Thrive Counseling Center

10/31/2025

I’m flying back to Iowa from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit in Washington, D.C., and honestly, I’m still processing it all.

To be surrounded by hundreds of other small business owners, who are the backbone of America, was both humbling and deeply inspiring. Every single person there had a story of grit, sacrifice, and determination. It reminded me that small business owners are truly a rare breed… made up of passion, persistence, and just enough delusion to believe we can make something out of nothing. 😉

One of the biggest highlights for me was hearing Ken Langone, founder of Home Depot, share his journey. His advice hit home:

“Treat your people well, and you will keep good people.”
That’s something we live by at Thrive Counseling Center. Our people are everything. Our clinicians, our admin team, and our clients are the heart of this business. When you take care of your people, the rest has a way of falling into place.

We also had the incredible opportunity to advocate for small businesses directly at the Capitol. We met with lawmakers to share the real challenges we face every day. From healthcare and hiring to taxes, regulation, and mental health access, these are not just “business issues,” they’re human ones. Having a seat at that table was powerful, and it reminded me how important it is that small business voices are not only heard but valued.

Hearing from Kevin O’Leary, Daymond John, and Martha Stewart was equally inspiring. Each speaker offered a perspective that fueled the fire to keep showing up, leading with heart, and growing with purpose.

And then… seeing Thrive’s logo on the wall, at Union Station, next to other incredible small businesses across the country? Goosebumps. That was a full-circle moment I’ll never forget.

This experience has given me far more than business skills, it’s given me a renewed sense of purpose, a community that truly understands, and the confidence to keep building something meaningful right here in Iowa.

I haven’t done this alone. The team at Thrive has helped shape it into what it is today and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them and the amazing clients we serve. 🌿

10/22/2025

🌿Just a few weeks away!🌿

Three Eye Opening Truths, from Amy before the Summit! We are so excited to hear an expert on this important topic!

Join us November 7th to learn more from Amy about how to support YOURSELF, as well as others with ADHD!

10/11/2025

Some days feel lighter. Some days feel like too much. 🌱
Today, and every day, remember:
Your mind matters.
Your story matters.
YOU matter.

If things ever feel too heavy to carry alone, help is always available.

📱 Call or text 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline anytime, day or night.

At Thrive Counseling Center, we’re here to walk alongside you through the hard days, the healing, and everything in between.

10/05/2025

🌿Thrive Counseling Center Turns 9🌿

Nine years ago, I took the biggest leap of my life and started Thrive Counseling Center while I was six weeks pregnant and absolutely terrified. The practice I was previously at was closing and they gave us 30 days to find our new path.

It began with one small office at Dolce Vita Salon Suites, thanks to one of my best friends who had an open space and believed in me when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself. From there, we grew, first to a three-office suite, then into a brand-new building that I finished out while seven months pregnant my with second child. The following year, we expanded again into the suite next door!

The journey has been anything but easy; 60- to 70-hour work weeks, late nights, blood, sweat, tears (and probably a few breakdowns along the way). But it has been so worth it! 🤍

What started as a dream built on hope and fear has grown into a thriving community with 23 incredible clinicians and 4 of the best staff members who keep our ship afloat every single day. Together, we’ve created a space where healing happens, where people feel seen, safe, and supported! It’s everything I ever wanted Thrive to be. I do still have some BIG dreams left up my sleeve ☺️

To my family and friends who have supported every late-night email and every big decision, to my team who shows up with heart and purpose, and to every client who’s trusted us with their stories, thank you. You are the reason we do what we do.

To the next chapter of growing, healing, and continuing to change our little corner of the world one life at a time. 💫

🤍 Amy Halls, Owner/Founder

10/02/2025

This ADHD Awareness Month, let’s bust the myths and focus on the facts. ADHD is real, it’s valid, and with the right support, people with ADHD can 🌿thrive🌿

09/23/2025

Our founder, Amy Halls, LMFT, has been invited to share her heart and expertise as a Speaker at The Potential Within Summit!

Amy is passionate about walking alongside the ADHD community! Her heart is for women navigating seasons when ADHD symptoms feel heavier; through life transitions, hormonal shifts, or the everyday demands that pile up. Her session, “From Surviving to Thriving: A Neurodiverse Journey Through Wellness,” is all about helping people understand their unique minds, lean into their strengths, and move from simply getting by → to truly thriving. 🌱

We couldn’t be more proud to see Amy representing Thrive and bringing her message of hope, empowerment, and encouragement to a bigger stage.

✨ Want to be part of it? Grab your spot here: www.potentialwithindsm.com

Summit Speaker Spotlight: Amy Halls!

Meet Amy Halls, LMFT & Founder of Thrive Counseling Center - Ankeny.

Amy specializes in working with the ADHD community, with a deep passion for supporting women who often see symptoms intensify during life transitions, hormonal changes, or increased demands. She helps clients understand their neurodivergent minds, build tailored strategies, and cultivate self-compassion so they can truly thrive.

At the Potential Within Summit, Amy will lead “From Surviving to Thriving: A Neurodiverse Journey Through Wellness,” sharing her expertise and practical tools to help us reframe challenges and embrace the strengths of neurodiversity.

✨ Don’t miss Amy’s powerful session designed to empower, encourage, and inspire!

Secure your spot at www.potentialwithindsm.com

09/22/2025

We are so excited we finally get to introduce you to our MSW intern, Kaylee. She is such a bright light in this world and really wants to make a difference in the lives of those around her.

Kaylee is currently accepting new clients who need pro-bono (free) or reduced fee sessions ($25/session).

Kaylee is passionate about helping those who struggle with anxiety and life transitions. You can reach out to schedule with Kaylee directly at kaylee@thriveccankeny.com or (515) 800-9554.

09/05/2025

Today we celebrate the amazing woman who wears many hats. Amy is Thrive's fearless leader, visionary, problem-solver, cheerleader, and somehow, still the calm in the storm.

She also happens to be my sister (lucky me ❤️), but more importantly, she’s the heart of this team and the reason so many of us love coming to work every day. She has made Thrive a safe place for everyone and truly cares about the people that walk through the doors!

To know her is to admire her and if you’ve worked with her, you already know how rare she is. So please help us wish Amy the happiest birthday!

**There is a high probability that she is going to roll her eyes about being in the spotlight, but today she deserves to be celebrated so CHEERS to 39 and THRIVING (pun totally intended 😉).**

09/02/2025

Staying focused with ADHD can feel like a full-time job.

You don’t need to push harder. You need strategies that work WITH your brain. 🌿

Here are 3 simple but powerful ways to boost your focus:

🤍Clear your space → A clutter-free desk = a clearer mind. Fewer distractions help your brain stay on track.

🤍The Top 3 Rule → Instead of trying to do everything, choose your top 3 tasks for the day. It keeps things manageable and helps you celebrate small wins. Once you finish those 3 tasks, you can set a new 3!

🤍Reward your brain → ADHD brains 🌱thrive🌱 on dopamine. After a focused work session, give yourself a reward. Try to switch it up so that these rewards continue to be enticing. You can try a stretch, a snack, or a few minutes doing something you enjoy.

🪴Try to Remember: focus doesn’t mean perfection. It’s about building habits that support you.🪴

If you’d like some help navigating your ADHD symptoms, reach out to our team to find the right fit!

www.thriveccankeny.com

08/27/2025

🌿Welcome Inside 🌿
We’re so excited to begin sharing an inside look at our offices at Thrive Counseling Center, the amazing clinicians who bring them to life, and the services we offer. 🌱

First up: meet Jaclyn Leya, LISW and TaLia Pulley, t-LMHC and their beautifully re-designed office space. These two clinicians office share, so it was important for us to work as a team to make sure we curated a space that felt authentic to both of them!

This room was created with safety, authenticity, and warmth at the heart of every detail. From the calming colors to the cozy textures, every corner is meant to remind you:
🌱This is a safe space.
🌱For every part of you.

Jaclyn and TaLia specialize in supporting clients through life’s hardest moments, offering care that is both deeply compassionate and rooted in evidence-based practices. Swipe to see what each of them specializes in and their therapeutic approach!

🤍Stay tuned as we continue to highlight our space, our clinicians, and the unique services that make Thrive Counseling Center a place of healing and growth.

🤍
🤍 www.thriveccankeny.com

08/26/2025

Congratulations to our very own Brittnay Miller! She has officially completed all of her post graduate licensure requirements and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).

What an amazing milestone and accomplishment! We are so proud of you!

08/15/2025

Therapist me: “Let’s slow down and focus on one thing.”
Also me: … starts folding laundry while listening to a podcast and googling why my plant is sad….

Living with ADHD as an adult can feel like you’re constantly at war with your own brain. Knowing what would help, but struggling to actually do it.

It’s not laziness.
It’s not “bad habits.”
It’s the way our brains are wired.

Some days, I’m the calm, wise therapist who can break things down and make a plan.
Other days, I am the client who is overwhelmed, scattered, chasing the next burst of interest just to keep going.

If this is you too, please know you’re not alone. There’s nothing “wrong” with you. You’re not broken. Your brain just works differently and that’s okay.

💬 What’s one ADHD quirk you’ve learned to embrace instead of fight?



Also, why does it take SO long to create these videos?! 😂