Therapy with Anne

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Des Moines, IA
Therapy with Anne

Therapist for anxious moms in FL, IA, ID, IN & SC. Helping you overcome anxiety. Stop losing your $hit.

Set healthy boundaries. 🫶

🧠EMDR & Intensives

**FB is not therapy, reach out to talk in real life.**

02/19/2026

I love you, but I need you to step up” is hard to say nicely when you’re already drowning. So if you need to clearly communicate that you’re struggling *without* starting a fight, try these 5 steps:

🔹Agree on a simple phrase or nonverbal cue (ideally not a death stare) for when you need immediate space or support. This is especially helpful when you want to signal it privately, like when the kids are around or you have guests.

🔹Instead of jumping right into your ask, share your internal state: “My nervous system is fried right now. I can’t make any decisions for the next 30 minutes.”

🔹Reduce defensiveness by validating your partner too: “I know you’re also tired from work, and I appreciate all you do for our family. But I’m reaching a breaking point and need to switch roles for the evening.”

🔹Avoid vague requests like “I need help” (even if *you* think it’s obvious). State exactly what you need in that moment to feel regulated: “I need you to take the baby for 30 minutes so I can sit in silence and drink my coffee” (note, this isn’t - “Do you want to hold him for a sec?”, but “I need you to take him.”).

🔹Plan for the pattern, not the meltdown. Talk with your partner ahead of time about what tends to trigger & overwhelm you (noise, multitasking, bedtime chaos), and how they can spot the shift. Then agree on a simple action plan, because once you’re already in the thick of it, it’s much harder to say, “I’m not okay,” without things turning into a screaming match.

Now, we get that life (especially with young kids) doesn’t follow a perfect script. Will these tips always work perfectly? Of course not - and that’s ok. What matters is that you try to practice a few of them consistently, because small actions done over and over again can lead to really meaningful change.

02/17/2026

Curious about therapy, but unsure where to start? Here are answers to some of the most common questions we hear, so you can decide what feels right for you.

Don’t see your question here? We’re happy to help:

Website: ampersandtherapyco.com for more details
Call: 515-259-0138
Email: anne@ampersandtherapyco.com

02/15/2026

You already know you “can’t pour from an empty cup.” Because you’ve seen it on approximately 17,000 momfluencer IG posts. Overused? Yes. Accurate? Also yes.

But what do you do when you look at that cup…and realize you don’t even know what would fill it anymore?

Since becoming a parent, many things that used to be just for you have slid to the bottom of the list. So now when someone tells you to “practice self-care,” it falls flat because it’s hard to remember what actually feels good for *you* (not just what’s in service of others). You’ve changed, your life has changed, and the old things that lit you up might not fit (or even appeal) anymore.

Here’s why this matters: running on empty eventually shows up somewhere, whether it’s your patience, sleep, body, anxiety, or relationships. You can keep “chugging along,” but the cost is often more burnout, more snapping at the people you love, more resentment, and more feeling like you’ve disappeared inside the life you’re working so hard to maintain.

Filling your cup isn’t some indulgent “nice-to-have” - it’s what gets your nervous system out of survival mode so you can actually be present for the life you’re building.

Our team can help you figure this out: naming who you are beyond “Mom,” noticing what calms your body and sparks excitement, and testing tiny, realistic moments of care that fit the season you’re in. Sometimes this means creatively fitting old hobbies back in; other times it means discovering brand new ones that match who you are now.

☕️ So if you’re staring at your literal or metaphorical empty cup and thinking, “I don’t even know what to do with this thing” that’s not the end of the story—that’s exactly where our work together begins. Link in bio to book a free consult call.

02/13/2026

We often view resentment - a mix of anger and disappointment caused by feeling treated unfairly - as a sort of moral failing, telling ourselves stories like “he doesn’t care” or “she always takes advantage of me” or “I’m so ungrateful”. But instead of spiraling or trying to suppress the feeling altogether (because we all know that doesn’t work in the long run), try seeing it as an opportunity to dig deeper.

When resentment shows up toward your partner, kids, or even parenthood itself, it’s your nervous system flagging an imbalance somewhere: crossed boundaries, unmet needs, or unnamed desires. It doesn’t mean the other person is “bad”, but it IS a signal that something is out of sync…and you now have an opportunity to address it.

When you start to unpack the feeling of resentment with curiosity instead of shame and anger, it can actually become a powerful starting point for change.

AND…we know this is much easier said than done, which is why we’re here to help. If you’re ready to stop carrying around the heavy weight of resentment, and start turning it into clarity about what you actually want for yourself (and a plan to get there!), we’d love to support you. Click the link in our bio to learn more or book a free consultation.

02/10/2026

We tend to think of “progress” as huge, dramatic breakthroughs, but real growth is often much quieter. Those subtle shifts matter though - they’re the foundation of lasting change, even if they don’t feel like a big deal yet.

These slides call out four ways you’re probably doing better than you think. And this isn’t to minimize how hard parenting is or push toxic positivity. It’s to help you recognize and *celebrate* what’s already happening beneath the surface (because you can be struggling AND moving forward at the same time).

I hope this brings you a small sense of relief today. And when you’re ready for more support, we’re here. Link in bio to learn more and book a free consultation call 💛

{We are licensed to virtually treat clients in Iowa, Indiana, Florida, South Carolina & Idaho}

02/05/2026

Yes, you’ve taken time off, delegated some of your workload, and tried to set ‘digital boundaries’ at home… but you still feel wired, tired, and just plain b****y a lot of the time 😵‍💫

“Burnout” isn’t always from doing *too much*. It happens when your nervous system can’t fully recover after doing all those things.

And if your body doesn’t feel safe enough to rest, “chilling out” can make you feel even more anxious (so there’s a biological reason why “just relax” isn’t helpful advice).

Swipe through for more info, and share with a friend who needs to hear this. If this hits home, our team at Ampersand Therapy would love to help you get to the bottom of it. Link in bio to book a free intro call.

10/16/2025

Indiana friends! We’re so excited to have Natasha now accepting therapy clients with Ampersand Therapy Collective! 🤩

🕚Natasha has evening hours available! 🎉

She’d love to see women coping with transition, especially college aged women, and is certified in Trust-Based Relational Intervention. ☀️

Natasha brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to ATC and her clients. She’s currently works as the Director of Mental Health Services for the Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County. She will be able to see clients anywhere in the state of Indiana, on our secure telehealth platform. 💻
———
📍 Location: Virtual for anyone living in Indiana
🔗 link in bio to get scheduled www.ampersandtherapyco.com
🫶🏻 follow Natasha .space.withnatasha
👉follow ATC

10/06/2025

I’m so excited to announce that I have not one but TWO fabulous therapists joining me at Ampersand Therapy Collective. Journey Stork is accepting Iowa clients and Natasha is accepting clients in Indiana.

Stay tuned for more information about both of these amazing clinicians. In the meantime, use the link in my bio to schedule a session or a 15-minute consultation call.

07/21/2025

Therapists shouldn’t have to choose between caring for others or caring for themselves.

We’re a good fit if you’re a licensed therapist with a growth-mindset, looking to join a practice committed to providing compassionate, inclusive, affirming, trauma-informed, and research-backed therapy, while ALSO collaborating with others passionate about transparency, work-life balance, and well-paid therapists. This is a remote (set your own schedule), w2 position with competitive benefits (70/30 split, PTO, CE stipend). Email to find out more: anne@ampersandtherapyco.com

04/16/2025

You’ve heard about postpartum depression. But postpartum anxiety?

It flies under the radar—especially when the world expects you to be "grateful," "soaking up every moment," and "loving every second."

But if your mind won’t slow down, if you’re stuck in hyper-alert mode, or if sleep feels impossible even when baby’s down… this might be more than just new mom worries.

Swipe through for 5 common signs of postpartum anxiety—and know this:

You're not too sensitive. You're not alone. You're not a bad mom.

You're a real mom, going through something real.

I’m here to help you work through it with evidence-based tools, deep compassion, and no judgment.

🤍 Book a free 15-minute consultation at the link in my bio.
Let’s help you feel like yourself again.

DISCLAIMER: All of my content is generalized. It doesn't reflect individual situations and can't replace actual therapy. Instagram is not the same as therapy and should not be used to diagnose any conditions.

04/14/2025

🚨 Big news! My website just got a major glow-up, and I can’t wait for you to check it out. ✨

If you’ve ever wondered how therapy with me works, what I specialize in, or how to book a session—my new site makes it easier than ever.

You’ll find:
✔ A fresh, easy-to-navigate design
✔ More details on how I help parents like you
✔ A simple way to book a consultation

Same support—just with a new (and way prettier) home on the internet.

👉 Head to the link in bio to explore!

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Des Moines, IA

Website

http://www.ampersandtherapyco.com/

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