Mental Health Counseling Services
Take the first step with us—because your mental health matters.
Mental Health Counseling
Are you considering counseling for an issue that is keeping you from reaching your full potential? We want to help!
We offer our services to individuals (both youth and adult) and families in a safe and confidential setting. Our experienced counselors approach all clients with respect, kindness, and dignity. Counselors will work with you to set goals that are important to you, and will provide interventions and resources that support you along the way.
EFR’s counselors have training and experience with a number of life issues, including:
- Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
- Grief and Loss
- Drug or Alcohol Concerns
- Parent/Child Relationships
- Marital or Couple Relationships
- Trauma
Life’s challenges often don’t give us any warning, and we don’t always know where to look for help when we need it most.
When life happens, Employee & Family Resources is here to help.
Already receiving counseling through EFR?
You can make a payment, view and submit documents, or update your account info by logging into your patient portal using the button below!
What To Expect
1
Make the Call
To make an appointment, call our intake specialist at 515-471-2357. Our intake specialist will:
- Determine how you would like to pay for counseling (or help determine whether you qualify for the EAP’s free sessions benefit)
- Help you with any urgent needs or issues
2
Make an Appointment
The intake specialist will collect information, such as name, phone number, and date of birth. If you chose to pay with insurance, we will verify your eligibility; during that process, we may check your benefits to see what amount of the service payment will be covered.
At this time, the intake specialist will also provide you with login credentials for the patient portal which you can access Step 3.
Make sure you know which location you will be going to for your appointment!
3
Prepare for Appointment
Complete your intake forms electronically via the Patient Portal using the credentials provided to you by the intake specialist.
If you cannot access the portal, you can click here to view and download the forms.
4
Go to Your Appointment
Walk up to the front desk and say you have an appointment. You will then be asked to look over and sign pre-admit forms. Forms are also available in hard-copy form, should you want a copy.
After signing the forms, we will scan a copy of your insurance card and collect any money due.
Fees For Services
EFR accepts insurance including Medicaid and most major commercial insurance (e.g. Wellmark, United Health Care, Optum, Aetna). If your health insurance does not cover EFR’s services or if your services aren’t eligible for health insurance or third-party payment, your fee will be based on EFR’s sliding fee scale, which considers your gross family income and the number of family members under the age of 17 in your household.
Rights & Responsiblities
View Client Rights & Responsibilities document here.
Payment Policies
- Payment of your fee or insurance co-pay and/or deductible is required at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made with EFR’s intake specialist.
- If your insurance carrier doesn’t pay for your services due to lack of eligibility or coverage, EFR may charge your services in accordance with our sliding fee scale, and you will be responsible for any unpaid services.
- Lack of payment toward an unpaid balance (excluding outstanding insurance payments) may result in an interruption in services until payment arrangements established. If you are experiencing financial hardship, contact the intake specialist for more information on your payment options.
- You will be charged $30 for returned checks.
- Cash, check, or debit/credit card are accepted.
- A 24-hour notice is required for cancellations. Failure to provide 24-hour notice may result in a charge of $25 for the missed appointment or the amount of your private pay fee, whichever is less.
Our Team of Therapists
Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or stuck? You don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. At EFR, we provide compassionate counseling and therapy services for individuals, couples, and families right here in the Des Moines metro.
Take the first step with us—because your mental health matters.
Because play is a major outlet through which children demonstrate what is on their mind, whether they have words or not, a branch of therapy has developed around understanding children and their needs by observing their play and helping solve problems through play.
Attachment-Focused Trauma Therapy (AFTT)
Attachment-based therapy is a counseling approach that aims to help people address and resolve past traumas and attachment wounds that stem from childhood, believing these issues are at the root of common psychological issues and relationship problems.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts by questioning and uprooting negative or irrational beliefs. Considered a “solutions-oriented” form of talk therapy, CBT rests on the idea that thoughts and perceptions influence behavior.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that emphasizes acceptance to deal with negative thoughts, feelings, symptoms, or circumstances. ACT therapy encourages increased commitment to healthy, constructive activities that uphold your values or goals.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a method that involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories with the goal of healing from trauma. EMDR doesn’t require talking in detail about a distressing event. Instead, it focuses on changing the emotions, thoughts or behaviors that result from a distressing experience in order to allow your brain to resume a natural healing process.
Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT)
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a combination of play therapy and behavioral therapy for young children and their parents or caregivers. The adults learn and practice new skills and techniques for relating to children with emotional or behavioral problems, language issues, developmental disabilities, or mental health disorders.
Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” A trauma-informed approach to care acknowledges that a client’s care team needs to have a complete picture of their life situation — past and present — in order to provide effective care with a healing orientation.
Perinatal mental health (PMADs)
Most women and many men experience mental health symptoms during the perinatal period before and after childbirth, when both parents are experiencing the stress of a major life change. Recent focus on perinatal anxiety and mood disorders has drawn attention to the mental health needs of perinatal women and their partners and the effects of this untreated condition on mothers, partners, infants, and children.
Counseling and Evaluation Program Forms
Please review these forms and documents in advance of your appointment. If EFR’s Intake Specialist directed you to fill out any forms, please download and fill those out in advance of your appointment. As a reminder, you may click here to access the same forms on our patient portal.
Client Handbook
Informed Consent
Services Fee Agreement
Release of Information
Zoom Meeting Instructions
Des Moines
505 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600
Des Moines, IA 50309
For Services: 800-327-4692
For Providers: 800-327-4692
For Sales: 877-883-1387
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Thursday: 8am – 5pm
Friday: 8am – 4:30pm
West Des Moines
Counseling Services
950 Office Park Rd, Suite 304
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515-471-2357
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Thursday : 9am – 6pm
Friday: 9am– 4:30pm