Ames Location

Mental Health Counseling in Ames, Iowa

Red Couch Counseling brings award-winning, trauma-informed mental health care to Ames, Iowa. Located at 1103 Buckeye Ave, Suite 104, our Ames office serves individuals, couples, and families across Story County — including students, faculty, and staff connected to Iowa State University, as well as residents from Ames, Nevada, Gilbert, Story City, Boone, and Huxley.

Ames is a growing, diverse community with a wide range of mental health needs. Our licensed therapists are here to help with everything from everyday anxiety and relationship stress to complex trauma, eating disorders, and life transitions. We meet you where you are — without judgment, without a waitlist of months, and with a genuine commitment to your long-term wellbeing.

Therapy Services at Our Ames Location

Our Ames therapists offer a comprehensive range of evidence-based mental health services:

• Trauma Therapy & PTSD Counseling — EMDR, IFS, and somatic therapy for complex and single-incident trauma
• Anxiety Treatment — CBT, ACT, and mindfulness approaches for GAD, social anxiety, health anxiety, and panic
• Depression Therapy — individual therapy for major depression, seasonal depression, and postpartum depression
• Couples Counseling — communication, conflict resolution, intimacy rebuilding, and relationship transitions
• Family Therapy — improving family dynamics, navigating conflict, and supporting children through transitions
• EMDR Therapy — eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for trauma and anxiety
• Eating Disorder Therapy — compassionate, evidence-based care for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating
• Grief & Loss Counseling — bereavement, anticipatory grief, and support through major life changes
• Parenting Support — behavioral coaching, parental stress, and family adjustment
• Academic & Career Stress — performance anxiety, burnout, and major life transitions

Telehealth appointments are available for all services. Ames-area clients can access our full range of therapists online, including specialists located at our Johnston and Ankeny offices.

Serving the Ames and Iowa State University Community

Ames is home to Iowa State University, one of Iowa's largest universities with a student population of over 30,000. Many students seek mental health support outside of campus resources — for privacy, for specialist access, or because campus services simply have long wait times. Red Couch Counseling offers a fully confidential, off-campus option with evening hours that work around academic schedules.

We work with undergraduate and graduate students, university faculty and staff, and the broader Ames community on issues including academic stress and burnout, adjustment disorders, identity and relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Our therapists have experience with the unique pressures of university life and understand what it means to seek help while managing a full academic or professional load.

Why Ames Residents Choose Red Couch Counseling

Part of an award-winning group practice. Our Ames location is part of Red Couch Counseling, recognized as the Best Counseling Center in both Ankeny (since 2022) and Johnston (since 2023). You receive the same standard of care at every location.

No long waitlists. We work hard to get clients in quickly. Same-week appointments are frequently available at our Ames office for new clients.

Broad specialty depth. Story County has limited specialist options for complex needs like EMDR, eating disorders, or trauma-focused family therapy. Our Ames office, combined with telehealth access to our full team, fills that gap.

Evening hours. Open Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm. Weekend appointments available by request.

Serving Story County and Surrounding Communities

Our Ames office serves clients from Ames, Nevada, Gilbert, Story City, Huxley, Boone, Slater, Cambridge, and throughout Story County. Telehealth access extends our services to all of Iowa, making it easy for clients in rural communities to access specialist care without the commute.

We accept Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, Iowa Total Care, Medicaid, Medicare, and most other major plans. Call (515) 954-9865 to verify benefits or discuss private pay rates.