Ann Ghabel

Calm-focused, practical mental health support

LISW Iowa

Experience: 11 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Ann

Ann Ghabel is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) who centers her practice on cognitive behavioral techniques alongside client-centered and mindfulness-informed work.

Background and approach

With eleven years as a therapist and a long background in inpatient child psychiatry nursing and psychiatric nursing education, she blends practical clinical experience with a compassionate, collaborative stance. Ann helps people explore stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, depression, grief, and related challenges while using tools that promote clearer thinking and healthier coping.

She creates an open atmosphere where clients can express thoughts and emotions without judgment, and she incorporates modalities such as dialectical behavior strategies and hypnotherapy when appropriate to individual needs.

Ann also addresses issues like eating and sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and adjustment to life changes, as well as additional topics including adoption and foster care, attachment issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and domestic violence. Her approach is collaborative and respectful, intended to help clients identify practical steps toward greater resilience and well-being.

Practical approaches for online therapy and skill-building

Ann integrates cognitive behavioral techniques and client-centered methods in online work. Cognitive behavioral approaches focus on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, and stress, using practical exercises and behavioral experiments. Client-centered work emphasizes empathetic listening and building a trusting therapeutic relationship so clients can explore feelings and priorities at their own pace.

She may also draw on dialectical behavior strategies when emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness are priorities, teaching concrete skills to manage intense emotions and improve communication. Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process; the therapist will work with each person to select methods that align with their needs, goals, and personal preferences rather than applying a single fixed model.

Online therapy sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care across locations and to fit skill practice and check-ins into a busy life while working with licensed professionals and therapists to progress toward specific goals.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Ann commonly address?

She works with a range of difficulties including stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, depression, grief, eating and sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes.

What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?

Sessions are client-centered and collaborative, often using cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness practices to help clients identify patterns and develop new skills for coping.

How much clinical experience does this therapist have?

Ann has eleven years of professional experience as a therapist, plus an extended background working in an inpatient child psychiatry unit and teaching psychiatric nursing.

What credentials and location are listed for this clinician?

She holds the LISW credential with license number IA LISW 04853 and is based in Iowa.

Are sessions offered in languages other than English?

Services are provided in English, and Ann does accept international clients.

Which session formats are available for working together?

Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.

How is cost handled for therapy with this clinician?

Cost varies depending on location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin if I want to schedule with Ann?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression

Also works with

GriefEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shame ImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)HypnotherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

11+ years

Licensed

Iowa

Languages

English