Des Moines Counseling and Therapy Team
for Children, Adolescents, and Adults
Most people who seek counseling do so because something in their life is just not quite right. For some, sadness, worry, relationship issues, or life stress feels too big to manage alone. Other people may need additional support moving through a challenging transition in life. Therapy can be many things – support, new ideas, being challenged to grow, or a place to talk without feeling judged.
Deciding to seek counseling is a big decision. It may take courage, but whenever we reach out for help, it also reflects strength. Some come to the conclusion on their own that they need the support and help that counseling offers. Others are pushed into counseling by their loved ones, while others are pushed even more strongly by the court or DHS. Regardless of the motivation, seeking counseling is applauded as a step toward healing.
Finding the right counselor for you is incredibly important.
All the staff at Innovative Learning Professionals are experienced, compassionate, and inspired. We believe that counseling is a service, and since life is a team sport, we would be honored to be a part of your team. Whether you ultimately seek counseling services from us or someone else, we encourage you to 1) find someone with whom you are comfortable (as that connection is the foundation of good counseling) and 2) find someone knowledgeable in how to help (as expertise is where good counseling develops).
We strive to help our clients to learn to live happy, fulfilling, and balanced lives. Our clients come from many different backgrounds and struggle with a multitude of problems ranging from simple to very complex. We work with children, adolescents, and adults. While all therapy starts with an assessment of life context and current problems, we have the ability to add formal psychological testing as needed.
If you would like extra support, a new perspective, new skills for your struggles, or further information about our services, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.
Offering both in-person and telehealth appointments on the following issues and more:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD
- Relationship difficulties
- Trauma reactions/PTSD
- Anger and stress management
- Grief and loss
- Substance abuse
- Learning differences
- School problems
- Life transitions
- Managing life’s demands
- Behavior concerns
DAVID BEEMAN
Ph.D., Psychologist, Clinical Director.
David obtained his doctorate in psychology from Iowa State University in 1992 after completing his undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame. He has been working in the field full time since 1990. In addition to administrative, supervisory, and assessment duties, he provides counseling services primarily to adolescents and adults. He is experienced in the treatment of a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to ADHD, behavior disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief/loss, and school problems.
Dr. Beeman has a strong background in assessment of children, adolescents, and adults including psychological, educational, emotional, cognitive, and perceptual aspects of psychological evaluations and neuropsychological screenings. He has expertise in evaluations of ADHD and learning. He holds a contract with Juvenile Court Services to conduct forensic psychological evaluations. He also conducts evaluations for the Department of Human Services.
He has a deep desire to maintain a quality standard of assessments, to develop treatment alternatives, and to recognize the need to address learning issues as related to an individual’s functioning as a whole. David serves as the director of assessment and psychological services (including counseling, EEG Neurotherapy, and Cognitive Rehabilitation). He views a psychological assessment as an opportunity to understand an individual’s strengths and weaknesses in the context of their life so as to intervene in a meaningful way. He views the quality of counseling as starting with the quality of the relationship that is built. He has a strong belief in an individual’s ability to meet their lives in a fulfilling, values-driven way.
DUSTY BAKER
Ph.D., Psychologist
Dusty Baker received his B.S. in Psychology from Drake University in 2008, and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State University in 2016.
He works from a humanistic and emotion-focused perspective, and views self-critical beliefs as the core to most concerns that bring people to therapy. Dr. Baker believes approaching their concerns from a non-judgmental perspective with self-compassion allows the client to feel safe in the exploration and incorporation of new perspectives that helps foster personal growth in the client's life. Honoring the client’s unique multicultural identity is also emphasized to better understand how self-critical beliefs developed and how those beliefs can be challenged with respect to each client’s personal and cultural values.
Dr. Baker works with a wide variety of concerns and has special interests in psychological assessment, ADHD, trauma, and vocational concerns. He also enjoys clinical supervision, teaching, and is a firm believer in the power of humor.
SUSAN SMITH HELKENN
LISW
Susan joined our practice in 2009 to add neurotherapy to her range of skills and treatment modalities. ILP was a good fit for Susan’s unique range of practical and clinical experiences, having served adults and children in the mental health and medical field for over 15 years. Susan is certified as a Child Life Specialist, holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology-Anthropology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Iowa. Clinical interests include adjustment disorder, anxiety, depression, school related problems, relationship issues, grief/loss as well as medical trauma and stress. Susan strives to schedule new clients promptly and is accepting referrals for adults, adolescents, and children.