Meet our team.
Our team
Owner/Therapist
Anne Peters, LMFT, PMH-C
Anne is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of Iowa. She has been working as a therapist in the mental health field for over 10 years. Anne has experience working with people of all ages, but holds a passion for working with the youngest of our population, birth to five, and their parents. She has extensive training in working with this population and is trained in the three most popular and scientifically supported modalities for this age group; Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Circle of Security Parenting, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Anne has provided consultation to Early Childhood teams across the state. She is also fully trained in DC 0-5, a diagnostic tool for our youngest population. Anne also holds a certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) in order to best support expecting parents and parents through their child’s early years. Early on in Anne’s career, she worked alongside those who have experienced significant trauma. This is another passion of hers- to sit beside others while they process through their past experiences to come through stronger and empowered. Anne also enjoys working with the adult population as they navigate the curves and bumps of life. Anne is consistently humbled by the vulnerability and strength of her clients.
Anne grew up right here in Spencer, IA so it feels like a dream to now be a business owner in the same community. Anne’s greatest joy is spending time with her daughter. In her free time, Anne enjoys spending time with family, friends, and several pets at home. You may see Alfie around the office- he’s the Northwest Iowa Counseling therapy dog-in-training and resides with Anne when his work is done for the day.
Owner/Therapist
Amy Ondler, LISW
Amy Ondler is a native to Northwest Iowa and has been working in the mental health field for the last 14 years. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from Simmons School of Social Work and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Northwestern College. Amy has experience providing therapy to various populations including but not limited to children, families, parents, adults and couples. From her 14 years of service in the field, Amy has gathered insight in working with individuals during any walk of life, dealing with various difficulties including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, trauma, challenging behaviors, intimacy, marital complications, low self-esteem, difficulty with emotional regulation, etc. When asked what specific population Amy enjoys working with most she stated “My passion is helping those in need, walking alongside them in order to aid them towards a more hopeful future. For this reason, I enjoy meeting and working with individuals from all walks of life. In my opinion, the beginning of the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important moments. It is one of my favorites because it is a moment when I can meet each individual exactly where they are and determine a plan to help them make steps towards the desired outcome they are hoping for.”
Throughout her various years in the field Amy has been trained in multiple modalities including but not limited to: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Informed Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Along with these modalities, Amy is trained in various interventions such as emotion regulation, feelings identification, marital reconciliation, and challenging behavior modification programs. Amy has a growing passion for helping those who have experienced a significant loss and are grieving.
In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with family and friends, spending time with her pets, and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes!
Therapist
Deb Estes, LISW
Deb is a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the State of Iowa (LISW). She earned her Master of Social Work at the University of Iowa School of Social Work. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with her Bachelors Degree in Social Work. Deb has practiced in the social work field for over 35 years in various settings. Most recently, she practiced in the mental health field as a psychiatric social worker/therapist for 22 years. Her practice included adults with severe and chronic mental illness as well as individuals with depression, anxiety, trauma and grief challenges.
Deb considers it a privilege to be allowed to walk alongside those who seek her services. She believes we all have strengths and weaknesses and that at times our strengths can also be our weaknesses! She's especially passionate about building the therapeutic relationship while assisting others in identifying their own unique steps in reaching their desired goals. Deb rejoices in their triumphs!
Deb grew up on a family farm in Cherokee County and has returned to Northwest Iowa. She and her husband enjoy their country home with their two dogs and three cats. And that's not counting the outside felines! She treasures time with their grown children and spouses and young grandchild. Deb relishes time outside in nature with long walks, digging in the dirt and NOT wearing a watch!
Therapist
Kristen Triplett, tLMHC
Kristen is a highly qualified and experienced mental health counselor passionate about helping individuals of all ages overcome their emotional and psychological challenges. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and a Master's degree from Buena Vista, and she will soon be licensed in the state of Iowa as a clinical mental health counselor.
With extensive training in Adlerian play therapy, Kristen has a unique and highly effective approach to working with youth clients. She also has experience working with adults and is committed to providing personalized, compassionate care to each and every client.
In addition to her expertise in play therapy, Kristen is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a highly effective technique for treating trauma and other mental health conditions. She combines this with other evidence-based therapies to create a holistic treatment plan tailored to each individual's unique needs.
With a warm and empathetic approach, Kristen creates a safe and nurturing environment where clients can feel comfortable exploring their thoughts and feelings. She is dedicated to helping each client achieve their full potential and live a fulfilling life.
Kristen lives with her husband and three children on a farm near Primghar, Iowa. She enjoys going on adventures with her family, being outside, cooking, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones.
Therapist
Heather (Howell) Beschorner, tLMHC
Heather is working towards her full licensure in the state of Iowa as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Heather has a great passion in supporting couples. Her dedication is to assist individuals in acquiring the skills necessary to create healthy relationships and communication patterns. Heather’s focus is on addressing anxiety and problems in relationships, while fostering a secure environment for her clients. Heather takes a cooperative approach with her clients. Heather holds expertise in working with adults, couples, and families. She also provides a safe space for individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. She specializes in utilizing Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Narrative Therapy.
Heather is committed to helping individuals recognize their own strengths. She firmly believes people possess an inherent resilience that they often underestimate. To promote mindfulness and encourage a fulfilling life, Heather guides her clients to be present in their thoughts, emotions, and actions. She encourages her clients to trust their instincts and explore various options when navigating challenging situations. Above all, she stresses the importance of recognizing the need for change and taking the first step towards making it a reality.
When Heather is not at work, she takes pleasure in spending time with her family and cows. She also enjoys attending events in her local community and exploring new and trendy activities and concepts. Heather is a huge advocate of self-care and strongly urges everyone to incorporate it into their daily routine.
Therapist
Melissa Mugge, LMHC
Melissa is a licensed Mental Health Therapist in Iowa and South Dakota. For the last 9 years, She’s been working in the outpatient therapy and emergency psychiatric worlds. She specializes in trauma, both developmental and adult on-set, neglect, stress and anxiety, family dynamics and parenting issues, depression, and grief. In therapy, she utilizes EMDR and Internal Family Systems, along with narrative therapy and somatic work, as you learn to tolerate and work through difficult emotions, and become an intentional and active participant in your healing, and the emotional alchemy that will come. Melissa is happy to see clients in an individual or family setting, both in-person and/or through teletherapy.
Therapist
Tanner Carlson
Tanner is a dedicated and experienced behavioral health provider with over 15 years of experience in the field. He has honed his expertise in a residential treatment-based facility setting, where he developed a deep passion for assisting adolescents, teens, young adults, and families in finding their voice and achieving their goals. His approach is centered on healing, empowerment, and fostering a positive self-concept.
Tanner holds a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of South Dakota and a Master’s degree from Buena Vista University in clinical mental health counseling. He is currently pursuing full licensure as a clinical mental health counselor.
In his practice, Tanner’s focus is on addressing problematic behaviors through trauma-informed care, emphasizing the impact of trauma on mental health and emotional well-being. He employs a strength-based approach to help clients overcome various struggles, bringing clarity, strength, and growth into their lives. Tanner’s primary therapeutic techniques include trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy and choice theory, which he integrates to assist clients of all ages in overcoming depression, anxiety, aggression, anger, life transitions, and other mental health challenges.
Tanner’s comprehensive training covers behavioral interventions, de-escalation techniques, coping mechanisms, and cognitive distortions, all aimed at empowering individuals and enhancing their relationships to build healthy support systems. Committed to evidence-based practices, he works diligently with clients to navigate their current issues and develop effective coping strategies.
Tanner offers therapy services in our Spencer office and provides telehealth options to accommodate various needs.
A native of Cherokee, Tanner lives just outside of town with his family. An active community member, he volunteers as a youth sports coach and enjoys golf, outdoor activities with his sons, and traveling the world with his wife. Tanner is an avid fan of the Cherokee Braves, Iowa State Cyclones, and the Dallas Cowboys and is known for his competitive spirit.
Receptionist
Melissa Bendlin
Administrative Assistant
Vickie Peters
Vickie came to us with years of experience working in the banking world, and worked in the collections department for many years. Vickie is our part-time administrative assistant and helps us with a variety of tasks, specifically processing new client requests, scheduling, and keeping our office in order. Her sense of humor is second to none.
In her free time, Vickie enjoys spending time with her beloved granddaughter, caring for her pets, and baking - especially her homemade dog treats!