Grace C. Mae Advocate Center

01/30/2026

We are so excited to announce our new therapist, Shelby Ridenour, is ready to accept new patients in our Washington office! She does not have a waiting list yet! Call to schedule today, 319-361-6529.

About Shelby

Shelby was born and raised in Southeast Iowa where she still resides with her chaotic crew of animals. When she’s not chasing them around trying to get them to drop whatever is in their mouth, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spoiling her nephew. Shelby has spent the last three years working for a local domestic violence and sexual assault program. Prior to that, she spent some time as a paraeducator for at-risk and ESL youth. Shelby utilizes a number of approaches, especially a person-centered and strengths-based approach with an emphasis on empowerment, as well as narrative therapy. She believes that every individual is the expert of their own story and guides her practice around that.

Education

MSW - University of Iowa

BA Psychology and English Creative Writing - Cornell College

License and Certifications

LMSW - Iowa

Certified Victim Advocate - Iowa

Shelby is accepting new clients at the Washington office, nearby school districts, and telehealth.

Finding Solutions... Restoring Hope

12/24/2025

All of us here are wishing you a joyful holiday, and we wish to give you something meaningful for Christmas—hope. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

11/20/2025

Loving this song. How precious it could be to teach our kiddos how self-regulate with little songs like this.

11/11/2025

We are so excited to announce our new therapist, Gwen Doland, is ready to accept new patients in our Marshalltown office! She does not have a waiting list yet! Call to schedule today, 319-361-6529.

About Gwen

Gwen values quality time with her husband, children, and grandchild. She loves animals and has two dogs, three cats, and two miniature donkeys. Gwen enjoys traveling and
experiencing new places and cultures. In her free time, she enjoys reading, antiquing, and decorating.

As a therapist, Gwen is rooted in a deep belief in the human capacity for healing, even in the face of profound pain, and especially in the context of relationships. She works with individuals, couples, and families. She serves birth through the lifespan from an attachment focused lens. Gwen approaches each client through a lens of compassion and curiosity, recognizing that individuals have their own unique experiences and strengths. She draws on evidence-based modalities such as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, play therapy, and Child Parent Psychotherapy. Training and Education

Gwen is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and play therapy techniques. Gwen’s specialty area is treatment of trauma, infant early childhood mental health, grief, childhood developmental disorders, and substance use disorders.

Education

Masters in Science- Community Counseling, Drake University

License and Certifications

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical through the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health

Nationally rostered as a Child Parent Psychotherapy

Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC)

Availability

Gwen is available in the Marshalltown office and via telehealth, M-F.
Gwen also provides therapy in the Marshalltown schools, and hopes to begin providing therapy in the South Tama schools soon.

Finding Solutions... Restoring Hope

11/11/2025

On this Veteran's Day, we want to say "Thank you!" to all who served. We are so grateful for your sacrifices.

10/15/2025

We are so excited to announce that we have added to our team. Danielle McWilliams is starting in Marengo as a therapist for out patient therapy today. Carlee Byrum is starting in Washington for out patient therapy next week. We are pleased to add these providers to our communities. Call our scheduling number at 319-361-6529 today while there is no wait list to get in! I'm sure they will both fill up quickly. We will post an introduction of them soon.

Call now to connect with business.

10/10/2025

09/18/2025

Happy Homecoming Iowa Valley! Thank you for decorating our office and making us part of the festivities! Go Tigers!

09/11/2025

Self-care is a critical part of protecting your mental health. Not to be confused with self-indulgence, self-care is about daily habits that generate health, creativity, and positivity in your life. Today, I woke up 30 minutes early just so I could watch the sunrise with my therapy dog, Charlie, and sip on my first pumpkin spice coffee of the fall season. Tell us what you did for self-care recently! Need help figuring out a self-care plan? Give us a call!

09/06/2025

September is National Su***de Prevention month. The national theme is "Changing the Narrative". Personally, I'm loving the theme. I'm a clinical therapist. I have been providing grief counseling for over 25 years. Here are a few things that I have learned by counseling su***de survivors, as well as suffering my own losses due to su***de:
1. Say their name. The worst part about losing someone to su***de has already happened. Family and friends are acutely aware of how sad they are, and ignoring their loss by not saying the name of their loved one hurts more deeply than you can imagine--but survivors won't tell you that. They will try their best to make your discomfort tolerable while they suffer in their silence.

2. They are not in a better place. Regardless of your belief system, this is something people say to make themselves feel less awkward. It's perceived as a callous response to a heartbreaking situation. Try saying, "I can only imagine how much you must miss him," instead.

3. Please don't say, "Let me know if you need something." They will never let you know. Call or text on a regular basis and check in. Deliver comfort foods and meals whenever you can. There is so much to do, and grief is so overwhelming for the first several years. Keep thinking of survivors and love on them as often as you can for years to come.

4. Notice the despair. Reassure survivors they don't have to go through this alone. Provide information and resources to help them find ways to cope and to get through it until time can do its thing. The 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline is live and active, and very helpful -- just call or text 988.

5. Keep professional information, such as names and phone numbers, in your phone and be ready to share the contact with anyone that might need it. Normalize the need to get into therapy as soon as possible. Normalize the fear of grief, and the loneliness and the guilt emotions. Reduce the stigma associated with mental health needs. Losing a loved one to su***de is complex grief riddled with guilt, shame, feelings of helplessness and powerlessness. Some survivors may experience despair, betrayal, hurt and significant disappointment.

6. DO NOT BLAME the survivors. I find it interesting that so many people preach about "there are signs". Well, there may be signs. But some people are very good at masking, or might be under the influence of a substance, or feeling so much despair they become impulsive and desperate and make split decisions. Some people live with suicidal thoughts for so long, the signs feel more like a constant reminder that never really goes away. I urge you to consider -- I teach su***de prevention and have been doing so for the past 17 years. I missed any signs of someone I loved very much.

Most importantly, focus on loving someone through their grief. Spend quiet time with them. Let them talk about their loved one. Share in the memories and celebrate their lives through connecting on a regular basis. Don't avoid survivors on those milestone dates.

Start a support group! If you want to lead a support group on-line or in person, message us and we can help you get one started. We can provide you with training and offer you on-going support and knowledge to know how to do this. You can email us at help@advocatecenter.org or message us here on FB.