Northwest Iowa Counseling

01/04/2026

Calling all Breast Cancer Survivors! 💕

Join us for our next Strong in Sisterhood: Breast Cancer Support Group on Wednesday, January 7th at 10 AM at Medlar Coffee Co.

Northwest Iowa Counseling will be joining us as our guest speakers this month to talk about mental health.

For more information or to sign up for our Breast Cancer Support Newsletter, email Darcie Follon at dfollon@spencerhospital.org or call 712-264-6380.

01/01/2026

✨ 2025 HIGHLIGHTS - NORTHWEST IOWA COUNSELING ✨

As we look back on 2025, we’re filled with gratitude for the moments, relationships, and quiet courage that shaped this year.

Throughout the year, our therapists had the honor of sitting with countless moments of courage- first sessions, hard conversations, small steps forward, and meaningful change. We walked alongside children, teens, adults, couples, and families as they showed up for themselves, often on the hardest days, in our offices, in schools, and through telehealth.

We welcomed three new therapists to our clinical team and now have 10 incredible clinicians on staff. With the growth, Heather and Kristen stepped into new clinical leadership roles, and we expanded how and where we serve- moving into a larger Spencer office, relocating to a new Estherville space, and growing our school-based therapy program into a third district (Cherokee, HMS, and Spencer).

Community remained at the heart of our work. We welcomed hundreds of families through Cider, Sweets & Smiles in October for a fall celebration, delivered 450+ stockings to local children this Christmas, and were honored to be voted Gold in the Spencer Radio Group People’s Choice Awards- for the third year in a row. We also proudly expanded services to include spanish speaking clients this year.

At the heart of it all was a shared commitment to showing up with care, presence, and compassion.

Thank you for being part of our 2025.

12/25/2025

Happy Holidays from Northwest Iowa Counseling!

We know the holidays can bring joy for some, and grief, stress, or exhaustion for others (and sometimes all of it at once). Wherever you’re at this season, you are seen.

A holiday permission slip from us to you: You don’t have to feel any certain way right now. It’s okay to take breaks, say no, rest, or keep things simple. Caring for yourself is not something to earn- it’s something you deserve.

Thank you for allowing us to walk alongside you this year. We’re wishing you compassion, comfort, and care- especially for yourself.

12/23/2025

12/19/2025

As we close the chapter on The Stocking Project, we are overwhelmed with gratitude.
Because of this community, 450 stockings made their way out our doors and into the hands of local children. Every single stocking represented care, intention, and a whole lot of heart.
To those who gave through monetary donations or physical items - thank you.
To those who spent hours thoughtfully filling stockings based on age and gender - thank you.
To those who helped sort, group, and label stockings by family - thank you.
To those who showed up for stocking pick-ups, making sure families felt welcomed and supported - thank you.
And to everyone who shared posts, spread the word, and helped this project reach those who needed it most - we see you, and we appreciate you more than you know.
And a very special thank you to our kind-hearted and passion-driven therapist, Hannah, who had a single idea about bringing Christmas to not just one local child—but all the children. And look at that… she did.
To the families who reached out and accepted a stocking for your child—thank you for trusting us. We recognize the vulnerability it can take to put yourself out there for a program like this, and that does not go unnoticed. It is truly an honor to play even a tiny role if these stockings brought joy, excitement, and a moment of magic to your children.
Every child. Every stocking. Every smile.
From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for making this possible. Merry Christmas from The Stocking Project.

12/17/2025

Last week, our Northwest Iowa Counseling team had one of our favorite nights of the year - our holiday party!

This year we tried something new and went to Vermeer Glass Art, broke glass, and each made our own creation. We then went to The Prime Rib and enjoyed time in their beautiful party room. The food was delicious (as always!) and so many laughs were had.

The goal was to keep the planning simple this year and just enjoy each other's company, and that we did. We say it more often than probably necessary, but it really is incredible to have pieced each of these wonderful humans together to create a team that meshes so beautifully.

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

12/15/2025

Happy TWO YEAR anniversary to our very own Heather!

Heather began in 2023 as a new therapist and has become a steady leader within our practice, moving into a leadership role in 2025, mentoring our temp-licensed clinicians and interns in a way that feels natural, calm, and deeply supportive.

This mentorship role was ultimately one that chose Heather. We knew how meaningful it was to have someone on our team whose presence alone made staff, clients, and everyone around her feel comfortable, welcomed, and safe.

The way Heather approaches her clients is with genuine curiosity and kindness. You feel seen by Heather within that first interaction. She is always eager to learn if there's an area she feels is underserved or underrepresented.

Heather shows up with heart every single day, and NWIAC is stronger because of her.

Happy Anniversary, Heather. To many more!

12/15/2025

At Northwest Iowa Counseling, they provide compassionate, confidential support to help you navigate life’s challenges.

"At Northwest Iowa Counseling, our team of compassionate and experienced therapists is committed to putting clients first. We offer therapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups - serving children through adults. With varied specialties and styles, our therapists tailor care to each person. "

Visit the webpage of this year's gold medal winner of the mental health services category to learn more now! https://loom.ly/wQa635Q

12/08/2025

What. A. Weekend!

Anne, Amy, Vickie, Hannah, and honorary NW Iowa Counseling employees Molly and Hattie spent hours on hours over two days this weekend stuffing all the stockings for The Stocking Project. We can’t wait for these to start to go home to their families in just over a week- but first, we get to bundle each family’s stockings together and get them ready for pick up!

Curious on final numbers? 394 stockings. 394 requests came in for a stocking for a local child. We’re putting our words into action -

Every child. Every stocking. Every smile.

All 394 of them. ❤️

11/29/2025

There are just TWO FINAL DAYS to register your child or children for a filled stocking from The Stocking Project - Register at this link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YNHMFFD

Only two final days to also donate via our Amazon wish list (included on this post) to help us fill the 400 (!!!) stocking requests that have already come in.

The link to register for the free stocking(s) through The Stocking Project will close at midnight on Sunday evening, just as the calendar flips to December. At that point, we will be no longer accepting stocking registrations and our Amazon wish list will be cleared so we can focus on the next task of filling the 400+ stockings for pick up the following week. Any questions, please email admin@nwiac.com As always, thank you for your community support and kindness!

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from Northwest Iowa Counseling!

Today we are especially grateful for the clients who trust us with their stories, the community that surrounds us with support, and the dedicated NWIAC staff who show up every day with compassion, skill, and heart.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your healing and growth. We are honored to serve Spencer, Estherville, and Northwest Iowa as a whole.

Wishing you peace, connection, and warmth this Thanksgiving.