- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting support
About Ann
Ann Ghabel is an Iowa-licensed independent social worker (LISW) with 11 years of experience as a therapist and a long background in psychiatric nursing and teaching. She works with stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, depression, grief, eating and sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and ADHD. Ann also addresses areas like abandonment, adoption and foster care issues, attachment difficulties, autism spectrum concerns, caregiver stress, chronic illness, communication problems, divorce and domestic violence.
Before moving into full-time therapy, Ann spent decades working in an inpatient child psychiatry unit as a nurse and taught psychiatric nursing. That clinical foundation shapes how she listens and responds. She uses practical tools and conversational assessment to understand what matters most to each person.
Her work blends client-centered methods with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), hypnotherapy, mindfulness methods, and Brainspotting as a tool for trauma-related work. Sessions focus on clear goals, skills practice, and exploring difficult memories or patterns when needed.
Ann aims to make sessions direct and respectful. She helps people name problems, try new coping strategies, and practice ways to handle stress, relationships, and daily demands. She supports parents working through parenting strain and people navigating career or life transitions.
To get started she asks people to complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session. The process is straightforward and meant to help find the right next step for someone feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person’s experience. Online sessions using this approach involve open conversation, identifying priorities, and shaping sessions around what the client wants to work on. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In remote sessions CBT often uses brief exercises, homework, and skill practice to change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness; online meetings can be used to learn and rehearse those skills in weekly sessions.Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust based on what helps. That means the first few sessions are often about testing what works and shaping a plan together.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make fitting therapy into a busy schedule easier. It can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and make it simpler to maintain continuity during life changes like moving for school or a job. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, worksheets, and skills practice to a remote setting so progress continues even when life is hectic.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, parenting, depression, grief, eating and sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and ADHD.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centered approach combined with CBT, DBT, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, and Brainspotting as appropriate. Sessions tend to focus on practical skills, reflection, and examining patterns that cause distress.
How much experience does she have?
She has 11 years of experience as a therapist and previously worked for decades in inpatient child psychiatry as a nurse and instructor in psychiatric nursing.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LISW licensed in Iowa and practices from that state.
Does she work with people in other countries or languages?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are offered.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.