New Life Counseling

New Life Counseling West Des Moines Office: 1200 Valley West Dr. Suite 700, Phone: (515) 225-4006 Ankeny: 227 NW School Locations in Ankeny and West Des Moines, Iowa.

We have 16 qualified and caring therapists ready to provide you a safe environment to heal, learn and gain hope for the future.

Emotional exhaustion doesn’t always look dramatic — sometimes it’s quiet. It’s the heaviness that doesn’t go away after ...
11/03/2025

Emotional exhaustion doesn’t always look dramatic — sometimes it’s quiet. It’s the heaviness that doesn’t go away after sleep.

If this feels familiar, pause. Breathe. You’re allowed to rest.

🌿 Which of these signs do you relate to most right now?

✨ What to Expect at Your First Therapy Appointment ✨Nervous for your first session? Totally normal! Here’s what it usual...
10/30/2025

✨ What to Expect at Your First Therapy Appointment ✨

Nervous for your first session? Totally normal! Here’s what it usually looks like 👇
🛋️ A calm, welcoming space to settle in and get comfortable
📋 A quick chat about paperwork, confidentiality, and what to expect
💬 Time to share what brought you in and what’s been on your mind
🎯 Setting goals together and exploring what healing could look like
🤝 Wrapping up with next steps and space for any questions

💫 Ready to begin your journey toward healing?
Schedule a session with our wonderful intern, Brittney, and take that first step toward caring for you. 💚

Childhood trauma refers to adverse experiences that occur during a person’s early years. Trauma can manifest in many way...
10/27/2025

Childhood trauma refers to adverse experiences that occur during a person’s early years. Trauma can manifest in many ways — and each person’s experience is deeply individual.

Some common types of experiences research has identified as important to address include:

1️⃣ Physical abuse
2️⃣ Sexual abuse
3️⃣ Emotional abuse
4️⃣ Psychological abuse
5️⃣ Neglect
6️⃣ Witnessing violence firsthand
7️⃣ Loss or abandonment
8️⃣ Natural disasters or accidents

Understanding where trauma begins helps us understand how healing can happen. Thank you, Dr. Don, for sharing this insight and for helping our community better recognize and respond to the impact of early experiences.

If you or someone you love is working through the effects of childhood trauma, you don’t have to do it alone — our team is here to support you.

When you feel overwhelmed — start here.✔️ Prioritize safety and grounding.Try the 5-4-3-2-1 method:5 things you can see4...
10/23/2025

When you feel overwhelmed — start here.

✔️ Prioritize safety and grounding.

Try the 5-4-3-2-1 method:
5 things you can see
4 things you can touch
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Let your body return to the present.

✔️ Lean on one trusted person.
Connection helps regulate your nervous system — you don’t have to do this alone.

✔️ Book with a trauma-informed therapist.
Working with someone trained to hold safe space can make all the difference.

🚨 If you’re in crisis, don’t wait — call or text 988 for immediate, confidential support.

These beautiful, grounding words were written by our amazing intern, Brittany — thank you for your heart and wisdom.
Ready to take the next step in your healing? Give us a call at (515) 964-5003 to book with Brittany — she’s here to support you with care and compassion.

When someone you care about is walking through trauma, your presence matters more than your advice.Here’s how to offer r...
10/20/2025

When someone you care about is walking through trauma, your presence matters more than your advice.

Here’s how to offer real emotional support:
🧡 Listen without trying to fix it. Let them speak freely — or sit in silence if that’s what they need.
🧡 Validate their experience. Say, “That sounds really painful,” or “I’m here for you.”
🧡 Avoid clichés. Phrases like “everything happens for a reason” can feel minimizing.
🧡 Be patient. Healing doesn’t follow a straight line. Show up consistently, even on their hard days.
🧡 Respect their pace. Let them open up when they’re ready — not when you’re ready to hear it.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can say is: “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

After experiencing trauma, it’s completely natural to avoid anything that brings it back up. But avoidance doesn’t make ...
10/16/2025

After experiencing trauma, it’s completely natural to avoid anything that brings it back up. But avoidance doesn’t make the pain go away—it just puts healing on hold.

One of the most powerful first steps is finding a safe space and a safe person to talk to. You don’t have to go through it alone.

Thank you to our intern Lisa for sharing this important insight and reminder.
If you’re ready to take that first step, Lisa is here to support you.
📞 Call (515) 964-5003
📧 Email lisa@newlife-counseling.com to schedule an appointment at New Life Counseling.

Not all boundaries are about saying “no” — they’re about protecting what matters most: your time, energy, and peace.But ...
10/13/2025

Not all boundaries are about saying “no” — they’re about protecting what matters most: your time, energy, and peace.

But it can be hard to know what healthy boundaries actually look like, especially if you didn’t grow up seeing them modeled.

Here are a few examples:
🟢 Healthy: “I need time to process before we talk about this.”
🔴 Unhealthy: Ignoring your own emotions to keep the peace.
🟢 Healthy: “I can help, but only until 3pm.”
🔴 Unhealthy: Saying yes even when you’re already overwhelmed.
🟢 Healthy: “I turn off my phone at night and don’t always respond right away.”
🔴 Unhealthy: Feeling guilty for not replying immediately.

Boundaries aren’t walls — they’re doors. They help us invite in safe, respectful connection and protect our mental and emotional health.

💬 Which of these boundary examples do you relate to most?

📌 Save this for the next time you need a reminder that it’s okay to protect your peace.

—

Ever feel like you're having the same argument on repeat with your partner?You're not alone. Communication patterns — es...
10/09/2025

Ever feel like you're having the same argument on repeat with your partner?

You're not alone. Communication patterns — especially the stuck ones — are often more about how we talk than what we’re saying.

One small shift that can help:
Pause. Breathe. Listen.

And try reflecting back what you heard before responding:
“I hear you saying…”

It might feel awkward at first, but this simple practice can reset the tone and help both partners feel truly understood.

This powerful reminder comes from our intern Tibisa, who is passionate about helping couples build better, more compassionate conversations.

Want to work on your communication together? Schedule an appointment with Tibisa today by calling (515) 964-5003 or emailing her directly at tibisa@newlife-counseling.com

—

🌟 Success Story Spotlight 🌟Meet “Samantha” (name changed for privacy), a dedicated professional who lived for years in t...
10/07/2025

🌟 Success Story Spotlight 🌟

Meet “Samantha” (name changed for privacy), a dedicated professional who lived for years in the struggle of distractions, restlessness, and procrastination.
Through an official ADHD assessment with Dr. Gilbert, Samantha found clarity and hope. With personalized support, she learned strategies to stay organized, sharpen her focus, and manage time with confidence.

Today, she’s thriving — not just at work, but in life.

If her story sounds familiar, know this: you’re not alone. Your story can change too.

📞 Contact Dr. Gilbert today for more information about adult ADHD testing.

Therapy is not about weakness — it’s about courage.It’s a safe place to process, heal, and grow. Therapy is: a partnersh...
10/06/2025

Therapy is not about weakness — it’s about courage.

It’s a safe place to process, heal, and grow.

Therapy is: a partnership, a safe space, and a step toward wholeness.

Therapy is not: judgment, quick fixes, or someone telling you how to live.

If you’ve been considering starting therapy, this is your sign.

You don’t have to walk through life’s challenges alone.
📞 Call us today at (515) 964-5003 or email to take the first step toward your healing journey.

Just because someone else may have “had it worse” doesn’t mean what you went through wasn’t traumatic or significant.You...
10/03/2025

Just because someone else may have “had it worse” doesn’t mean what you went through wasn’t traumatic or significant.Your pain matters, and so does your healing.

Healing is not the same as simply “getting through it.” It’s a process of slowing down, being heard, and taking steps toward wholeness. You don’t have to do it alone.

A special thank you to our intern, Mike Mattson, for these wise words about trauma and healing. Mike is now accepting clients and would be honored to walk alongside you in your journey.

📞 Call (515) 964-5003 or 📧 email mike@newlife-counseling.com to schedule an appointment.

Mike shares: “My aim as your counselor is to meet you where you are, walk alongside you, hear your story, and help you grow. I believe we are all called to examine ourselves and discover what we want our life to be.”

🌟 Meet our intern, Lisa Sandquist! 🌟Lisa has a heart for walking alongside people from all ages and backgrounds. She has...
10/02/2025

🌟 Meet our intern, Lisa Sandquist! 🌟

Lisa has a heart for walking alongside people from all ages and backgrounds. She has experience supporting children with special needs, individuals navigating grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, and relational struggles, as well as those preparing for marriage.

Her counseling approach is shaped by her faith in Jesus Christ and love for Scripture, with the desire to create a safe, welcoming space where you can be fully yourself, feel heard, and take steps toward healing and growth.

Lisa is now accepting new clients! If you’re ready to begin your counseling journey, we invite you to connect with her today.

📞 Call: (515) 964-5003
📧 Email: lisa@newlife-counseling.com

Address

227 Northwest School Street
Ankeny, IA
50266

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 2pm

Telephone

+15152254006

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when New Life Counseling posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to New Life Counseling:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category