Jaret Morlan, LISW

I am a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Iowa, and I work with adults (18 and up) in both individual and couples therapy. I have experience working with diverse clients on a wide-range of concerns, that include grief and loss, anxiety, depression, substance use, family-of-origin concerns, interpersonal functioning, trauma, identity-based concerns, and sex/intimacy concerns.

I am client-focused in terms of identifying an appropriate therapeutic lens and have experience utilizing Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family Systems Theory, Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian), Motivational Interviewing, Gestalt, Psychodynamic, and Mindfulness techniques. Couples therapy is multi-dimensional, and services provided for couples include interpersonal functioning, sex and intimacy concerns, family conflict, and parental support. Finally, I create a specific space for grief work with compassion and understanding that bereavement is not a psychological dysfunction, but a natural human experience. I strive to companion clients through their grief journey, rather than working towards correction or resolution.

My passion for helping people is grounded in a humanistic belief that everyone deserves quality of life. I approach therapy through a strengths-based and feminist perspective, providing support and validation, and emphasizing my belief that everyone has strengths and abilities to grow in ways they may not have fully realized. I also believe that the relationship between the client and therapist is essential to the process and strive to build strong rapport, dismantle power dynamics/gender roles, and create a safe and supportive space for clients to share and explore their experiences without fear of judgment or shame.

My perspective as a social worker informs my belief that to empathize/advocate for clients, one must be culturally competent. I believe that a person's environment (past and present) informs who we are and that environmental barriers contribute to a person's emotional state, and psychological well-being. Therefore, I strive for competency in cultures and environments that are not my own. My personal interests are feminism and support for the LGBTQ+ community, persons of color, citizens returning from incarceration, and those struggling with substance use.