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In Iowa, 1 in 3 individuals facing mental health challenges cannot afford care.
Your gift today breaks down this barrier. By donating, you don’t just give money — you give the gift of recovery, resilience, and a path forward. Every contribution helps us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.
In Iowa, 1 in 3 individuals facing mental health challenges cannot afford care.
Your gift today breaks down this barrier. By donating, you don’t just give money — you give the gift of recovery, resilience, and a path forward. Every contribution helps us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.
Uplifting the community, one family at a time: A father shares a tender moment with his child at EFR’s ‘Every Family Rocks!,’ echoing our commitment to ensuring underserved Iowans have access to enriching family experiences and vital support services.
As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of our community to equip us to continue our life-changing work. Your donation empowers us to uphold our commitment to mental well-being, offering counseling and psychological testing services to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay. Your support equips us to:
1. Provide counseling and psychological testing services to families and individuals in desperate need.
2. Offer hope in the form of accessible, life-saving care.
3. Sustain our mission to serve all who come to us, regardless of their financial situation.
$150: Provides one hour of counseling service through EFR’s Outpatient Counseling Program.
Any amount: Helps open the door to life-changing Psychological Assessments to children from low-income families, offering clarity, confidence, and paving the way for personalized support that can change the trajectory of a young life.
$100: Provides one hour of counseling service through EFR’s Outpatient Counseling Program.
Any amount: Helps open the door to life-changing Psychological Assessments to children from low-income families, offering clarity, confidence, and paving the way for personalized support that can change the trajectory of a young life.
Every gift we receive is significant in funding our efforts to cast a wider safety net for Iowans to ensure financial barriers never get in the way of essential care. No amount is too small, and every dollar raised makes a difference in the thousands of lives we serve every year!
All donations are tax deductible as prescribed by law. Employee & Family Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Note: If you donate a gift of $100 or more, you will be listed in EFR’s annual report!
At EFR, we believe every person has a story worth telling—a narrative of struggle, strength, and triumph. It’s not just about the services we provide; it’s about the lives that change because of them. This section shares powerful testimonials from individuals and families whose lives have been transformed through our services.
These success stories showcase the positive outcomes of our work and illustrate the profound difference your contributions make. Join us in celebrating these journeys of hope and healing, and let them inspire you to become a part of someone else’s success story.
Click each picture to read their stories!
A young woman sought EAP services when her life became shadowed by extreme stress and anxiety. Each morning greeted her with dread, an inner turmoil so suffocating that it left her questioning her identity.
Emily is a young girl whose days were once overshadowed by sudden, overwhelming panic attacks, her internal distress spilling into the classrooms. A concerned teacher’s gentle nudge led her to open the door to EFR’s SAP services.
Maria, a 7th grader from a quiet rural town, reached out to an EFR Student Assistance Program (SAP) counselor seeking someone who would genuinely hear her struggles. Overwhelmed by mental health challenges, Maria felt invisible and unheard, even as she bravely voiced her need for hospitalization.
After her father’s death, Anna wrestled with grief, anxiety, and a storm of intense emotions that left her struggling to stay anchored. Recognizing she could not weather this loss alone, she sought support through EFR’s outpatient counseling.
Zoe, an elementary-aged student, was placed with foster parents during an active DHS case. Witnessing traumatic events and being separated from her biological parents fractured her sense of security and stability. After struggling to help Zoe through emotional outbursts, defiance, and trust issues, her foster parents sought outpatient counseling with EFR.
While adapting to life with a new baby, Billy, a young man in his mid-twenties, sought counseling through the EAP. He and his fiancé agreed that he would stay home with the baby while she pursued her career, and Billy was struggling to adjust.
Whether you use your time, talent, or donations, you can make a difference this Giving Tuesday. Connect with us on social media, and check out a few simple ways to spread generosity online!
Amplify our impact by sharing EFR’s Facebook donation page with your friends and family. Your shares can inspire others to join our cause, creating a ripple effect of support for those in need!
505 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600 Des Moines, IA 50309
6th floor of the Insurance Exchange Building in downtown Des Moines
800-327-4692
Counseling Services
1001 Office Park Rd, Suite 205
West Des Moines, IA 50265
2nd floor of the building
515-471-2357
The Healing Space
1001 Office Park Rd, Suite 209
West Des Moines, IA 50265
2nd floor of the building
515-471-2357
Monday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
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EAP & Outpatient Counseling
A young woman sought EAP services when her life became shadowed by extreme stress and anxiety. Each morning greeted her with dread, an inner turmoil so suffocating that it left her questioning her identity.
Seeking a lifeline, she reached out to Employee & Family Resources’ Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It was here she found a counselor who recognized the depth of her distress and saw a path forward. As their sessions evolved from initial EAP support to continued outpatient care, they partnered together to unpack and understand the anxiety that had taken root in her life.
Together, they explored powerful coping strategies, delved into the intricacies of the nervous system, and discovered methods to restore her inner calm. But more than that, her EFR counselor became her ally, empowering her with the confidence to navigate career choices and forge a new, healthier equilibrium between her professional and personal life.
Now, a year since her first session, she is reacquainting herself with the person she had lost to stress, and her mornings are brimming with anticipation instead of apprehension. Her story is a testament to the transformative impact of EFR’s counseling services—how they offer support and a path to rediscover joy in the daily act of living.
SAP & Outpatient Counseling
Emily is a young girl whose days were once overshadowed by sudden, overwhelming panic attacks, her internal distress spilling into the classrooms. A concerned teacher’s gentle nudge led her to open the door to EFR’s SAP services.
At first, Emily was hesitant, her difficulty expressing and regulating emotions creating an invisible barrier to therapy. Through the SAP and the compassionate guidance of an EFR counselor, Emily utilized her SAP sessions and transitioned into outpatient therapy.
With each session, Emily gained newfound skills to manage her anxiety and began the delicate work of opening up the channels of communication with her loved ones. Her growth was marked by milestones—panic attacks ceased to disrupt her school life, and dialogues about her emotional world started to flow at home and with friends.
Emily’s story is a beacon of hope, illustrating the profound change that EFR’s SAP services can catalyze. Her narrative is one of countless others that underscore our commitment to empowering youth, one conversation, one coping strategy, one session at a time.
SAP & Outpatient Counseling
Maria, a 7th grader from a quiet rural town, reached out to an EFR Student Assistance Program (SAP) counselor seeking someone who would genuinely hear her struggles. Overwhelmed by mental health challenges, Maria felt invisible and unheard, even as she bravely voiced her need for hospitalization.
Recognizing the severity of her plea, the SAP counselor immediately acted, bridging the gap between Maria’s silent battles and the help she desperately needed. The counselor’s assessment, advocacy, and collaboration with her parents led to Maria receiving inpatient hospital care, marking the beginning of her healing.
One month later, Maria returned to school and embarked on a journey of recovery with her SAP counselor. Over the following months, Maria and her counselor crafted a toolkit of positive coping strategies, explored methods to recognize and challenge negative thoughts, and helped Maria identify her inner strengths.
By her final session, Maria emerged with a robust set of coping strategies, a blossoming self-confidence, and a bright vision for her future. In her last session, Maria reflected on the pivotal role her SAP counselor played by validating her voice and empowering her self-advocacy—a gift that Maria will carry forward as she confidently steps into her future.
Outpatient Counseling
After her father’s death, Anna wrestled with grief, anxiety, and a storm of intense emotions that left her struggling to stay anchored. Recognizing she could not weather this loss alone, she sought support through EFR’s outpatient counseling. With the help of her therapist, Anna uncovered the guilt and sorrow underlying her initial grief. Together they practiced methods to effectively combat the daily anxiety that frequented her life since her father’s passing.
Rather than suppressing or allowing intense emotions to consume her, Anna developed the skills to regulate them. She established stronger connections with her loved ones and learned how to communicate her needs in a way that allowed them to support her. With a healthy foundation of emotional regulation established, Anna is transitioning to less frequent sessions with her therapist. She continues to hone her abilities and takes steps each day to grow through her grief.
Outpatient Counseling
Zoe, an elementary-aged student, was placed with foster parents during an active DHS case. Witnessing traumatic events and being separated from her biological parents fractured her sense of security and stability. After struggling to help Zoe through emotional outbursts, defiance, and trust issues, her foster parents sought outpatient counseling with EFR.
Together they worked with a therapist using Parent-Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT). This intervention strengthens parent-child relationships and teaches caregivers constructive behavior management skills. Soon Zoe’s foster parents adopted her, officially welcoming her into their family.
Today, Zoe and her parents have successfully graduated from PCIT. Zoe navigates big emotions with more skill and continues to work with her therapist. Her parents learned the tools necessary to create structure and stability while working through misbehaviors. With the support of her new family, Zoe is developing close relationships built on love and trust.
EAP & Outpatient Counseling
While adapting to life with a new baby, Billy, a young man in his mid-twenties, sought counseling through the EAP. He and his fiancé agreed that he would stay home with the baby while she pursued her career, and Billy was struggling to adjust.
The COVID pandemic and not seeing friends and family as often as he would like caused significant anxiety. Feeling trapped at home, he grieved the loss of the opportunity to proudly show his newborn son to the world. Billy wanted to support his family financially and desired to pursue a career selling his artwork. A talented artist, he lacked the motivation to do the work- sometimes it took all he had to get out of bed.
Billy began meeting with one of the EAP counselors, who helped him define what he was passionate about and learn skills to manage his anxiety. After reaching out to his doctor, Billy started medications to aid his treatment. In time, he continued meeting with his counselor and began to peel back the layers of his pain. Through therapy, he identified the sources of his pain, finding ways to accept his past and create a new narrative for his future.
Taking steps forward, he signed up for a life coach and began selling his art. Today, he continues his journey of self-love and building self-worth. Billy and his fiancé are now married, and together they are raising their son to have a happy life.
Student Assistance Program (SAP) & Outpatient Counseling
Maddox*, an elementary-aged student, struggled with anger outbursts, physical aggression, and difficulties with problem-solving. After spending years off-and-on in therapy seeking treatment with various providers only to remark that “none seemed to want to listen,” Maddox’s parents sought SAP services through their district.
Today, Maddox is completing his SAP sessions and moving towards outpatient counseling. He has reduced his anger outbursts and has learned skills to help him successfully navigate challenging days.