Meet the best therapists* in Des Moines.

image of downtown des moines; best therapists in des moines

What kind of therapist do you need?

Note that most therapists specialize in multiple issues, so therapists in different categories may still be able to help you.

Anxiety therapist
Child or teen therapist
Couples therapist
Depression therapist
EMDR therapist
Family therapist
Grief therapist
OCD therapist
Trauma therapist

Our process

Fact checked

All updates to our vetting process and content are clinically reviewed by licensed psychotherapists.

We only reference peer-reviewed psychological and medical journals, trusted media outlets, esteemed mental health experts, or reputable mental health organizations.

Why trust Best Therapists?

We developed a vetting process specific to therapists that checks for the things we wish we knew about a therapist before starting treatment.

We're therapy seekers ourselves, and our team is comprised of mental health experts, writers, and licensed therapists who fact check everything we create and develop.

Meet our team of expert contributors or learn more about why you should choose Best Therapists when seeking a therapist.

Best therapists in Des Moines

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

Virtual Only

$200

per session

Helps you get reimbursed for therapy

Helps you get reimbursed for therapy

Not available

Idaho, LCSW #38078; Iowa, LISW #096945

Danielle Wayne, LCSW

Vetted and verified

No Google reviews

Modalities

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Trauma-focused

Specialties

ADHD, Anxiety, Burnout

Additional Areas of focus

ADHD, Anxiety, Burnout, Caring professionals (doctors, therapists, etc.), Neurodivergence, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic attacks, Phobias, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Self esteem/self worth, Social anxiety, Stress, Transgender people, Trauma, LGBTQ+ sexuality, Autism spectrum, Gender identity

Virtual Only

$185

per session

Helps you get reimbursed for therapy

Helps you get reimbursed for therapy

Not available

Illinois, LCSW #149022278; Iowa, LISW #091183; Florida, LCSW #TPSW350

Tori Cherry, LCSW, CEDS-C

Vetted and verified

No Google reviews

Modalities

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment based, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Internal family systems (IFS), Strength-based therapy, Trauma-focused

Specialties

Body image, Anxiety, Disordered eating

Additional Areas of focus

Burnout, Caring professionals (doctors, therapists, etc.), Highly sensitive people, Self esteem/self worth, Trauma

Virtual Only

$225

per session

Helps you get reimbursed for therapy

Aetna

Helps you get reimbursed for therapy

Not available

California, LPCC #13150; Arkansas, LPC #P1802011; Iowa, LMHC #120277

Judith Kanu, LPCC

Vetted and verified

No Google reviews

Modalities

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, Mindfulness based, Solution-focused brief therapy, Trauma-focused

Specialties

Anxiety, Trauma, Self esteem/self worth

Additional Areas of focus

Anger management, Anxiety, Body image, Burnout, Career counseling/coaching, Caring professionals (doctors, therapists, etc.), Depression, Grief and/or loss, Highly sensitive people, Life transitions, Mindfulness and/or meditation, Panic attacks, Polyamory/non-monogamy/open relationships, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Postpartum depression, Racial/cultural identity, Self esteem/self worth, Stress, Trauma

Best anxiety therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.

Best children and teen therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.

Best couples therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.

Best depression therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.

Best EMDR therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.

Best family therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.

Best grief therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.

Best OCD therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.

Best trauma therapists

4 stars or higher online

Peer reviewed

Screened for burnout

Trauma-informed

No items found.
FAQs

Frequently asked questions about therapy

What's the difference between in-person and virtual therapy?

Although there is no research that suggests in-person or virtual therapy is more effective, you may prefer one over the other. Some people prefer the intimacy of being in the same physical space as their therapist, while others prefer receiving treatment in the comfort of their own home. If you have a tight schedule, virtual therapy is a great option since you won’t commute to your therapist’s office. Virtual therapy also allows you to see any therapist throughout your state, which means one less barrier to finding your soulmate therapist!

When should someone start therapy?

Deciding when to start therapy is a very personal decision, but we recommend starting sooner rather than later. Along with running the risk of your mental health declining, you also miss out on time spent working on yourself, repairing your relationships, and so much more. Life is short, so why not make it the best possible as soon as possible?

What type of therapy is right for me?

Your therapist will carefully customize your treatment plan, and they will likely rely on a variety of therapeutic methods. There are some treatment methods that are better for specific disorders (like exposure therapy for OCD or phobias), but a combination of several will likely be the best option for you.

Is going to therapy worth it?

We’re huge advocates for therapy at Best Therapists, but we know that not everyone has a good experience in therapy. Working with a high quality therapist (with whom you have a great relationship) can be life changing. You can change harmful behaviors or thought patterns, shed or improve hurtful relationships, increase your resilience and coping methods for dealing with mental illness, and much more. We think that that’s pretty frigging worth it, but finding the right therapist for YOU is crucial to this equation.

What's the difference between a psychotherapist and a psychologist?

The main difference between psychotherapists and psychologists is their education. Psychologists receive more education, and in some cases, psychologists focus more on research than clinical work. But both therapists and psychologists go through thousands of hours of clinical training. When choosing a therapist, the skill of the therapist and your relationship with them matters way more than which degree your therapist has.

Do therapists offer free consultations?

Yes, most therapists offer free consultations. This not only benefits you, but the therapist too! Therapists want to see if you are a good fit before doing an official therapy session with you to save you (and them) time and energy. Although your relationship has barely begun, you both will feel out your chemistry. You won’t be BFFs by the end of the consultation, but should get a sense of whether or not you’ll work well together.

About Us

Hi, we’re Best Therapists.

We vet therapists, so you can focus on fit—not quality.

Through peer reviews, license verification, online reviews, and requiring acknowledgement of trauma-informed care, we do our best to make sure that your best therapist provides high quality care (and that's regardless of your race, sexual orientation, or background).

But your friend’s best therapist might not be your best therapist. That's why personality fit between you and your therapist is crucial. It’s not something that we can verify for you, so we encourage you to schedule free consultations with multiple therapists to get a sense of your chemistry together.

Why choose Best Therapists

There are plenty of therapist directories to choose from.

But other therapist directories like Psychology Today, Good Therapy, Choosing Therapy, and more have hundreds (if not thousands) of results for therapists in your city alone. The search for your best therapist becomes instantly overwhelming, which stops some therapy-seekers in their tracks. Our involved vetting process goes way beyond a basic license check (unlike the other guys), which simplifies YOUR search.

Finding the best therapist for you is hard enough, so we curate lists like these so you can get quality care as quickly and seamlessly impossible. And no need to check a therapist's availability or add your name to their waitlist—all Best Therapists are currently accepting new clients.

Not feeling any of the therapists on our list? No worries. Keep scrolling to find other vetted therapists in cities near you.

When to not choose Best Therapists

In some situations, we may not be the best therapist directory for you. For example...

  1. If you are looking for free therapy or want therapy that's supplemented by another organization, Best Therapists isn't the best therapist directory for you.
  2. If you're only open to seeing a therapist that's in-network with your insurance provider, Best Therapists might not be a good fit. Many of our therapists don't work directly with insurance companies, so we encourage you to check your out-of-network mental health benefits (use our free benefits checker). Don't let your insurance company prevent you from working with your soulmate therapist!
  3. Finally, this site is not intended for medical emergencies. If you are in an immediate mental health crisis, please call the national suicide hotline at 988.

Want to learn more about starting therapy? Read our guide on how to start therapy.