d be a good fit for your needs and if not, we will work together to find someone who will be.

I work with preteens, adolescents, adults, and families. My therapy approach is empathetic, yet direct. I am trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and also utilize a person-centered approach. My specialties include: Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Self-Esteem/Body-Image Issues, Trauma, life transitions, and Relational/Family Conflict.

Outside of being a therapist, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, being in nature, sewing, trying new restaurants, and of course, watching good shows!