Willow

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy services are provided by Cat Swanson.  Cat is a licensed social worker (LISW) and a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC) in Iowa.  Cat also holds a Master of Arts in Ministry from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.  Psychotherapy can be provided to individuals and couples.  

Cat's Practice

My specialty is working with people who are seeking healing and wholeness.

My clients come from a variety of backgrounds: straight and LGBQ+, cis and trans, religious and non-religious, housed and unhoused, those who struggle with addiction and those that don't.  All have in common a commitment to bravely looking within themselves and the systems that surround them to become fully who they are.

Working from a feminist perspective, I believe in the liberation of all.  The therapeutic space can be a brave space to explore past hurts and traumas, as well as to imagine new ways of being.   The therapeutic relationship is growth-fostering, meaning it's a place that you can be truly seen with empathy and support from another person.  Through this connection you can move towards full and radical acceptance of yourself.

Cat's Influences

Cat's approach to therapy is influenced by:

  • Carl Rogers and the person-centered approach to therapy.  Each person has the ability within themselves to move towards healing and wholeness.  Empathy and unconditional positive regard are integral to creating a non-judgmental space for people to let down their defenses and look inside themselves.
  • Relational-Cultural Therapy. We all want to be connected to other people, but sometimes we feel like we are not good enough.  Hiding these parts of ourselves prevents us from having genuine connection with others.  The therapeutic relationship can be a place to learn to embrace all parts of ourselves, which helps us to connect fully with others.
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) help provide tools to increase coping, regulate emotions, identify values, and strengthen relationships.
  • The Enneagram, which is a system of understanding personalities and their core motivations, fears, and desires.  It offers profound insights into how we think, feel, act, and interact with others.
  • Health at Every Size, meaning that our body size and shape are not indicators of health or non-health.  Health and size are not indicators of worth.  All people are worthy, in whatever body they inhabit.