Elena Gerdes, LISW

Elena is a Licensed Master Social Worker who earned her degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston College. Elena works with adults 18+, providing individual, and couples therapy services with the ultimate goal of supporting clients as they work towards believing in their ability to create positive growth and change in their lives and relationships. She has been working in the social work field since 2016 and has experience working within the medical social work setting along with experience working with Veterans at the VA. Elena has a passion for working with individuals and couples in the LGBTQ+ community, supporting clients managing grief and loss, personality disorders, spiritual trauma, substance abuse/addiction needs, life transitions, interpersonal violence and trauma. She has training in many different modalities including EMDR (trained), DBT, CBT, Narrative Therapy, MI/MET, Gottman Method, EFT and Solution Focused Therapy and pulls from a variety of approaches when working with clients to tailor the therapeutic experience to their specific needs. ** Of note, crisis Services not provided in outpatient therapy setting. If you are currently in crisis, please text or call 988, call 911 or go to your local emergency room. Listed below are local Des Moines Area crisis resources: Suicide Hotline (Call or Text 988) Community Based Crisis Stabilization through EasterSeals (adult and children) (Call 515-288-0818). Welfare Check or Mobile Crisis (Call 911) For Resources or Shelter Inquiries call United Way 211 (Dial and call the numbers 211) National Domestic Violence Hotline (Call 1-800-799-7233) Des Moines Domestic Violence/IPV 24/7 local crisis line (Call 515-243-6147) Child, Elder or dependent adult Abuse reporting Number(Call 1-800-362-2178) Psych/Behavioral Health Walk In evaluations: Broadlawns Psych Urgent Care (walk in evaluations M-F 9AM-5PM. Address: 1801 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA 50314 Broadlawns Crisis Observation Center (COS) open 24/7 Address: 1801 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA 50314 Behavioral Health Urgent Care through Unity Point (walk in evaluations M-F 9AM-5PM). Address: 1250 E 9th Street, Des Moines 50316. MercyOne Clive Behavioral Health (walk-in evaluations 24/7). Address: 1450 NW 114th Street Clive, IA 50325.