- Client-centered approach
- CBT strategies
- Focus on everyday skills
About Aileen
Aileen Barnhouse is a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa with 17 years of counseling experience. She helps people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, life transitions, and attention deficit disorder. She focuses on practical steps that clients can use right away to feel a bit better and more in control.
She uses a client-centered way of working that places the person and their story at the center of sessions. That means she listens first, then helps people identify the strengths they already have. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and teaches simple skills to change unhelpful patterns.
In sessions she helps clients name problems, spot patterns, and try small experiments to test new responses. She supports people who feel overwhelmed by changes, who struggle with motivation or impulsivity, and those feeling isolated or stuck in negative thinking. She talks in everyday language and focuses on usable strategies rather than jargon.
Aileen draws on a wide range of experience across concerns such as abandonment issues, caregiver stress, communication problems, and guilt or shame. She aims to empower clients to make manageable changes that fit their life circumstances.
To begin, she asks clients to reflect on what matters most and what they already do well. From there she and the client decide which steps to try next, with an emphasis on steady progress rather than quick fixes.
How these approaches work in online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person’s own experience and strengths. The therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps clients use their existing abilities to tackle problems. This approach is helpful when someone wants a supportive space to make sense of feelings and decide next steps.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a short-term, skills-focused approach that looks at how thoughts and behaviors affect mood. It includes practical exercises and small experiments to test new ways of thinking and acting, which can help with anxiety, low mood, motivation, and ADHD-related challenges.
Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will work with each person to decide whether client-centered work, CBT, or a mix of both fits best. Goals, personal preferences, and daily life needs guide that choice, and the plan can change as therapy progresses.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It can also suit people who want to work from a quieter place or prefer not to be on camera for every meeting. Licensed professionals tailor the practical setup to each person’s needs rather than assuming one way works for everyone.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Aileen help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, coping with life changes, and ADHD. Additional focuses include issues like abandonment, caregiver stress, communication problems, and isolation.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She uses a client-centered style that starts with listening to your story and identifying strengths. She pairs that with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to try practical skill-building.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional counseling experience working with a broad range of adult concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LMHC licensed in Iowa and practices there.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions billed or priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a therapy process with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.