Ann Ghabel, LISW

Ann Ghabel is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) in Iowa who draws on more than a decade as a therapist and many years of nursing and teaching in child psychiatry. She focuses on helping people who are coping with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and parenting concerns. Ann aims to make the first step toward change less daunting by providing steady support and practical guidance.

Her background includes long experience working in an inpatient child psychiatry unit as a nurse and teaching psychiatric nursing. That clinical history informs how she listens for patterns in behavior and relationships. She uses that insight to help people name what feels most overwhelming and what small changes might help.

Ann uses several approaches to match how someone prefers to work. She practices Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to look at thoughts and actions that keep problems in place. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Hypnotherapy, and Mindfulness Therapy as tools people can try when appropriate.

In sessions she aims for an open, nonjudgmental atmosphere where feelings and worries can be talked through. She may introduce Brainspotting as an additional tool to help people gain insight about traumatic experiences and strong emotions. The focus is on practical steps people can take between sessions to feel more able in daily life.

Ann works with concerns ranging from trauma and abuse to sleep and eating issues, attention challenges such as ADHD, and caregiving strain. She offers a collaborative approach that centers the client’s goals and pace.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Ann regularly uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening closely and building a respectful therapeutic relationship so people can talk about what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is also a common tool she uses to help identify and change thought and behavior patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills may be taught to help with emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving communication when feelings run high.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which mix of techniques fits their goals, needs, and comfort level. That choice can evolve over time as progress and new priorities emerge.

Specific session formats were not listed in the biography, so confirm available options before booking. In general, online therapy can make scheduling easier, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people practice skills in the settings where they live and work. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT exercises, DBT skills coaching, mindfulness practices, and conversational work to an online setting so therapy fits into everyday life without demanding large blocks of time.