Meet Our Therapists in Des Moines, IA 

"Your life doesn't get better by chance, it gets better by change." I believe this to be true and work collaboratively with my clients to achieve the change necessary for things to improve. Life can be overwhelming and stressful. It can be difficult to figure out what changes are needed or how to go about making changes. It could be a career change, relationships that need to be examined, or developing new skills to deal with anxiety, depression, and stress. I offer a calm, warm setting for you to explore areas in your life that you want to improve.

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." I provide solution-focused, person-centered therapy based on your strengths. I provide coaching to identify and develop skills to help you move forward towards the changes desired.

I am a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and provide career counseling and coaching. I offer convenient afternoon/evening and weekend appointments.

I believe the first step to all healing and change is to desire something different. The fact that you are considering counseling is a good sign. I would be honored to hear your story and be involved in your journey.

I am an exceptional listener with over 20 years of experience helping people in various roles. I work hard to provide an encouraging atmosphere that will help you find the courage to hope for something better and to risk trying something new. 

In addition to other forms of therapy, I am trained in EMDR. EMDR is a treatment that is particularly helpful for victims of trauma, including complex trauma.

Congratulations on taking the first step to healing. At times life can be very challenging and keep us from becoming the person we see ourself becoming/being. Those challenges can come in many forms. They can be social, emotional, physical, financial or spiritual. I offer an environment that is peaceful and free of judgement. I am an exceptional listener with 17 yrs of experience working with individuals and families involved in the Child Welfare and Judicial Systems. I provide individual, family and couples counseling. You don't have to feel alone, I am here to take the journey with you!

My experience includes working with adolescents and adults dealing with: depression, anxiety, grief/loss, PTSD, life stressors, relationship issues, personality disorders, ADHD, trauma and suicidal ideations. Interventions include: EMDR Certified, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based-Cognitive-Therapy and Person Centered Therapy.

It would be an honor to work with you! My hours are flexible and include afternoons, evenings and weekends.

My name is Whitney Anderson & I am a therapist (T-LMHC) who works with children, adolescents, teens & families. My goal is to help clients reach their full potential by making sure they have the tools they need to be successful. I earned my undergraduate degree in Child Adult & Family Services from Iowa State University in 2012 & a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Drake University in 2021. I use a client-centered approach which allows a flexible environment for therapy. I also use play therapy as a tool to build relationships with younger clients which fosters communication & healing. My hope is to provide a safe, judgement-free space to explore your needs and make positive change. I am honored to walk alongside you in your journey to healing. 

Andye Jones has 30 years of experience of working with children, teens and families in Des Moines and surrounding areas in a variety of different capacities. Having over 13 years of Child Welfare and Juvenile Court experience allows her to advocate in a unique way for her clients and help them navigate through the legal and DHS systems while also helping them meet their own personal therapy goals. 

Andye has held positions throughout the life of her career at Orchard Place, Gerard Services of Iowa, Lutheran Services of Iowa, Iowa Department of Human Services, United Community Services, Counseling for Growth and Change, New Sight and Optimae Behavioral Health. She currently works full time at Affinity Therapy where she has worked for the past 4 years.

Andye strongly believes in meeting clients where they are and providing client focused therapy with a non-judgmental style. She is direct but compassionate and works hard to help clients feel comfortable in the therapeutic setting. She believes the therapy relationship is a real relationship and encourages open dialogue. Abdye enjoys working with a variety of issues but her passion lies in working with couples and with individuals dealing with relationship issues, grief and loss issues, anxiety, anger and physical/sexual abuse issues. Andye primarily uses the following treatment modalities: CBT, DBT, Narrative therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Attachment Therapy and Person Centered Therapy as well as grief counseling.  Andye also co-facilitated teen sexual offender groups for 7 years.

Andye holds a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Iowa State University and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Iowa. Andye is an LISW in the State of Iowa. Andye enjoys reading, napping, watching television, listening to music, singing and spending time with friends and family in her spare time. 

I am a Licensed Therapist with a strong commitment to providing compassionate and culturally informed care. As an immigrant myself, I bring a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by immigrants, bicultural families, and individuals navigating cross-cultural experiences. 

In my practice, I welcome clients from all walks of life. As a Christian, I am open to integrating faith into the therapeutic process when desired, while also providing a safe and supportive environment for clients who do not identify with a faith tradition. My goal is to meet each client where they are and to tailor therapy to their individual needs and values.

I specialize in the treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety, identity issues, relationship challenges, and couples’ issues. My clinical work is focused on helping individuals build resilience, find healing from past experiences, and manage emotional distress more effectively. With couples, I draw on evidence-based practices and am currently pursuing the Gottman Method Couples Therapy certification, a gold standard approach in relationship counseling. My approach is both direct and compassionate, offering clients honest guidance while maintaining a supportive and empathetic environment. 

I have a Master’s in Management from the Indiana Wesleyan University and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Iowa. When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling, styling, dancing, and spending time with my friends and family. Connect with me, and let’s be human together! 

I have worked in the mental health field since 1995. I have made it my mission to provide my clients with therapy services that center around respect and cultural sensitivity. I make every effort to help my client feel welcome, safe, and accepted for the unique person that they are. As my client, you will always be treated with care no matter what has transpired in your life, so that your journey towards healing and growth will be a time of discovery that will bring you confidence and peace.

I love people and I love our clients. My favorite part of the job as office manager, receptionist, credentialing coordinator, etc. is to make clients feel welcomed. I also love serving the clinicians at Affinity.

My experience includes 13 years of working in an office setting in the mental health field. I retired for 2 years & after doing some work from home for a while, decided to come back to full time work & I’m so glad I did.

Affinity is a great place of hope & healing. I look forward to seeing you!

Ayo Davis-Yeboah has spent their life using personal and career experiences to support clients with living their best life and provide them with the tools they need to make good decisions for themselves. Becoming a parent at a young age, they know how poor decisions can affect every facet of one’s life as well as the lives of their loved ones. While their focus is on teenage identifying females and non-binary individuals, they also provide services to adult identifying women who have been victims of violence.

They know there is no single approach that works for everyone, so they continue to educate themselves on emerging modalities and psychological trends to provide the most comprehensive program that works for each client’s individual needs. Ayo has experience in Person Centered Therapy, Existential, and Reality Therapy.

Ayo received their education at Drake University with a Master of Science from the School of Education. They also hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Upper Iowa University.

I have been working in the mental health field since 2015. I started working in a residential PMIC facility for children with more severe mental health needs. I later became a BHIS worker where I worked in the home with children and families to help them achieve their behavioral goals. From 2018 until I came to Affinity in 2023, I have been working as a substance use counselor for teenagers. Often many of the youth that I worked with had some form of juvenile court or DHHS involvement.

My specialties are in areas around substance use, grief/loss, anxiety, depression and working with diverse populations. I am trained in a variety of modalities including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI), and Motivational Interviewing.

MS, TLMHC from Affinity Therapy and Counseling. Lance has worked in the counseling profession for 25 plus years. His experience includes working with adolescents and adults dealing with: depression, anxiety, grief/loss, PTSD, life stressors, relationship issues, personality disorders, ADHD and trauma. Interventions include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy.

My name is Sara Gamblin, I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). I firmly believe everyone deserves to feel heard, safe and supported. My goal is to help you discover more about yourself, your strengths, better understand your relationships and build tools as well as strategies to help you navigate the challenges in your life. I strongly support meeting a client where they are at and giving them autonomy to work at the pace the client is comfortable. I look forward to working with you to help you find the person you want to be and the life you want to live!

My passion is primarily working with older teens, adults, couples. Mental health, substance use, chronic illness and the criminal justice system are my areas of specialty. My counseling style is interactive, compassionate and supportive, integrating mindfulness other stress-management strategies with a focus on overall wellness and skill-building.

Much of our sessions include discussing goal setting and thinking of various tools or techniques to achieve those goals. I aid client in "playing the tape through" and break it down to make it less overwhelming and more manageable.  I utilize, FT-CBT, CBT, SFBT methods as well as person- strengths-based approaches and motivational interviewing techniques.