Barb Flagel
As a lefty and piano player who makes a mean lasagna, Barb can be found outside of session spending time with her three adult children, watching the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes, and the Indiana Fever. Barb loves gardening, which is my sanctuary, as well as researching my family genealogy. I have three rescue dogs and five rescue cats. My kids tell me I'm a bonkers pet lady. I really enjoy audiobooks, especially biographies, because I find people so fascinating. Barb has two adult children on the spectrum and loves watching Thunderstorms. When asked her favorite quote, Barb says "Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life, you will have been all of these.” ― George Washington Carver
"How can I tell my troubles to a stranger..
...What will they think of me?” Part of mental health therapy is creating a safe space for people to come to and talk about whatever they want to talk about. I believe trust is essential for successful outcomes. I’ve been the daughter, the spouse, the parent, and the human who is struggling with past and present challenges. It is important to me to give you the space you need. I often work with victims/survivors of narcissism and gaslighting, whether it is currently happening to you or you are still dealing with it as part of your past. I specialize in autism spectrum disorder, being the parent of two adult children on the spectrum. I also specialize in grief therapy, which can be more than just about death. It can be the loss of a marriage, a job, a house, your dreams, or the grief of having a special needs child or aging parents.
In addition, I work with those experiencing self-esteem issues, those who having difficulty with self-care, school-age and college age people who are struggling with balancing school and life, and with those who don’t know what to do. I consider my approach to be calm, welcoming, listening, and asking the questions that need to be asked. I don’t shy away from a good mom joke, either.
Contact
Barb offers appointments in our Cedar Rapids location and online